Visa interview

[Pickle 65]

Two questions about the student visa interview, both regarding ties to my home country:

1. I don't have anything on my name, like a house, car, etc. (I do have a bank account, obviously, and a job which will take me back when I return). I still live with my parents. Would it be beneficial to do some kind of declaration that I do live at this address?

2. Should I write a letter to support my application that states what my future plans are (come back in 2013, do this, work there, etc.)?

Any other advice from anyone who knows about the student visa interview? Any other letters I can write or documents I can take other than the normal? I am so nervous that I will forget anything, don't want to get rejected about something stupid that I forgot.

Thanks everyone!

Oh, another question about the I-20 which I forgot to e-mail my university about. At the bottom where I have to write my name, signature and the date: do I do that before I go for the interview or in front of the interviewer?

Edited November 19, 2011 by Pickle

[canadian_wife 1,826]

1. Honestly, the CO won't care that you live with your parents as that isn't considered a tie to South Africa. Now, if you had a house and were going to continue to pay its mortgage while in the US, then that's a tie. But no, don't write a letter stating you live with your parents

2. What about a letter from your employer, do you have that? That will carry more weight than any letter written by you I mean think about it, I could write a letter outlining my future plans to be an astronaught - doesn't mean I actually intend on doing it does it?

I left the I20 signature blank then signed it when asked

Good luck

[Pickle 65]

1. Honestly, the CO won't care that you live with your parents as that isn't considered a tie to South Africa. Now, if you had a house and were going to continue to pay its mortgage while in the US, then that's a tie. But no, don't write a letter stating you live with your parents

2. What about a letter from your employer, do you have that? That will carry more weight than any letter written by you I mean think about it, I could write a letter outlining my future plans to be an astronaught - doesn't mean I actually intend on doing it does it?

I left the I20 signature blank then signed it when asked

Good luck

Thanks for you advice! The only thing I have here that I need to pay back, is a huge student loan. I do have the proof of that with my documents. I also have a letter from my employer which states that he will employ me again when I come back in 2013. I was thinking the same thing about the future plans, I can write anything on there, right. I guess they would rather "catch you off-guard" with a question like that than you having a letter already where you could have had time to think about something nice to say.

I read something somewhere about a letter that should be added, written by the applicant. I cannot exactly remember what the letter should be about, which is why I am asking on here. It is not mandatory either, just something to up your chances.

Thanks for your help!

[Noah Lot 391]

Thanks for you advice! The only thing I have here that I need to pay back, is a huge student loan. I do have the proof of that with my documents. I also have a letter from my employer which states that he will employ me again when I come back in 2013. I was thinking the same thing about the future plans, I can write anything on there, right. I guess they would rather "catch you off-guard" with a question like that than you having a letter already where you could have had time to think about something nice to say.

I read something somewhere about a letter that should be added, written by the applicant. I cannot exactly remember what the letter should be about, which is why I am asking on here. It is not mandatory either, just something to up your chances.

Thanks for your help!

one can repay a student loan from anywhere on the planet...and letters from an employer claiming he will hire you back in X number of years is meaningless...why? Because what is the downside of either you or the employer not living up to this so called claim? Would either of you be put in jail? fined $50,000? No. So such claims about future employment have no weight, because there is NO mechanism for enforcement.

You will have to convince the CO about your future return; letters from anyone else are worthless; letters from you even more so.

[Pickle 65]

one can repay a student loan from anywhere on the planet...and letters from an employer claiming he will hire you back in X number of years is meaningless...why? Because what is the downside of either you or the employer not living up to this so called claim? Would either of you be put in jail? fined $50,000? No. So such claims about future employment have no weight, because there is NO mechanism for enforcement.

You will have to convince the CO about your future return; letters from anyone else are worthless; letters from you even more so.

I guess I have to say thanks...for kicking a dog when his down. Was hoping for something constructive two days before my interview. Do you think I don't know that a student loan can be repayed from anywhere on the planet, and of course my employer doesn't have to hire me back again. So can a house in your name be rented out, why is that proof that you will return to your country - one of the main "proofs" people always advise you to provide. And about the employer letter that is so "meaningless", that came straight from the horses mouth when I did the application online, under "additional supporting documents".

[Noah Lot 391]

Any letter presented during an interiew will NOT, by itself, suddenly make an individual qualified for a visa (read the instructions again if you doubt this)...you were the one asking about all those things you mentioned, but apparently you only wanted to hear 'yes, don't worry, all those letters and that student loan and bank account will force any consular official to give you a student visa'...sorry, but that response would not have been honest nor true.

[Pickle 65]

Any letter presented during an interiew will NOT, by itself, suddenly make an individual qualified for a visa (read the instructions again if you doubt this)...you were the one asking about all those things you mentioned, but apparently you only wanted to hear 'yes, don't worry, all those letters and that student loan and bank account will force any consular official to give you a student visa'...sorry, but that response would not have been honest nor true.

Not what I wanted to hear at all. Read canadian wife's post, that was honest and helpful and what I was looking for. I just asked two questions I was unsure about, cause I have read somewhere about some letters, couldn't remember where I have read it, so I asked VJ'ers, who usually give good advice (like canadian wife, again). Then for some reason you thought you should be sarcastic. I just needed a yes or a no.

[Noah Lot 391]

Not what I wanted to hear at all. Read canadian wife's post, that was honest and helpful and what I was looking for. I just asked two questions I was unsure about, cause I have read somewhere about some letters, couldn't remember where I have read it, so I asked VJ'ers, who usually give good advice (like canadian wife, again). Then for some reason you thought you should be sarcastic. I just needed a yes or a no.

OK...NO. Simple enough? Letters can be written that say anything; I could write a letter stating that the moon is made of green cheese...does that make it true? No. Does some letter from you or some nebulous employer that talks about your future actions hold any weight? No. If the visa process were that easy, EVERY applicant would write such a letter and we would have no need for well trained consular officers. That's how you arrive at the most accurate answer. And please note, that on any embassy website, there is NO statement by them that says something to the effect that an applicant who brings this letter or that letter will automatically be granted a visa....there is your second clue.

Edited November 20, 2011 by Noah Lot

[Pickle 65]

OK...NO. Simple enough? Letters can be written that say anything; I could write a letter stating that the moon is made of green cheese...does that make it true? No. Does some letter from you or some nebulous employer that talks about your future actions hold any weight? No. If the visa process were that easy, EVERY applicant would write such a letter and we would have no need for well trained consular officers. That's how you arrive at the most accurate answer. And please note, that on any embassy website, there is NO statement by them that says something to the effect that an applicant who brings this letter or that letter will automatically be granted a visa....there is your second clue.

Geez, hold your horses! Have no idea why you picked me out to be rude to, I simply asked two questions I was unsure about! Sorry for being the only person on VJ asking a question. I NEVER said that I would get a visa because of a letter, that is obviously ridiculous. Again, I was just ASKING. I'm quite aware that it is a difficult process, that is why I ask. Sorry if I offended you so badly with my questions. You are absolutely right, there is NO statement on any embassy website that says anything about a letter from an employer. Maybe when you did your visa application, you didn't read through all the information they give you after you're done with the online application on the usvisa-info.com website (it's a lot of info!), but I have. It is the only place I've seen anything about an employer letter, and this is how it read: "The following are examples of documents you could bring to your interview that might show the ties to your country of residence: Employment letter describing your job position, salary, length of employment, etc." And then two more examples.

Obviously you will take anything that can possibly help your case, doesn't matter how insignificant it is, and if that's not what they wanted, then it's not. No problem! They can just throw it out and ask me any question they want to if they aren't convinced.

[Noah Lot 391]

Geez, hold your horses! Have no idea why you picked me out to be rude to, I simply asked two questions I was unsure about! Sorry for being the only person on VJ asking a question. I NEVER said that I would get a visa because of a letter, that is obviously ridiculous. Again, I was just ASKING. I'm quite aware that it is a difficult process, that is why I ask. Sorry if I offended you so badly with my questions. You are absolutely right, there is NO statement on any embassy website that says anything about a letter from an employer. Maybe when you did your visa application, you didn't read through all the information they give you after you're done with the online application on the usvisa-info.com website (it's a lot of info!), but I have. It is the only place I've seen anything about an employer letter, and this is how it read: "The following are examples of documents you could bring to your interview that might show the ties to your country of residence: Employment letter describing your job position, salary, length of employment, etc." And then two more examples.

Obviously you will take anything that can possibly help your case, doesn't matter how insignificant it is, and if that's not what they wanted, then it's not. No problem! They can just throw it out and ask me any question they want to if they aren't convinced.

OK..sorry...the key phrase in the embassy's website...."might show ties...."....which is far different than 'unconditionally shows ties' or something to that effect.

A lot of people from different countries have this misplaced notion that some letter will do the trick; in reality, most letters are neutral AT BEST and at worst, can be quite damaging. Example: an invitation letter says..'I will support my girlfriend for 6 months'...when, on her application, under the question about length of stay, she wrote.."3 weeks." hmmm. There can be other examples in which a letter actually reduced if not wiped out any credibility of an applicant....and that is the key point....you have to establish your credibility, which most letters cannot do.

Over the years, people have quickly left behind their house, car, bank accounts (which can be emptied from a distance) AND their entire family while they used a U.S. visa to work without authorization, shop for an American spouse (and eventual green card), etc. That is why there are interviews...in which the consular officials attempt to assess the credibility/qualifications of a particular applicant....something which, in real life, cannot be done merely by glancing at a piece of paper.

Sorry I was a bit blunt, but this letter thing surfaces so frequently and most people just don't seem to understand the relative unimportance of a letter.

Anyway, good luck to you.

[Soapz 14]

when I went for the interview a few years ago, I took everything that somehow connected me to my home-country (considering though that my parents and my brother were US- Citizens at the time, there was really nothing I could show that would prove that I have more ties to Germany than the US- still got the Visa...)

I took my social security statement - they looked at it. Also, life-insurance, and retirement fund papers. Even had a copy of my will that would make my nieces and nephews (of my sister who still is in Germany) as my heirs. I did show also that I was registered at my sister's home address. Taht was about all they looked at.

Your employer could write you a letter/contract showing that you are on a sabbatical for your studies abroad. That might be useful. Mainly it comes down to the person interviewing you. While I was waiting for mine, they have turned down several others while I passed. There is no telling what is going to happen. Good Luck!

[Noah Lot 391]

when I went for the interview a few years ago, I took everything that somehow connected me to my home-country (considering though that my parents and my brother were US- Citizens at the time, there was really nothing I could show that would prove that I have more ties to Germany than the US- still got the Visa...)

I took my social security statement - they looked at it. Also, life-insurance, and retirement fund papers. Even had a copy of my will that would make my nieces and nephews (of my sister who still is in Germany) as my heirs. I did show also that I was registered at my sister's home address. Taht was about all they looked at.

Your employer could write you a letter/contract showing that you are on a sabbatical for your studies abroad. That might be useful. Mainly it comes down to the person interviewing you. While I was waiting for mine, they have turned down several others while I passed. There is no telling what is going to happen. Good Luck!

As I said....NO piece of paper will suddenly work magic on the consular official...because such a piece of paper does not exist.

Anyone can write anything on a piece of paper...about the only thing that proves is that somebody sat down at a word processor...beyond that, a letter stating this or that is 110% not legally binding upon anyone. COs may sift through papers, but documents have more ways to ruin an applicant's chances of getting a visa than obtaining one.

[Soapz 14]

And that's why I said:

Your employer could write you a letter/contract showing that you are on a sabbatical for your studies abroad. That might be useful. Mainly it comes down to the person interviewing you.

Edited November 23, 2011 by Soapz

[Noah Lot 391]

And that's why I said:

Your employer could write you a letter/contract showing that you are on a sabbatical for your studies abroad. That might be useful. Mainly it comes down to the person interviewing you.

...which is exactly what I have stated.

[Pickle 65]

Okay okay, enough about the letters now! Thanks but I got the visa without the CO even looking at ANY papers, except my receipts and passports.