USA F1 Visa Interview – Questions & Answers for Nigerian Students

Last updated on May 1st, 2023

Are you a Nigerian student interested in studying in the United States? The process of gaining an F1 Visa for the USA can be daunting, but with the right amount of preparation, it doesn’t have to be. In this article, we will dive into the details of preparing for a USA F1 Visa Interview, discussing common questions and providing answers that will give you an edge during your interview.

In addition, to benefit first-time F1 Visa applicants in Nigeria, we will share experiences and conversation threads between candidates and visa officers’ (VO). With the right knowledge, getting accepted to study in the USA is well within your reach if you follow this guide!

Getting admission into an American University can be exciting, but the prospect of a Visa Interview sometimes overshadows it. We have all heard many grueling stories or accounts from students and how all their plans suddenly were thwarted after being rejected by the “Bald man‘ (Visa Officer) at the Lagos Centre or given a Blue paper by some other officer!

While all of that is true, there is nothing to be afraid of. The fact is that visa Officers are not tasked with the target of rejecting applications. Instead, they are simply interested in validating your motives for coming to the US, and they have no desire to obstruct your ambitions of living there unless and until that dream involves doing so illegally.

And in contrast to popular belief, the visa officer won’t review all of your documents. They only ever request documents in the rarest of circumstances. In fact, Visa Officers typically don’t request any documents from applicants. Therefore, even though it is always advisable to take them with you, it is essential to remember that you must not present your documents until requested.

Documents Required for your USA F1 Visa interview in Nigeria

Before we create the questions and answers thread for the USA F1 Visa interview, we want to underline the importance of being prepared, and you should have these documents with you as you go to your interview:

• Your Passport
• SEVIS Fee Receipt
• MRV Fee Receipt
• DS 160 Confirmation Slip
• Approved Passport Size Photograph
• Visa Interview Appointment Letter
• Academic Transcripts
• GRE/GMAT/IELTS/TOEFL scorecard (If required)
• Bachelor’s Degree/Master’s Degree Certificate
• Study leave approval letter from employer (If required)
• Bank Account Statement (recommended: last six months)
• Property Documents (residential, commercial, ancestral, or farmland)

Dress Code for your USA F1 Visa Interview in Nigeria

Understanding the right dress code for your USA F1 Visa Interview in Nigeria can help you make the best first impression from the beginning. So, before D-Day, carefully consider your clothing and keep the following points in mind.

• Choose formal clothing: Men should wear formal shirts, ties, suits, and trousers, while women should wear a skirt and blouse or other appropriate attire. The dress should be neat, decently, or modest.
• Choose an outfit that makes you feel comfortable because if you don’t, it will show in your body language and make you feel less confident. Put together professional-looking clothing for your visa interview that makes you feel at ease and relaxed.
• Minimal Accessories: Too much jewelry can distract your interviewer and is improper, considering the formal nature of the interview. Simple jewelry should suffice, such as hoops, studs, or a watch.
• Keep perfumes light: While it’s important to use deodorant to prevent body odor, it’s also wise to avoid strong colognes and perfumes. You wouldn’t want the visa officer to sneeze during the interview or, worse yet, feel uneasy because of the smell if they are allergic to the same thing.
• Wear your eyeglasses if you have the same in your passport: If your passport photo includes glasses, make sure to wear them. Otherwise, you can wear contacts!

Do’s and Don’ts during a USA F1 Visa Interview

There are some things you MUST DO and some things you MUST NOT DO, just like in any interview. Most of them have some connection. We detailed them below:

Do’s

Smile Always: One particular thing you must remember is to smile! Smiling is a universal language of friendship and goodwill, and it helps to put both you and your interviewer at ease. A smiling face indicates sincerity, honesty, confidence, and clarity; your interviewer will appreciate these qualities. It also helps ensure that communication barriers are broken down easily during the interview process. So remember to keep smiling throughout your interview!

Speak in English: You must showcase your ability to communicate effectively with Visa officials during the interview. Presenting yourself as confident, polite, and articulate will help prove that you can live and study in the USA. Additionally, be prepared to answer questions clearly; think before speaking, and do not say anything that could potentially be misinterpreted.

Look at the Interviewer: Making no eye contact is considered an indication of dishonesty. Practice at home, and remember to look at the interviewer when responding to questions.

Take your documents with you: Always make sure the file you carry is complete with all the necessary documents and arrive early with all documents necessary for the interview so that you can present yourself in an organized manner.

Don’ts

Being Nervous: Nerves are natural, and it’s perfectly normal to feel a bit anxious when facing such an important step! But, it’s important to stay calm even if nerves flare up during the visa interview process – a positive attitude can go a long way towards helping assure the interviewer of your intentions. Bring along a friend or family member to provide moral support and help keep those jitters at bay throughout the process.

Speaking English with a forced Accent: It’s wise not to attempt speaking English with an accent that isn’t your own – no matter how well you think you can do it. Visa officers may be experienced in recognizing such attempts, which could damage your credibility. Instead, focus on being confident and answering questions directly without exaggerating or embellishing facts.

Starring: Looking someone in the eyes and looking at them without blinking are two different things. Constant staring makes the interviewer uneasy; remember to blink while speaking.

Offering your document when not asked: The visa officer is unlikely to request any documents. Therefore, please do not offer to show it to them (until and unless they specifically ask to see something).

Must Read:

• Study in the USA Guide for Nigerian Students
• How to Easily Pay for SEVIS Fee for F1 Visa in Nigeria?

USA F1 Visa Interview Thread – Questions & Answers for Nigerian Students

Remember, this guide attempts to dispel a few myths about the USA F1 Visa Interview and provides a Questions & Answers thread. Also, keep in mind that there are no rules in this game. Every interview, like any other, is guaranteed to be unique. What is constant, though, is that, like with any USA F1 Visa interview, confidence and intent are essential.

The conversation threads between candidates and visa officers’ (VO) are provided below for the benefit of first-time F1 Visa applicants.

#Case Study 1:

Status: Visa Approved (First and only attempt F1 + 3F2)
School: University Of Delaware
Course: MBA and Masters in Business Analytics and Information Management
COA: $55,000
Funding: $31,000
Interview Date: December 23, 2022

The appointment was 10am but I got to the embassy with my 3 children around 9am. God favored me specially and I think special favour because of the children too.

Windows 10 sent for us and scanned our passports. She asked for the age of the children, I told her the twin girls are 2 years old and their brother 5 years old. She included a pink tag in the passport of one of the girls and told us to head to the front of the queue for fingerprints and that I shouldn’t join the queue. A security man was also kinda assigned to us.

I did as we were instructed. After the fingerprints, I went to join the queue for interview. Then the security man came looking for us. He took us to the front of the queue and asked me to stay at window 4 that has a white lady.

Me: Good morning
VO: Good morning
I passed the documents to her

VO: why are you going for this course?
Me: The MBA and Masters in Business Analytics and Information Management was specially designed for upwardly mobile career professionals like me to acquire skills and build competency in leadership, Management and analysis. Taking this course will help me acquire skills in leadership, Management and analysis to head the retail Analytics team of xyz upon my return to Nigeria after the program.

VO: What do you currently do where you work?
Me: I work with xyz the largest retail bank in Nigeria. I work with SMEs to help them access finance to grow their businesses. I also work with women banking team. We recently Coached 100 women in a mini-mba program in partnership with International Finance Corporation. We just concluded this few weeks ago.

VO: What’s your funding plan?
Me: In addition to the 50% scholarship funding from the University and 10 hour GA from the University, I have personal savings from my salary, appraisal bonus, profit sharing and other income in excess of $33,000. I requested the bank to send the statement of account to the embassy ahead of my interview today.

VO: What’s your post study plan?
Me: I will return to my current place of work to head the retail Analytics team and in the long term I will apply the skills and competencies acquired in the program to grow the 2 start-ups I co-founded ABC and XYZ.

VO: Where’s your husband?
Me: He’s currently at the University of Delaware studying on a fully funding PhD scholarship in xyz at the Biden School of Public Policy.
VO: hmmmmm, starts typing.

Me: before UD, He was in Germany at Dresden for his 2nd masters after which he returned to Nigeria before proceeding to Lee Kwan Yuan for his 3rd masters after which he returned to Nigeria before he got the PhD offer at UD.

VO: When did he get to UD?
Me: August. Before then, he was at University of Alabama on a fully funded PhD Scholarship before he transferred to UD after his professor retired from the University.

VO: what’s the plan for the kids?
Me: ABC being 5 years old will.be attending Maclay Elementary School being the zoned school for our address in the US. The girls being 2 years old will be attending UD early learning center which is the learning center provided by the for graduate students like me who have toddlers like them. We already picked up their registration forms.

VO: Seems you have a good plan. I will be approving your visa.

She reached for the white paper, and I went deaf 🙂😀 cos I didn’t hear anything again.

All thanks to the Almighty God for making this happen seamlessly. Thank you to everyone that shared their transcript. I gleaned a thing or two from it.

#Case Study 2:

Status: Visa Approved (First and only attempt F1)
School: University of Wyoming
Course: PhD in Plant Biology
COA: $32,000
Funding: Fully-Funded
Interview Date: 5th January 2023

Here are my observations about Lagos before I go to the transcript.

1. Funding is key.
2. It is important to be attentive when you are waiting for your interview.
3. I see a lot of people were denied because they could not answer the questions asked or didn’t get their stories right. For example, someone was asked why he was not contributing to this education, and after he spoke about his sponsor, he didn’t get the question. The VO had to ask him in three different ways before he managed to gerrit. Another said her sponsor previously worked at the Lagos Consulate; when they asked her in what capacity, when? She said she was not sure.
4. Don’t be caught in a lie, or say what the VO might not understand. whatever your funding status is, if you are caught lying, you will be denied. A guy going for Ph.D. with full sponsorship said he was Mandated to go for a higher degree, which might not be a lie, but the black VO said, you have been there for eight years; why are they mandating it for you now. The guy was rattled by her response. He was denied!

VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning, (In my mind, let’s get to business. She had previously denied three people before me. she denied them then with a smile on her face. The young-looking VO in window 4).

VO: Who will be paying for the deficit?
Me: There are no deficits. My program is fully funded. The deficit is for my dependents, and they will not be joining me at this time. (Explained how they have not been able to get dates since they canceled the initial appointment in Abuja.)

VO: checks on her system for a while.
What is your graduate plan,
Me: told her… 36 credit hours of courses… ….blablabla…

VO: types for a long time and keeps looking at her computer and my face at the same time. Then she gave me the white paper.

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