F1 Visa Interview Experiences

F1 Visa – 214b Rejection Twice At New Delhi Consulate – MBA

> Following post was shared by Tejprakash

214b rejection
Photo By Supersonicphotos

I had a my first F-1 VISA interview on 5th July, 2012 and it was rejected.

  • University: Montclair State University, New Jersey
  • Course: Master of Business Administration
  • GMAT: 380
  • TOEFL: Waived off as I hold an American Bachelors Degree
  • Visa Type: Renewal
  • Status: Rejected. 🙁

214 b Rejection – Straight to the F1 interview:

The VO was a American Lady in her forties.

VO: Hi, Good Morning, How are you?
ME: Good How are you? (smile)

VO: Which university?
Me: Montclair State University

VO: Why MSU?
Me: MBA curriculum, accomplished professors, ranked among the 100 best business schools in USA

VO: How many universities you applied? Which all?
Me: Applied to three Universities. Montclair State University, Western Michigan University, Oakland University

VO: Admit and Rejects?
Me: 1 admits

VO: What does your father do?
Me: He is into business

VO: What business?
Me: Textile Manufacturing business

VO: When did you graduate?
Me: December 2010

VO: (She looked at my passport and in a conforming tone, asked me if my undergraduate college was the same as shown on the visa granted earlier)
Me: I confirmed yes

VO: So what have you been doing since graduation?
Me: I have been working with my father in his business

VO: What work did you do?
Me: I worked with my father as a trainee where my duties included communicating with clients, keeping a track of the ongoing production orders, marketing new designs and styles, etc.

VO: Why MBA when you are in Business? (THIS IS WHERE I WENT WRONG)
Me: Ma’am I think MBA will not help me enhance my knowledge but will also help me polish my skills as I plan to work in my fathers business after my Masters.

VO: I’m Sorry I am not convinced
Me: OK Thankyou

Second time I applied on 16th July,2012 and this time it was young man.

After passing my documents, the VO stared at the screen for around 2 minutes, reading the previous comments and then started on

VO: Ok, so I see you were interviewed by my colleague last week
Me: Yes Sir

VO: So, what went wrong?
Me: I could not convince the VO that I was a credible F1 Student

VO: How many universities you applied to?
Me: Five universities

VO: Ok, but you said three universities in your previous interview?
Me: I mean I applied to three universities only, but Ive sent my GMAT scores to five universities

VO: Why Montclair State?
Me: Told the same as earlier

VO: What was your GRE?
Me: Sir, I have GMAT as I am going for MBA

VO: How much on GMAT?
Me: 380

VO: Why MBA now when your are in business?
Me: During my work in these 1.5 years here, I realized that I lack the wisdom needed to take up much competitive roles in business. I also realized that my undergrad education was not enough to compete with the skill sets demanded by my position. Hence, to furnish myself with this wisdom, have decided to pursue MBA at this point of time.

VO: I’m sorry I cannot issue you a visa, I do not see any change in your profile
Me: Ok Thankyou

Please suggest, What changes I should make before going for the third attempt. Comments appreciated.

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26 Comments

  1. Hello my scores are gre: 291 toelf :82

    I am shashank heading to Wichita state university,applied for visa on
    21 November’12 and got rejected because the VO asked me the normal questions
    I answered fine
    : How many universities you applied 4 Sir.
    VO :What do u know about your university
    Me: Its vission is abc
    and was established in 1886.its been 1000 year with academic excellence

    VO :Are you sure its 1000 years Me: Boldly yes sir, V0: Smiles sarcastly and says
    I dont think so you bcoz US was formed 200 years ago and you say 1000 years back. I
    reject you with 214(b)

    2nd at Chennai Consulate on 12 th December
    it was a lady
    She asked me so heading to Wichita state ha ?
    Me: Yes, mam ( after few seconds I realise what did I answer Its Kansas state Wichita city)
    when did u graduate :2011 , What wer u doing since then : I am working at ABCDEDS
    hOW MANY UNIVERSITYS did u apply : 3 mam

    Sorry I reject u

    Ihave my college starting on Jan 13 ‘ 13…..Can some one suggest me of what can be done

  2. Hello everyone,
    My visa was rejected twice under 214b fst in Chennai and 2nd in Hyderabad and my profile is gre-910 Ielts-6 and acads-75% with no backlogs. I have applied for three univs and went with Texas A&M univ Kingsville. And my next visa interview is on 31st July please help me.

  3. Pls I’ve cried so much. I scheduled 4 July 2nd bt missed bcos my i20 came aweek after, so now no date to reschedule 4 another one and my emergency was denied two times, can i meet someone @ the embassy to help get a date cos my school will start on 15th Aug. Tnx

    1. It doesn’t matter when your school will start. You should have patiently waited for your i20 to arrive b4 making an appointment. If it is really in, try make another appointment if even it’s in the first week of August. There is no harm in trying and have faith. Students always make late for school so it not over until it’s over. Okay and take heart..

  4. Hello guys,

    I am a dentist completed BDS and planning to take Master’s in Healthcare Management. I got admitted to CSU. I got my F1 visa rejection and i am reapplying for it. Actually I gave my GRE in old pattern and scored 920. I felt little bit nervous and communicated with the University admission officer they said they are happy with profile ( good percent in academics and no backlogs and hails from health profession ) as it looks decent and assured admission indicating that not necessary to retake the test. In my visa interview the VO asked my score along with academics and denied me the visa. It seems like he felt that my score is low and din’t gave me a chance to explain the reason. Now can any one suggest me how to face the interview regarding my score.

  5. Hello Tej Prakash,

    Here I have a suggestion for you. I don’t think that one’s again giving GMAT will definitely work.So you better try to convince VO in a smarter way just as Rakesh Raj said “to expand your business to international markets” and to learn newer stratagies and how to overcome hurdles better exposing youself in a positive way and be confident telling that “I just learned the basics of business in a practical way till this time working with my dad.Now, I myself wanted to start & lead a business, become a successful enterprenuer.I don’t want to restrict myself in a single field of business, I wanted to explore into different fields..For this, I furthur need a better knowledge and skills to be learnt.”

    Hope this will work to a lill extent.
    Good Luck.

    1. Hi Bhuma,

      Thanks for your advice….I surely appreciate it and will make sure it works this time for me…!!

  6. I would say.. the last answer was pretty negative. You must look into the prospectus of the MBA programme and try to get something which you will be doing over there. Like, for example, I think it is a great programme especially for my background with the textile business which i will be running in place of my father in the future. I’m more interested in the dynamics and the direction the textile industry is moving and the programme offers a good case study method which helps me get a deeper understanding and also give me better opportunities to drive my business in a many directions. I also feel that this programme will be able to give me opportunities to meet people whom i otherwise may not meet, so i think it is a great chance to network and study business in terms of the future prospects.

    End this way and i’m sure the VO will be certainly impressed. Please don’t make up anything. Say it from your heart. It will be good. All the best.

  7. Hi,
    Always b smiling so tat automatically u can boost ur confidence..my suggestion his tat all ur statements ave been already recorded.Further plan it well & inform d VO tat u ave applied 5 universities clearly…think think think wat u ave made wrong previously & correct it simple..b confident.

  8. Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Hello Tej,
    I am really sorry that your visa was rejected twice. I have few suggestions. Please see if you can take up GMAT again and get a better score. There are better chances if the score is high.
    I felt you answer to the question “Why MBA now” was very negative, always answer in a positive way. I would have answered as below:

    VO: Why MBA now when your are in business?
    Me: During my work in these 1.5 years here, I realized that I have learnt a very good insight into the world of business, now I want to learn how the international business works and implement the same in my business here. I strongly believe that this MBA would help me in the exposure to international markets and new facets of business. I have all the required wisdom and energy which takes to be succesful in business, all i need is the right approach towards any situation and the professors at XYZ university are good in handling that.

    (End your answer so that you are giving the VO another question to ask for which you are prepared with the answer, in the above example. The question may be)

    VO: How do you know that the professors at this university are good ?
    YOU : (Prepare for the answers in advance) i have gone through the case study of “XYZ companies” done by professor “XYZ , ABC etc” . This way of thinking was very intutive and I found that trait in the works of many professors at this university. Hence I would wish to improve my skill sets under their guidance.

    Well hope you get your Visa buddy.. Let me know in case you need more help with the questions. Take care.

    1. hello Mr.rajesh.
      I found ur answer pretty much intresting.Could u plz solve some similar problem of mine.Am a BE student.june 2012 passed out. And from CSE backgroung. I have applied for masters in MIS in university of south Florida.I have my visa interview on 30th of july.So plz help in choosing the asnwer for, why r u changing ur course from cse to mis.why MIS, Y not MBA and what will u do after ur masters.please help in choosing right answers for these.I will be very thanful to you.

    2. Thanks a lot Rakesh…..Appreciate your suggestions buddy…..I will make sure things go well this time….!

      Thanks again…!

  9. Hello Tej,
    I am really sorry that your visa was rejected twice. I have few suggestions. Please see if you can take up GMAT again and get a better score. There are better chances if the score is high.
    I felt you answer to the question “Why MBA now” was very negative, always answer in a positive way. I would have answered as below:

    VO: Why MBA now when your are in business?
    Me: During my work in these 1.5 years here, I realized that I have learnt a very good insight into the world of business, now I want to learn how the international business works and implement the same in my business here. I strongly believe that this MBA would help me in the exposure to international markets and new facets of business. I have all the required wisdom and energy which takes to be succesful in business, all i need is the right approach towards any situation and the professors at XYZ university are good in handling that.

    (End your answer so that you are giving the VO another question to ask for which you are prepared with the answer, in the above example. The question may be)

    VO: How do you know that the professors at this university are good ?
    YOU : (Prepare for the answers in advance) i have gone through the case study of “XYZ companies” done by professor “XYZ , ABC etc” . This way of thinking was very intutive and I found that trait in the works of many professors at this university. Hence I would wish to improve my skill sets under their guidance.

    Well hope you get your Visa buddy.. Let me know in case you need more help with the questions at . Take care.

  10. I would suggest not to contradict your previous statements. Be confident and explain in brief your future goals of expanding your business. Good luck.

  11. Noting done tips! 😉

    anyway, school asked me to pay my SEVIS. I just wanted to know if I would also have to pay for processing fee after paying SEVIS. Does paying the SEVIS schedules one for a an interview or thats a seperate thing all together??

      1. I get you. I will have to pay my sevis fees AND visa application fees and then schedule an appointment…. I’m in a tight situation now as I still dont have an interview date. I should be on campus on/before 23rd Auguust.

        1. Exactly… you got to hurry cos the scheduling a date for the interview might differ. Wishing you good luck. For me i had the safest interview ever by His grace. Try as much as possible to have better eye contact with the consulate and smile always. Give straight forward answers. Stay bless bro…

          1. ok. got interview scheduled. Will post a mock interview here and have you guys look at it. Thanks Jones

  12. I think you did pretty well the second time but you have to do better. This is what I will advice. Find 3 strong points why you want to do an MBA and when you get to the consulate tell the VO that you want to do your MBA for 3 main reason, Namely……..
    Show some level of organization when presenting your three main reason and let them followup consistently. (No contradictions). You can also put in expanding your fathers business to other parts of the world. I mean something new and better than just working with your dad. Appear confident and look the VO straight in the eye. Again appear confident and know what you are saying.

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