F1 Visa Interview Experiences

F1 Visa Interview for Fall Semester – Direct PhD – US Embassy, Nepal

I am from NEPAL. I gave my f1 visa interview at Kathmandu on 14 May.

Here’s my profile information:

  • Undergrade in Mechanical Engineering
  • Undergraduate Academics: 71%
  • 10th grade = 78%
  • 12th grade =74.9 %
  • GRE Score = 306
  • TOEFL = 89
  • Two months of work experience

I had contacted a professor there at the University of California at Merced.

My research field is Thermal Science and Enegery Conversion.

  • My I20 reflects total expense of $44,000
  • Funds from University – $53,000 annually
  • I’m going for PhD directly from Bachelors Degree.

F1 Visa Interview Experience for PhD

VO – Hey. Good morning.

ME – Hi. Good morning .. how are you?

VO – I’m fine.  So which UNIVERSITY ?

ME – University of California, Merced

VO – So, Mechanical Engineering?

ME- yeah sir.

VO – Why this UNIVERSITY ?

ME – It’s the 1st research based university of USA in 21st century and I have contacted the professor and he liked my academic background. We had a skype session (and then he interrupts me.

VO – (looking my I-20 ) So you got pretty good funding eh? ( he was kind of smiling  and I think he praised my funding while looking like that)

ME – (smiling back ) yeah sir.

VO – So whats your your plan. Are you coming back to NEPAL after your research?

ME – Yeah sir. I have a plan to come back here in NEPAL and work as a Post Doc Researcher in the Energy Institute, who promotes Alternative Energy and Grid Nepal, where I think my research would be very helpful for the success of the institute and ultimately Nepal. When I told him the first sentence he was not looking me and for the 2nd sentence we had a great eye contact with each other and I saw in his eye that he was convince with my answer or like was appreciating my plan. He kinda moved back from the eye contact we had for few seconds )

VO – So you married?

ME – No sir. Not yet.

VO – So you have plan to marry in near future?

ME-  No sir.

VO -(sarcastically ) I mean now you have a good funding from the school and you are going to USA. Any Nepali girl will be willing to marry you. Won’t they?

ME – No  sir. Not before my PhD. That may be the case but I have no intention of marrying before my research.

VO – (types something on the computer for like 20 secs and then )

VO – Ok, your F1 visa has been approved. Congrats and Good Luck.

ME – Have a nice day sir. Thanks a lot.

That’s it. It was like 2 minutes interview.


So, what did you think about the interview?

Looks like fun, friendly interview. Right?

Read it closely.

This student received 100% funding.

Plus, yearly stipend as well.

And, the visa officer was impressed with the funding.

And yet, all the standard questions were asked.

  • Why do you want to study at this university?
  • Do do you plan to do in the future?

If he had stumbled in any of the answers, he would have been in trouble.

But, he prepared well. Gave solid answers and walked out of the embassy with F1 visa approval.

Want More F1 Visa for Ph.D. Experience?

 

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6 Comments

  1. I want to know about Direct PH.D in Business Education.
    I have 7 years of work nex in rhe field of electrical engineering.
    Plz help.

  2. your hardwork made your visa interview so easy…congrats..i am proud of you.i wish you all the best for your future in merced and wish to see you as Dr. sudeep shrestha …

  3. This is really gud dear….feel gud to read your positive responsive answers for the questions of VO……Juzt go nd njy ur research…gud luck

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