Visa Interviews:
Visa interviews are probably the most nerve-wracking part of the entire study abroad plan. The way the interview goes can make or break a student’s dream of traveling internationally to study at some of the most renowned universities in the world. Often, students fail to prepare themselves well enough before attending a Visa Interview. But there’s no need to worry, we’ve got you covered! Here’s the top 10 Student Visa Interview Questions and Tips for how to answer them:
1. How will you maintain ties with your family and relationship with your traditions and values?
For this question, it is essential to express how much a family relationship matters to you and how devoted you are to ensuring that connection does not waver after travelling to a new country. This question is especially common when applying to the United States.
Example: “Keeping in touch with my family is extremely important to me, and so I plan to maintain a healthy relationship through active communication using Fact-Time-like apps, WhatsApp, and social media.”
2. What was your academic past like?
This is a more qualifications-based question, it’s centred around the educational achievements made by the student. In this question, it is important for students to draw attention to how they’ve progressed throughout their entire academic career, highlighting areas of positivity. This question is frequently asked of students applying to the U.K.
Example: “I completed my F.sc/A-levels/Other in the year ____. During my higher secondary education, I was an avid participant in Model UNs, Science Olympiads, and athletic extracurriculars such as Football and Cricket.
3. What do you plan on doing during the Summer Holidays?
This is another question frequently asked of students applying to the United Kingdom. The answer to this question can vary between two things: Either they choose to travel back home for the holidays and spend time with their families, or decide to stay in the country and look for part-time employment opportunities and paid internships. There is no issue with either answer. For more about internships and part-time jobs in the U.K.
Example: “During the summer break, I will most probably travel back home and spend a couple of months with my family before returning to resume my studies after the university reopens.”
“During the summer vacation, I’ll be looking to find employment opportunities and internships so that I can help support myself/gain experience.”
4. What do you make of the current economic or political scenario of Pakistan, and how does it impact you?
This is a very dicey question asked mostly to students looking to travel to the US. Students need to frame their question in a way that shows they have thorough awareness of the situation but do not speak about it in negative undertones. Instead, talk about how you are looking to improve the conditions of your country and how studying abroad helps you do that. Students can gain awareness about their local political/economic conditions through news outlets and magazines such as Dawn News.
Example: “There is no doubt that Pakistan is going through a rough period currently, with politics being an understandably confusing activity nowadays, and the price of everything is mostly going up. But I believe this is only a phase, a chapter in a larger plot where Pakistanis help improve their condition. And I sincerely believe that by harnessing exposure and education abroad, I can help Pakistan excel as a nation,”
5. Why are you choosing to study abroad rather than in your own home country?
To answer this question, students must be very careful about speaking negatively about their nation. Instead, it has a more positive effect if students look to appreciate the advantages and excellent qualities of the country they wish to travel to. This shows that the student is well-researched and aware of where they are going, and also that they aren’t only going through their due negativities within their state.
Example: “I chose to study abroad due to the uniqueness and quality of the programs offered. Moreover, I would like to gain some exposure after having received all prior education within Pakistan, experiencing new cultures and their people is something that I truly think will teach me more than I can ever learn by staying with the same people all my life.”
6. How involved have you been in extracurricular activities about your desired field of study in Pakistan?
Another popular question asked of F1 Visa applicants (Pakistani applicants to the US) is their contributions to the specific field they’ve chosen to study. This question is quite simple to answer; all students need to do is impress upon the various clubs and societies/competitions/internships, and research work they may have conducted during their high secondary academic period. Moreover, applicants must also express how these experiences have assisted them with their ambitions to study abroad.
Example: “I have participated in numerous Mathematics Olympiads during my O and A levels/Matric and F.Sc as well as taken up several internships to carry out research on particle physics at accredited universities. Additionally, I have been part of ‘Pakistan’s Physics Society’ for quite a while now.
7. To what extent do you believe studying abroad is helping you achieve your dreams?
For this question, students must describe the advantages/distinct qualities and unique reasoning for why they hope to study abroad. This can be done by highlighting what your ‘dreams’ are and then elaborating upon how studying abroad aids in making that happen. For instance, if your dream is to become an investment banker, you could make the point that the most renowned investment banking firm/university/professors are present within your desired country, etc.
Example: “The exposure I’m hoping to attain to become an attorney is unheard of/uncommon in my country due to a lack of a developed education industry that caters to students looking to gain real-world experience. By travelling to [country name], I can work alongside/study from the most able and intellectual lawyers from all over the world, allowing me to learn from the best.”
8. Discuss a moment when you were faced with a difficulty and how you were able to resolve it
Targeting your personality and mindset, this question aims to see how well students can adapt/tolerate, and overcome negativity and adversity in their day-to-day life. Travelling abroad is a tall task; visa officers try and make sure students hoping to go abroad aren’t the type to be easily overwhelmed or burdened, as they will most definitely be put under immense amounts of pressure and stress.
Example: “When I needed to move from my hometown over to an entirely different state. That was probably the most prominent difficulty I’ve ever encountered, but I never made much of it. Instead of thinking about it too much, I just decided to focus on what was in front of me, realizing what’s happened has happened and there’s no point in dwelling upon what my life was like.”
These are amongst the most popular and important questions asked by Visa Officers to Pakistani students hoping to apply to the United States, United Kingdom, or generally most places abroad. Students must understand the severity and vitality of their visa interview and how it cannot be one of the processes left incomplete/completed incompetently. The above questions are not going to be worded exactly as they are, nor will the order be repeated; thus, it will serve students better to prepare very well for their interview by re-learning themselves, their interests, and relevant information about the country they’d like to go to.
