I am in the final year of my B. Tech degree in computer science and engineering and am interested in doing a master’s degree. I have 65 percent with no backlogs. I will take the GRE and TOEFL and soon begin to apply to U.S. universities. It would be convenient to begin my studies in fall 2012. Can I receive a visa if I apply for an interview in June? (VIJAYENDRA NANNAPANENI)
Many students who want to start in the fall semester apply during the month of June. If you have a valid I-20, an HDFC receipt, a passport-sized photo and a valid passport, you may book an appointment for a visa interview on the VFS website. We encourage students to apply as soon as possible, but you may not apply more than 120 days in advance of the start date printed on your I-20.
My visa was rejected four times last year. I am a B. Tech student with 74 percent and no backlogs. My aim is to pursue a master’s degree in the United States. My TOEFL score is going to expire on August 28. Could you please let me know what improvements I should make and whether I should retake the TOEFL? (Murali)
We understand that being denied a visa can be a frustrating situation. If you are reapplying for a student visa, you should make an honest assessment of your application and think about all of the strengths and weaknesses of your profile. What can you improve about your application through hard work? I suggest you talk or meet with an EducationUSA adviser. Their website is usief.org.in and their toll free phone number is 1800 103 1231, open Monday to Friday, 2pm to 5pm. You may also want to keep yourself updated on events and sessions through their Facebook page at facebook.com/EducationUSADelhi.
TOEFL score requirements are determined by universities. If your score is good enough for the university that you are applying to, and is valid at the time of the application, you can reuse it. It is important to note that consular officers don’t base their decisions on TOEFL scores, but rather consider a variety of factors to make a decision. You need to explain your academic plans, including why you chose a particular school or program. If you haven’t already, take this test to help you “Define your Priorities” and prepare a strong application to a U.S. graduate program (www.educationusa.info/5_steps_to_study.)
Every student is different. As you select institutions, you should consider factors that are most important to you in your education and future goals. When it comes time for your visa appointment, relax and be prepared to share your story and discuss your academic plans. For many interviews, whether the visa is approved or not, the interviewing officer may not look at any documents, but rather choose to focus on talking to the visa applicant.
More than 100,000 Indian students are studying in the United States, so qualified students will make it through.
I am in my final year at MJCET. Osmania University gives out results late and the process of getting the transcripts is gruesome. I have received my I-20s and I wish to reach the university 15 to 20 days in advance of the start date. If I wait for the transcripts, it seems like this won’t be possible. So can you please tell me an alternative so that I can attend the visa interview as early as possible? Also, what are the minimum documents that are required? (Sheikh Abdulhaleem)
Besides a valid I-20, an HDFC receipt, a passport sized photo and a valid passport, no documents are specifically required for a student visa interview. You are not required to have your transcript when you apply for a visa. Good candidates come prepared and bring many educational and financial documents just in case the officer asks to see them. If the visa officer decides to ask for your transcript, explain your situation to the officer and the officer will decide whether or not they need that information to make their decision. Often times, your semester mark sheets will show the same information as a final transcript.
I'm in the middle of m third year of my electrical engineering program, and I have a 65 percent aggregate without any passive or active backlogs. I'm interested in pursuing an MBA in the United States. What exams should I take and is it essential to write the TOEFL? Can I take the IELTS instead of the TOEFL? On what basis are visas granted? What are the financial requirements that I have to meet? (Saikumar Machiraju)
Plan on taking the GMAT because it is the standardized test required by most MBA programs. Some programs may also accept the GRE, which you can confirm on the university website. The TOEFL and the IELTS are tests to measure English proficiency. In the United States, the majority of universities require the TOEFL, but an increasing number also accept the IELTS. You need to check the university admissions requirements to be sure. The graduate admissions committee of each university reviews all applications holistically; GMAT/GRE scores, work experience, application essays and letters of recommendation all play an important role in the decision-making process.
Graduate school in the United States is a significant investment. Funding for MBA programs is rare, which means you will need to self-finance the entire cost of the education, take out a bank loan or the combination of the two. Look at the university’s website to find more details about how you can fund your MBA program. For the visa interview, you must demonstrate that you have readily available funds for the first year of the program and that sufficient funds will be available for the duration of the program.
I completed my B.Tech in 2010 and my stream is electronics and instrumentation. I have been working at TCS as a software tester for the past 14 months. You have written that for MBA candidates, most of the universities look at candidates with two to three years of work experience. Does that work experience need to be in management or is technical work experience in the software industry seen as the same as management experience? (Pavan)
Admissions requirements and procedures for business schools may differ somewhat from regular graduate school requirements. Academic achievements, standardized tests, letters of recommendation and essays are all significant components of the application. In addition to these factors, business schools do consider work experience, which can range from technical work to management duties. When describing any kind of work experience, it is important to showcase your initiative, teamwork and leadership skills through letters of recommendation and essays in order to increase your chances of being admitted. In the end, U.S. schools want to understand how your experiences and goals led you to choose their institution and what you want to accomplish in your career after you graduate. No single component is likely to make or break your application to a business school. You will need to submit a winning application that has all the components, including your GMAT and standardized tests, to increase your chances of getting into an MBA program. Please note that business schools may differ in the eligibility requirements for their programs. Do your homework and find the best fit for you. Read more about graduate studies in the United States here: www.usief.org.in/Study-in-the-US/Graduate-Study.aspx
I have a valid B.Tech (IT) degree with a 1080 GRE score and TOEFL score of 90. After getting an I-20 I was rejected twice for reasons best known to the visa officer. I would like to know if applying for a bank loan is authentic proof of funding, along with the sponsor’s financial documents. Is this enough proof for the consulate to be convinced about a student’s interest in pursuing higher education? (Ram)
Sometimes officers don't ask to see a single document at the interview whether for students who are approved and those who are not. A document doesn’t prove that a student is qualified for a visa; officers rely on the interview to determine eligibility. There is not usually one single reason for why student visas are refused. Usually there are several factors that lead the officer to determine whether the applicant qualifies for a visa. Although finances are a factor in adjudications, they are usually not the only reason that a student would be refused. Think about other areas of your application that you can strengthen in addition to the finances.
That said, sometimes a document is very important, so make sure to plan each document that could become helpful and bring it to the interview. The most important thing is to not bring false documents because the visa officer will not only refuse visa and the possibility of a lifetime ban on travel to the United States.
What factors are taken into consideration when deciding student visas and how can students be successful? (B. ROHITH)
Students must prove to the officer that they're qualified for the student visa. Here's what you need: a genuine desire and intent to study (meaning studying is the primary reason for your travel), a credible plan for finances (which can be tough as graduate school in America is a significant investment), and an intent to return to India (which means that you must prove to the officer that you aren’t using the student visa for economic or immigration purposes.) You've really got to convince us you're a student first and foremost, with the purpose of getting a world-class education, and separate yourself from the many students who are more interesting in working or play on a student visa.
For students who have already been refused, you have an uphill battle. We don’t encourage you to reapply again immediately, because all the officers are trained to evaluate students similarly. You will likely find the same result – at an expensive cost – unless you can demonstrate that you’re a better candidate than before. Do something that you can proudly tell the officer makes you a better candidate, whether that’s showing off some new work experience, boasting a higher test score or better articulating a strong academic plan.
I am pursuing my B.Tech in biomedical engineering. Is it advisable to attain higher studies abroad or to stay in India? I am interested in doing an MS abroad, but I am confused about what to choose. Could you please provide information about the universities that offer an MS? (Nandita Bhanu Kavuluri)
Studying in India or going abroad is a personal decision and both have their own costs and benefits, both monetary and non-monetary. However, there is no harm in exploring the U.S. higher education system if you are interested. The United States is a global leader in higher education and engineering is one of the most sought after disciplines, particularly by Indian students. The range of engineering programs offered by various U.S. universities at the postgraduate level is immense, and for a start you can begin by exploring these at www.petersons.com and www.gradschools.com. We also strongly suggest you attend EducationUSA’s basic orientation program at USIEF, which is free and gives exhaustive information about choices, requirements and admissions processes related to U.S. higher education. You may also call the All-India toll free helpdesk at 1800 103 1231 (Mon-Fri, 2-5pm) to ask questions.
