US F-1 visa interview: how to prepare in 2026

• Interviews: since September 2025, almost all Indian F-1 applicants must attend an in-person interview. Interview waivers now apply only to very limited groups.
• Social media: applicants must list the social media identifiers they have used in the last five years, and F and J applicants are asked to set their profiles to public so they can be reviewed.
• Duration of status: a final rule published in July 2026 ends open-ended 'duration of status' admission from 15 September 2026. Students entering from that date are admitted until the programme end date on their I-20 plus a 30-day grace period, subject to a four-year maximum, and must apply to extend if they need more time.
• Fees: the MRV application fee is USD 185 and the SEVIS I-901 fee for F-1 students is USD 350. A new visa integrity fee of at least USD 250 has been legislated; check the embassy website for whether it is being collected when you apply.

• Check that every detail on your I-20 is correct: name as in passport, programme dates and funding figures.
• Pay the SEVIS fee and keep the receipt.
• Fill in the DS-160 yourself, carefully and truthfully. Every answer should match your documents and what you will say.
• Book your appointment early; slots for the main intake months fill quickly.
• Review your own social media and make sure nothing contradicts your application.

The officer may not ask for any documents, but you must be able to produce the right one quickly if they do. Organise them in a single folder in a logical order.

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay, and any old passports.
• Signed I-20, DS-160 confirmation, appointment letter and SEVIS fee receipt.
• Admission letter and, if relevant, scholarship or assistantship letter.
• Financial documents: bank statements, loan sanction letter, sponsor affidavits and income proof matching the I-20.
• Academic documents: mark sheets, degree certificates and test score reports.

Under US law, every applicant is presumed to intend to immigrate unless they show otherwise. In a short conversation, the officer is deciding whether you are a genuine student, whether you can pay for your education, and whether you intend to leave the US after your studies and any authorised practical training.

Prepare by understanding your own reasons, not by memorising answers. Officers hear rehearsed answers all day and can tell the difference.

• Why this university? Mention specific things: the curriculum, a lab, faculty, location.
• Why this course, and how does it relate to your background?
• Which other universities did you apply to, and where were you admitted or rejected?
• Who is funding your studies, and what do they do?
• What are your plans after graduation?
• Why not study this in India?

• Arrive on time, dressed neatly, with only the items the consulate allows.
• Listen to the question and answer it directly in one or two sentences.
• Speak for yourself; parents cannot answer for you.
• Be honest, including about a previous refusal or a gap in your education.
• If refused, stay calm, ask which section of the law applies, and speak to your counsellor about whether and when to reapply.

Under the new fixed-period admission, keep track of your I-20 end date and grace period, and speak to your university's international student office well before it if you need an extension. The grace period after completing studies or OPT is now 30 days rather than 60. Know the rules for on-campus work, CPT and OPT before you start working.