Cathy Tan's List: Visa

• SEVIS全称 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System （学生和交流学者信息系统），是一个存储现在美国的国际学生和交流学者信息的网络数据库。
• 拟申请F-1，F-3，J-1，M-1或者M-3非移民签证的每一位外国人均需缴纳100美元的SEVIS费用，用于数据库的日常维护。

• Every visa officer will assume that you are NOT coming back to China, all you have to do is to convince him/her that you ARE coming back!
• Don’t wait the visa officer to ask the questions you prepared or the questions you assume is going to fit into your answers, you have to fully express yourself positively, you have to seek any chance to express yourself!
• Every question is a trap! you have to see the trap behind the question!
• Do notice every answer should be very SPECIFIC, clear and reasonable.
• Category A---Are you coming back to China? ; t; S- R9 n! A2 y0 L- h
• All the questions below looks like asking about your purpose to go to US, looks like asking about your study goals in US or your study strategies in US. In fact
• The trap behind: you concentrate too much on the school details without mention career development plan in China.
• The real question behind: Are you coming back to China?
• Trick to answer: answer them simply and clearly with your knowledge of major and schools you are applying, then switch to your career plan in China immediately! You have to have a very customized plan for yourself, it has to be very reasonable.
• Category B: Are you a serious student?
• The visa officer may ask some questions to evaluate if you are a serious student. These are detailed messages about yourself or the school you applied.
• The trap behind: you don’t have a good education background or your language skills are poor, or the way you present yourself is not proper on that day.
• The real question behind: Are you a legislate student to go to US without causing any trouble?
• The trick to answer: Study more about the school you applied over emails, website or brochures. Know more about your school and department. Express yourself precisely, clearly and honestly. Dress up as a serious student rather than a businessperson unless you have years of working experience and you are going to study MBA in US.
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• Category C: Do you have enough money to support your study and living?
• You might be asked about scholarships, your income, your parents’ income, your parents’ jobs or your job status, in fact, they are just trying to find out if you are able to pay your study and living in US. But you have to remember:
   8 u& [/ ~$ R5 s5 T6 B6 eIt is NOT the scholarship that makes you choose that university. The reason you choose that university have to be VERY VERY SPECIFIC and very REASONABLELY related to your future career plan in China!
• The trap behind: you don’t seem have enough financial support for your study or living. The financial certificates you present are either looking fake or unreasonable.
• The real question behind: Will you able to pay the tuition and other fees while you stay in US?
• The trick to answer: be confident to say that you have enough money to support yourself, it can be either from your savings or from your parents. Seek any chance to speak out very specifically or show the documents (bank statement from you or your parents. A letter from your parents stating that you would like to pay for your study) to visa officer. The documents have to show a proper and reasonable amount.
• Please be notified that: never never try to make a story to tell that you know why the school gives you scholarship. Especially for graduate student, the scholarship is a long story from department to admission office. You would have never known.
• So, the correct answer is: I Don’t Know.
• 108问
   " I2 i' @, W, k$ N; b* |
   * t& X8 D5 N+ q1 K' {9 _" M
   / N2 D/ ^( I' \2 Z4 n& \  S  I1) What will you study in the United States? + Y, N$ T; t8 r+ e6 J
   2) What is your major? In what aspect of your major will you study?
   ! L5 d% x0 \" e  I5 b/ |        What is your favorite subject? Can it be used to military utilities
   + ?4 M( S! z& M) Q?
   9 Q8 u6 Y7 C* B' ^3) What will you do in USA?
   9 ?, H+ @! l% {4 U0 r4) Are you going to study in USA?
   + r: R9 e& ~/ A; J# T2 G1 H5) When/where did you get your BS/MS?
   3 S# z1 ~# _+ M, A9 |3 P- V1 g6) What/where are you working now? ) J% ?7 \1 q. ?
   7) How long will you study in USA?
   6 y2 P. O% }, z0 N! o, a8) Have you any scholarship?
   3 m! C2 J+ G( ~( h' L2 `7 {$ Z9) What do you want to study in USA?
   ) H4 i, J) Q! W% Z  W10) What do you do with your work for MS/phd? $ y( a8 @- S4 k/ ^, C9 t) K# V9 d
   11) What is your purpose for the visa? 2 S9 j4 J  _5 x2 n
   12) What is your academic background? % Y  z- c: q% L; k. o; }
   13) How do you know this Univ.? 0 z: I& V% J" Y( Y/ B5 m5 [0 q
   14) What is your plan? What will you do after graduation? Why? $ F: C" @/ Z' }0 ^0 e9 D' P
       what kind of job can you find in the future?
   ( ]$ P9 M* b0 x! c6 \+ u# `15) Give me three reasons that you will come back to China?
   ) j! J" K; l3 I- l& E3 E16) Can you explain why 90% Chinese students didn't come back?   F4 ^2 g* ?, @; R' B9 x: W- t7 d
   17) Why do you choose this Univ.? 0 ^. G& n8 f% q6 S
   18) Why do you like your major?
   0 S3 l2 h- B- R. d/ f+ N3 F; F$ E19) Why do you want to study in USA? 7 I2 {, O+ F# J
   20) Why do you want to pursue a master's/doctoral degree?
• 21) Why do you receive financial aid from this Univ.?
   % g$ }% w0 X4 ^8 q7 f  O22) What is the difficult class do you have?
   / S6 q- L) L- Q2 V# l( X23) Do you want your wife to go with you? 5 c6 o/ J9 a! e% Y
   24) What's your name? ' F( I) B* g! I& P3 r  [) ]
   25) What institution did you attend and what was your major? % u/ j' a6 N0 F& f, I
   26) What have you Done after you graduated from university?
   $ G) j, Z$ y1 r6 D0 i* N. r0 N2 Q0 |27) Why do you want go to the United States for further study? 6 y: \  E' @. E$ Y7 k7 b% o
   28) Why do you think it is time for you to pursue master's/doctoral " J, j  h7 b! F. r/ c/ n
       degree now?
   0 l7 y: M$ v9 Q7 v29) Why do you want to study xxx in the US?
     _8 E1 g# _/ T& r3 ]30) Many universities in the China offer first--rate graduate programs in xxx. Why do you want to go to the USA for graduate study?
   . x- u. T8 A+ t  T& B" z31) What is your ultimate academic goal? , v2 w% i; A8 ?3 [1 o- \
   32) To how many institutions have you applied, and who are they? ' K& l- O% J' W
      Any other school admits you?
   0 |, `# c9 N0 |! a. x7 u3 _' v3 e33)Why did you choose xxxxxx University?
   4 R( O! @9 Z$ e/ ]& ?( Q( y   How much do you know about the university? / \; A& ~- r% Y/ E5 l
   34)Do you have any relatives in the United States? 4 ~+ V3 [. o7 c; A: l8 ^% m
   35)What do your parents do? " {2 Z( \' s' L/ T' J" d
   36)How much do you expect you will have to spend each year in the ! b8 M/ P. Z( G4 u) U7 N$ l
      United States?
   / j/ x2 `' h" b37)How do you support yourself during your studies in the United States?
   4 g# z3 b. t8 q: u38)Do you plan to seek Financial support in the US? : P: F+ A7 L) L3 j
   39)Who will be your sponsor? How much is his annal income and what will be the amount you will receive annually? Do you have a bank deposit certification? % M% u: q: `/ q; h
   40)Do you plan to seek employment in the US after you have completed your
   3 Q! ^; X1 a9 m9 u8 i   studies?
• 41) How long does it take to commute to your work place? & @  ]" Z9 T" j! f
   42) What do you think of the West Development in China?
     n9 b, h1 `0 a1 t43) How long have you prepared your visa interview? Have u prepared   t) T) {+ h: I; n
       the interview in New Oriental?
   + l; p' P, {- x6 \; @8 {8 V44) How long have you prepared for GRE? Did you cheat? 2 ]& V  q% e& V
   45) Are you a worker or a student now?
   1 [% w* Q/ `# Z" h8 U5 G# p, V46) Where are you from? Where is your hometown? ( C9 G. K# ]$ \
   47)How much do you earn now? How much will you earn when you come back?   J8 p* L7 K' }) n' b7 O# o
   48) Do you know which school is the best in your major? What else?
   * @9 p9 G# c0 j49) What does your major mean? . W5 N; H/ c) }9 W* D0 K& ~
   50) What will you study in this major? What courses? 4 v$ Z8 I$ Q0 F5 s7 X+ x0 B
   51） If you say you will be a teacher in the future, what will you teach? $ [+ E8 R/ y2 N! }
   52) What's the difference between your major now and the major in USA?
   3 c% j9 u, e5 X$ \( C% J53)When are you going to enter US? # N$ l/ ]7 V+ ]; U/ R7 H$ Q
   54）What is your dream? $ P$ L6 [7 c/ U3 }! `1 Z
   55)What is the thing you like best in America ,or the thing you like $ F& a; I  C! D: I
           best in China? ; c' p2 S8 K" {' B0 ?, _% `! w  U
   56)Then what is the thing you don't like most in China? - H- y" h1 q. s# S
   57)Can you give an example of your topic that is applied in our living?
   3 N- C2 [2 s; ~+ G1 @58)Why do you change your major ? / Y8 f9 W# B" _. m8 |
   59)What is your favorite pet? Why?
   ( `! ]- F  r6 L$ B% ~4 h1 f60)What's your best/worst quality.
• 61)What do you think is the best/worst thing of the U.S? 2 w8 u$ k* M( i: E+ N
   62) Have you ever been to nations aside of China? Have you ever gone abroad?
   & q7 _+ J9 f$ ?: m, I2 k! E7 T
   & J! q- }$ z. a# H+ E63)What's your favorite food? 1 S% F8 u5 b6 A" p7 a, u3 \
   64) Have you any bank deposit? 3 I' u/ {2 s2 E9 i9 I
   65) What kind of works you will do for this assistantship? 5 z4 f, D1 U" W# t5 D
      What's your duty as a TA/RA? ) `5 d+ [0 |  k6 n
   66) Is your transcript original?
   # x# Q# ?5 m  p/ v% ?7 _0 A! o67) How old are you? : {( G3 |1 P& `5 y9 W
   68)Have you any relatives in US? 0 F" e1 @. {  U" i" Z0 r, p2 Z
   69) When did you join the T/G test?
   $ F. s% k# r' F& k9 c70)What score did you get in T/G test?
   + j5 o6 p$ f$ b. `' \$ ]! y1 f71)课程概述. Can you talk something about the course XX?
   6 H- Y. G$ h6 c) b5 I9 F72) Do you have sisters or brothers?
   / q2 x% w6 l. r' b3 ~" ^) F4 F73) How long have you been in Beijing?
   2 S' j  o. e. {' S74) Why did you live in Beijing? 8 K/ L6 |5 e  S
   75)What's you hobby? What do you do in your spare time? ' e1 f& ?. m; X# F7 H
   76) What is your current project in your company? What are you
   * S( G3 H; d' ]responsible for in your present post? - N( m* w6 e6 e+ q$ ?7 @
   77) How many years have your worked?   G" X! y. U9 @  Z& ^
   78)Can you tell me which assistantship they give you? TA or RA. . F- j2 i1 s) p3 A4 t" R2 Y
   79) What will you teach? " a! C  p. B- @
   80) What is your favorite American movie?
• 81) Who do you think is the best president of the US?
   $ z( g  [. O3 l82) Where is your HUKOU(户口)? ( V% u3 @, v8 l) G+ I8 T, ]8 ~
   83)Do you have a girlfriend? Where is she? Are you sure your gf will 4 h8 \, F" n$ ^; ~3 G- ^7 N
   keep relation with you during your graduate study? * X' _# `3 ?  f- k* Z& \
   84) Do you think who is the greatest leader in the world? Why?
   0 R) U3 s' p' y( J! Q85) Who is your advisor?
   * n; M5 `/ w! t" e" I4 a86) Have you any scholarship?
   : }1 g1 _! O! A+ Z3 E87)Which is your favorite restaurant (cafe)?
   * l5 `; h4 o; J; K& L0 Y6 p7 L9 C1 I5 U88) What's the difference between your major now and the major in USA? 9 y+ f: \' R  y  }
   89) Where do you live?  Where will you live?
   2 r" J) U9 R, L$ u0 a% ?; t1 S4 k90) Why did you choose your present job?
   9 c8 H& p6 }( `! ]' J* r91)what will you do if you can not find a position in the big
   0 H2 r4 u5 R: V0 ^6 d% ~companies/ xxx university? 1 ]& U' n6 k* e$ W$ m
   92)Your assistantship is for one year, then how about the following years?
   7 |: w+ x/ G' R& I! e# Y" P8 e, M93)what is your dissertation about? what is your specific research of your 8 j' s' U: w- s  o4 ^* Y0 ?4 n
   undergraduate paper? 9 \5 o1 m! }1 O# G2 P) p
   94)You can also make more of this kind of money in US, , e" u% c8 c* Y% Q+ e! R% W
   why don't you want to earn more?
   6 s; k! [2 g. {0 z" ]& Fwhy you come back to China instead of finding a job in America?
   0 c/ U( N5 \% i2 e  B95)Where is your company located in? , f2 ?! f& F5 ~# i+ i3 {" z% b
   96)So what development/programming tools do you use?(CS)
   4 J7 {8 Y6 v' ]( z97) Have you business card? Do you have a name card?
   - ~8 v  u: H2 S, H' I& y98) Why have you quit your job?
   : J" }# W, P! E& o99) How did you take GRE?
   + D, S, l( M0 S9 [0 b100)Is xxxxxxx the first university to give you the offer?
• 101) Will you come back to this company after graduation?
   , A" r# R8 Y. B- M+ Y102)What have you done in your research?
   + J" n4 I# ?; }) d' Z$ D$ ~  W103)Are you a top student in your school? What about your ranking in your class?
   6 ^, O# A, C$ c  y* I: R104) Do u have a cup of coffee every morning？
   ! s2 ~. H/ z5 n- D3 Q3 w105)what kind of computer do you have?
   * z& ~7 V/ P5 q. r( {5 G1 k106)what is your favorite color?
   4 |$ `' F* `. X- q$ A; @107) (Set up my own company about****) Is it difficult?
   / J5 u8 ~% D3 ~# p( y2 b3 [9 w$ o" L# f/ r6 `
   108) Would you like to accept the yellow card and go to window 10?
• 获得签证后必须在签证有效期以内入境。当在美国大使馆或领事馆得到非移民类 签证时，领事官员会将您的签证文件封存在一个信封内并附在您的护照上。切勿 打开这个信封！这个信封将由美国入境口岸的海关与边境保护局官员启封。（核对一下您的签证是否与您应持的签证类别完全相符）（但是换外汇需要I20，所以可以偷偷打开，然后重新封闭好）
• 预约签证流程图：: Z( B3 y/ a. E. @- E
   4 b- m3 F! h6 s: S, X$ T
   
   ! a$ Y% i+ j1 U' n; ~4 \; r5 o5 L2 K& H4 U& }9 B
  
• 支付SEVIS费, [- }4 T% f! M3 {/ C. E

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• 签证官要考虑三个问题
• 1.你是个真心想去美国读书的学生吗?
• 因此签证官要仔细审核 I-20 表格、毕业证书、学业成绩，查找破绽。
• 2.你有钱付学费吗?有的学生有全额奖学金,但也有很多学生是自费(全部自费或部分自费)，签证官需要确认你所声称的这笔钱是否真能为你所用。
• 3.你去美国的目的仅仅是去上学而不是去工作吗?
• 你的事业蓝图是什么?你为什么要去美国读书?你在那儿想学什么?完成学业后你打算做什么？
• 你对未来是否有计划或是有某种雄心?这一计划在中国的现状背景下是否可信?如果你去美国所学的课程在中国派不上用场,那我们该会怎么想呢？如果你能解释清楚所学内容今后在中国如何有用，那就有助于你在签证官的眼中成为有资格获取签证的人。
• 要看的另一方面是你目前在国内的现状,你的家庭成员(国内的与海外的)都有谁?父母做什么工作?他们在政府机关、工商企业、教育界所任的职务在你回国后是否对你有帮助？
• 我们对你家庭的经济状况也感兴趣.如果你的家庭现在就能供你去美国上大学，父母在国内事业开展得不错,我们也就容易相信你回国后事业也能有成.如果你是借了数千美元去美国上学、那我们就很难相信你在毕业后能马上回国.你将去哪儿挣钱还借款呢？
• 如果你被拒签了,要仔细听签证官对你所说的话.比如,如果签证官说你经济来源不清,下次来时就要带上说明钱的出处的文件;如果签证官说你无法让人信服你毕业后就回国、那就仔细想想在向签证官解释你的蓝图时如何更清晰、更有说服力、然后再申请签证.如果第二次来时你的材料无任何变化、结果恐怕还是一样的。
• 面谈时要带上：
• a) I-20表(或IAP-66表)；
  b) 毕业证书；
  c) 标准的考试成绩单(如: TOEFL,GRE,GMAT,LSAT,等等。)
  d) 美国大学发来的所有信函与电子邮件，特别是要带上那些有关你的奖学金、给你一份助教工作、含工作的资助以及其他形式的经济资助的信件；
  e) 经济来源证明 (银行证明等)；
  f) 你的名片 (如果你有工作的话)；
  g) 你认为是很重要的其他所有文件。
• 问什么说什么，不要答非所问，不要背事先准备好的"演讲词"！

• 说实话。

  如果签证官认为你在说谎，那签证肯定没戏。

• 回中国

  这里有两层意思：

  1）寒暑假期间回国
• 学生假期回国再申请签证不需去使馆面谈，在中信实业银行使用“免面谈服务即可。”
• 2）毕业后回国
• 申请学生签证不能在报到时间90天之前申请，因为签证法规定，签证官不能在学校开课90天之前发放签证。

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