1. Ties to Your Home Country
Under U.S. law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. "Ties" to your home country are the things that bind you to your home town, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans and career prospects in your home country.
Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter which can guarantee visa issuance. If you have applied for the U.S. Green Card Lottery, you may be asked if you are intending to immigrate. A simple answer would be that you applied for the lottery since it was available but not with a specific intent to immigrate. If you overstayed your authorized stay in the United States previously, be prepared to explain what happened clearly and concisely, with documentation, if available.
2. English
Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview, but do NOT prepare speeches! If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.
3. Speak for Yourself
Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there is case there are questions, for example about funding, they should wait in the waiting room.
4. Know the Program and How It Fits Your Career Plans
If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the United States relates to your future professional career when you return home.
5. Be Brief
Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point.
6. Additional Documentation
It should be immediately clear to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you are lucky.
7. Not All Countries are Equal
Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.
8. Employment
Your main purpose in coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the United States. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the United States. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.
9. Dependents Remaining at Home
If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support themselves, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.
10. Maintain a Positive Attitude
Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.
AIT 非移民簽證面試十點小秘訣：
1. 不要讓面試官認為你不會回來，讓他清楚知道你有必需去完美國後就回國。
2. 雖然面試官(外國面孔)都會中文，回答時用英文也是必要的。小編第一次去面試講中文，第二次去講英文( 之前都在美國生活一年哩! 不會講英文…他應該也會懷疑，當然也是他先主動用英文問你問題)
3. 如果是一堆人要去，面試官可能會問問題，請自己回答，不要叫你家人或英文比較好的替你回答(面試官會說中文)。
4. 留遊學就拿出學校 I-20，去玩可以拿出機票證明(或演唱會購票證明)，做生意就拿出對方的邀請函。
5.簡單回答問題，有問題面試官會繼續問，不要講了一堆面試官沒問的問題。
6. 文件要帶齊全，I-20、財力證明、畢業證書、退伍令、邀請函、住宿/機票證明、在職證明等、公司名片。小編2次面試都帶一堆，面試官從沒看過只看過I-20。但切記<多帶總比沒帶好>
7. 會根據統計，每個國家面試通過的機率不一樣。經濟因素、申請移民等會讓人意圖滯留美國，面試官有時會問<回國之後想做什麼>小編被問過!
8. 去唸書的，不要讓面試官知道你在那畢業後想滯留意願的，<念完書就回國>這是一定要表達出來的，也不能說你要打工。
9. 準備一個必須回國的理由：女朋友/老婆在台灣、家人在台灣、工作還要繼續做、房子在台灣、鹹酥雞和50嵐還是台灣的好等等。
10. 永遠保持正面的想法，即使第一次沒過也不要灰心，可以問問面試官，下次再面試時，應該再準備些什麼，千萬不要跟面試官爭執!!
11. <自己心得>面帶微笑，不要緊張，越緊張越像炸彈客!
12. <自己心得>不要太花枝招展，女生素顏或淡妝比較好，不然有可能會被認為你去那找老公不想回來哩! 男生一樣，樸素就好!
13.<自己心得>一大早他們心情比較好，建議安排早上的面試。<小編都排週一第一場>
14.<自己心得>小編都喜歡找外國男面試官，一般來說是不能挑面試官，有空位就過去面試，但是當空一大排~~就可以自己選啦! 當初小編選一位對我扎眼的外國男面試官…..<小編:I love shopping,面試官: Have a nice trip!>
PS: 美國免簽不確定之前都建議先申辦喔! 人若到了海外再申請比較不容易喔!
