Visa questions, in plain words

U.S. visa basics
  • Types of U.S. visas
  • U.S. visa eligibility requirements
  • How to apply for a U.S. visa
  • U.S. visa application fees
  • U.S. visa processing times
  • Documents required for a U.S. visa
  • DS-160 application guide
  • How to book a U.S. visa appointment
  • How to check U.S. visa application status
  • U.S. visa interview questions and answers
Tourist and business visas
  • B-1 versus B-2 visa
  • U.S. tourist visa requirements
  • Financial documents for a U.S. tourist visa
  • Invitation letter for a U.S. visitor visa
  • U.S. tourist visa interview preparation
  • U.S. visitor visa renewal
  • U.S. visa interview waiver eligibility
  • How to extend a U.S. visitor stay
  • U.S. tourist visa refusal under Section 214(b)
  • Reapplying after a U.S. visa denial
Student visas
  • F-1 student visa requirements
  • F-1 visa interview questions
  • Form I-20 requirements
  • How to pay the SEVIS fee
  • Financial proof for a U.S. student visa
  • F-1 visa renewal
  • F-1 student visa versus student status
  • F-1 student employment rules
  • F-2 dependent visa requirements
  • F-1 reinstatement after a status violation
Student employment and exchange visitors
  • Optional Practical Training eligibility
  • How to apply for OPT
  • STEM OPT extension requirements
  • Curricular Practical Training eligibility
  • CPT versus OPT
  • OPT unemployment limits
  • Traveling internationally while on OPT
  • F-1 to H-1B change of status
  • J-1 visa two-year home residency requirement
  • J-1 waiver application process
Work visas
  • H-1B visa eligibility
  • H-1B lottery registration process
  • H-1B cap-exempt employers
  • H-1B visa sponsorship jobs
  • H-1B employer transfer process
  • H-1B extension requirements
  • H-4 dependent visa requirements
  • H-4 employment authorization eligibility
  • L-1 visa requirements
  • O-1 visa requirements
Other employment and investment routes
  • O-1 visa evidence for researchers
  • O-1 visa versus EB-1A green card
  • TN visa eligibility
  • E-2 investor visa requirements
  • E-2 visa versus EB-5 green card
  • H-2A agricultural worker visa
  • H-2B temporary worker visa
  • U.S. visa options for nurses
  • U.S. visa options for PhD graduates
  • U.S. visa options for research scientists
Green card basics
  • How to get a U.S. green card
  • Green card eligibility categories
  • Green card application costs
  • Green card processing times
  • Adjustment of status versus consular processing
  • Form I-485 application guide
  • Green card medical examination requirements
  • Green card interview questions
  • How to check green card application status
  • Reasons for green card application denial
Employment-based green cards
  • EB-1A extraordinary ability requirements
  • EB-1B outstanding professor or researcher requirements
  • EB-1C multinational manager requirements
  • EB-2 advanced degree requirements
  • EB-2 National Interest Waiver requirements
  • EB-2 NIW evidence for PhD students
  • Publications and citations for EB-1A and NIW
  • EB-1A versus EB-2 NIW
  • EB-3 green card requirements
  • PERM labor certification process
Family-based green cards
  • Marriage-based green card requirements
  • Green card through a U.S. citizen spouse
  • Green card through a permanent resident spouse
  • Green card sponsorship for parents
  • Green card sponsorship for children
  • Green card sponsorship for siblings
  • K-1 fiancé visa requirements
  • CR-1 versus IR-1 spouse visa
  • Form I-864 Affidavit of Support requirements
  • Removing conditions on a marriage-based green card
Waiting times, travel, and permanent residence
  • Latest U.S. Visa Bulletin
  • How to understand green card priority dates
  • Visa Bulletin Dates for Filing versus Final Action Dates
  • Green card backlog by country
  • Diversity Visa lottery eligibility and application
  • Employment authorization while I-485 is pending
  • Advance parole travel requirements
  • Green card renewal and replacement
  • International travel and reentry permits for green card holders
  • U.S. citizenship eligibility after a green card

See all 100 questions →

More about this

  • I-94 calculator
  • Visa fees
  • Interview checklist
  • Visa comparisons
  • Start here

Unofficial site. Data from official U.S. government websites.

Visa issuance numbers, appointment wait times and the Visa Bulletin come from the U.S. Department of State (issuance reports, wait times, Visa Bulletin). Green card numbers come from the Department of Homeland Security (Office of Homeland Security Statistics). Issuance counts are not approval rates, and monthly figures are preliminary. This site is not legal or immigration advice and is not affiliated with the U.S. government.

Data through February 2026 · 108 months published since March 2017

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Dashboard›Interview checklist›Student (F-1) visa interview checklist

Printable checklist

Student (F-1) visa interview checklist

Tick each box as you pack your folder. Press the button to print it or save it as a PDF.

Visa Status · unofficial · data from the U.S. Department of State
· printed
Student visa process →

Student (F-1) visa interview checklist

Always bring

  • Passport
  • Form I-20 signed by you and the school
  • SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
  • DS-160 confirmation page with the barcode
  • Visa fee receipt and appointment letter
  • Passport photo, if requested

School papers

  • School acceptance letter
  • Test scores (for example TOEFL, IELTS, GRE) and transcripts
  • Scholarship or assistantship letter, if any

Shows you can pay

  • Bank statements for the full first year
  • Sponsor letter and the sponsor's income papers
  • Education loan sanction letter, if any

Shows your plan

  • Reason for choosing this school and course
  • Plans after study, ready to say in a sentence

Tips for the day

  • Be ready to say why this school, why this course, and who pays.
  • Keep answers short and clear. Do not read from a script.
  • Bring originals, but give papers only when asked.
  • Check your I-20 name and dates match your passport.

Embassies can ask for different papers. Always follow the instructions on your own embassy's official page and appointment letter. Unofficial; not legal advice.

Also see

Visitor (B-1/B-2) checklist →Exchange visitor (J-1) checklist →Work (H-1B) checklist →Visa fees →