Visa interview tip by US Embassy

New Delhi, March 29: As the season starts for Indian students to apply for seats in US higher educational institutions, a senior official at the US Embassy here on Thursday advised applicants not to come with prepared answers for visa interviews.

"A lot of applicants, including some students, come with a prepared speech," George Hogeman, Consul General at the US Embassy, said during a media interaction.

"The best advice for anyone applying for one of our visas - and we base our visa decisions on the interview - is to listen carefully to what the officer asks (at the visa interview) and answer that question.

"We know students are nervous. That is okay. Many nervous applicants are issued visas," he said.

Hogeman said this year the US missions in India will be observing June 6 as Student Visa Day.

"Student Visa Day is a day where the only applicants who apply are applying for student visas," he said.

Noting that higher education plays an important role in India-US relations, he said that one in six foreign students in the US is from India.