Update from 7.19.2011
This blog is written to make it easier for you to prepare for your embassy interview; all tips and tricks have been tested by the author personally.
For those who are impatient, I suggest looking at the 4th page of my blog for the most interesting real-life interview examples gathered in one place.
Discussion of this blog is happening here: http://vk.com/usembassy
So, you have been assigned an interview date, and as a rule, from this moment on, a fussy preparation for the upcoming important event in your life begins.
I hope you filled out the visa application (DS-160) correctly, did not rush, and "measured seven times and cut once." I think the outcome of the interview depends 90% on how you filled out the application.
If you haven't filled out the application yet, here are two similar instructions:
http://kachinski.ru/old_site/trash/visa.doc http://kachinski.ru/old_site/trash/visa_2.doc
Importante: Do not fill out the DS-160 application until you have received the DS-2019.
The visa application itself is filled out electronically:
https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
And pay attention immediately! A trick!
Many have already encountered the fact that this site "glitches," but don't worry, there is a 100% cure for the "white screen" ailment!
The first thing we need is a normal human browser, FireFox (definitely this browser, do not ignore my advice).
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/ru/firefox/
Let's assume you downloaded and installed it.
If you suddenly encounter an error on the site while filling it out, you need to resort to a simple operation.
Press the "<-" (back) arrow at the top of the browser, then after the previous page appears, press "->" (forward), and then press the F5 key.
That is, the algorithm is extremely simple:
<-
->
F5
Unfortunately, I don't know a way to fight the other error, "Session Timed Out," yet; I can only recommend saving each page after filling it out, as well as working in the morning and afternoon hours when the server load is minimal.
Yes, and I almost forgot, after completely filling everything out, DO NOT try to insert your photo there; you just need to save the fully completed application and send the *.dat file and the photo file separately to your coordinator via email or bring them to the office on a flash drive; they will check everything themselves and send it where necessary.
In 2010, the embassy required you to have a memo with you:
http://russian.moscow.usembassy.gov/tmpworknstudy.html
So, let's move on.
Your main goal is to prove your non-immigrant intent and a sufficient level of English proficiency to participate in the program, and for final-year students and other risk groups, also a strong connection to your homeland.
For example, fifth (final) year students need to have an employment contract with a future employer with them.
The key to a successful interview is to arrive as prepared as possible, both legally and morally.
Let's break down these two concepts:
Legal - all necessary certificates and documents.
They can be anything, for example:
certificate from the university job offer (if available, in 2011 it was mandatory)
student ID certificate of the number of classroom hours per semester grade book (not critical, but highly desirable)
employment contract with a future employer many other options
You must clarify with your coordinator what is needed in your specific case.
EVERY CASE IS INDIVIDUAL
Don't be afraid to ask, because your success depends on your preparedness, although in any case, before the interview, a list of documents you will need will be sent to your email.
Moral - your psychological state.
Here we will understand that it is preferable to prepare for the interview in advance. How? - Very simple!
Take the list of sample questions that will definitely be attached to the email notification about the interview date, ask a friend or parents to dictate the questions to you in random order, and try to focus not on who is reading to you, but on what is being read to you.
The program assumes that you already have a sufficient level of English in advance, and there is no point in starting to learn it from scratch one or two weeks before the embassy; in that case, it is much more productive to spend time memorizing the most necessary phrases for the embassy.
I recommend resorting to one trick for instant learning and memorizing certain phrases and sentences.
We do this:
In the opened browser window, enter the text of the sample question in English and click "Listen."
You can find the list of sample questions on the second and fourth pages of my blog.
This technique will allow you to know in advance how this text sounds in native English speech without an accent and to train your ears before the interview. In the program, you can also change the speed of pronunciation, which is very convenient.
Be sure to learn all the information from your Job Offer, the English names of the subjects you are studying at the institute, especially those you took in the last session, and in general, I think that the "student" topic needs the most time, because the W&T program is specifically for students; I advise you to learn almost everything in English that may relate to studies (name of the dean, rector, address of the university, etc.).
Memorize information about your parents' place of work, and in such a way that everything is clear to the consul in English.
Yes, by the way, if you don't have a Job Offer yet, then at least have an idea of who you will be working as in the USA, and if they ask, be ready to answer.
In the embassy, you need to provide fingerprints, so be very careful with knives, soldering irons, etc., so as not to cut or burn your fingers and palms.
Forget about vkontakte and other entertainment for this time; you have a very important event ahead, and you will always have time to have fun.
Before the embassy itself, it is better to get enough sleep and go to bed earlier than usual, having previously crammed the necessary information in the evening and prepared a folder of documents that you will need at the embassy.
So the morning has come, you are going to the embassy and are probably a little scared, but in fact, there is nothing to be afraid of :)
Today, the most important thing for you is phlegmatic behavior and complete composure of thoughts.
What is an embassy? It is a house in Moscow around which a bunch of people crowd every day; I even heard that you can get to America from this place.
Your clothing style should not be conspicuous; there is an observation that a person dressed in a light sweater or a light shirt evokes more positive emotions compared to someone dressed in dark colors.
Advice for girls: less makeup, preferably more modest, no mini-skirts and messy hairstyles, long nails, piercings, and other excesses. Otherwise, you may be misunderstood and, on this basis alone, be refused.
I cannot say exactly what will happen before the interview itself, because it is different every time, but I will only write that if you set off to conquer the embassy in winter, do not neglect the advice to wear two pairs of socks, a warm hat, and definitely gloves on your hands.
After passing all the step-by-step checks at the embassy, you finally get into the interview room. Here, as a rule, fear and excitement come; you are worried and cannot collect your thoughts, watching how other guys go through the interview before you in fluent English.
The first thing you should do is stop worrying; I certainly understand that this is somewhat difficult, but try to pull yourself together.
You came just to talk to a person, and they didn't come to you, but you came to them.
As a last resort, if you really can't help it, you can take a sedative.
It's funny that some compare the embassy interview to a Gestapo interrogation :)
You can make cheat sheets at home in advance and cram what is necessary while waiting.
I advise you not to rush to run to the first free window; it is better to watch where the interviews are going the fastest, and stake out those specific windows.
It is very important to listen and analyze what is happening in the masses. Example: ours already in line on the street found out that on that day in one of the windows they were giving visas to everyone, then one of ours was told by a woman in that window which university she graduated from and various biographical facts (not joking). Thus, even with poor language, people received a visa without problems knowing which window to go to. Do not blindly believe everything that happens, think about what is important, do not get hung up. Example: approaching the queue on the street, I saw one of ours clearly not in the best mood. I asked what the problem was, she says that not a single visa has been given to 5th-year students today (she is a 5th-year student). When I imagined her state, I almost got confused myself, well, imagine not a single final-year student since the morning. Well, I say, everything will be fine, don't worry. So I saw her later in the queue to the window, she hadn't recovered yet. And yet she still got the visa. But she really earned it, went on the attack, and took it by storm. She, by the way, was in that very good window. So I don't encourage you to push brazenly, and I don't give window numbers because the people in them can change or receive other commands.
Contrary to popular belief, the decision to issue a US visa is not made in advance; this decision must be quickly made by the consular officer during the interview based on your behavior, submitted documents, and answers to questions.
When you approach the window directly for the interview, the first thing you should do is say hello loudly and clearly in English! Always look the consul straight in the eyes, do not make unnecessary movements with your fingers or hands, as this shows that you are nervous.
Smile all the time!!!
I repeat, the main thing is to prove to the consul that you are not a potential immigrant and that you have a sufficient level of English proficiency.
Answer clearly, distinctly (don't mumble), loudly. You can even make a joke, but don't overdo it; everyone understands humor differently, moreover, in the USA it is different from ours. It is better not to ask the same thing more than 2 times; if you didn't understand the second time either, say something like "If you mean..." and say what you heard. Consuls love simple chatter and value it highly :)
Try to imagine that you are some kind of oligarch, that you have a lot of money, that you are not afraid of anything, a kind of melancholic; behave calmly and don't fidget.
You must tell the truth all the time, especially if you had problems with the law in the USA last time (it is checked via computer in front of you in a matter of seconds) or if you are asked if you are participating in the Green Card lottery.
Never shove extra documents if they are not asked for. There are many cases when they didn't even ask to see a student ID.
If your English is bad - don't panic, the consul knows Russian if anything, so they can duplicate the question in your native language, but don't abuse such generosity; you are still a student who is going to a country where everyone speaks English, and the embassy is by no means the scariest thing you will have to experience in a foreign country later.
The interview lasts about 1-2-3 minutes, usually they ask only a couple of questions; if more, it means the consul has doubts, then there will be about ten questions.
Finding out if you were given a visa or not is extremely simple! If they gave you back your passport, then unfortunately it is a refusal; you can (and even should) ask the consul calmly and politely (you can already do it in Russian) why you were refused. In 2011, they gave out so-called "green papers" with a refusal.
As a rule, after some time you can go through the interview again; in that case, the consul will be a completely different person. This is done to curb the subjectivity and bias of the opinions of individual consuls. So if you were refused the first time, don't forget to ask for the reason so you can eliminate it before repeating the interview.
Reasons for J1 visa refusal can be:
- English is too bad
- English is too good
- Little evidence of a strong connection to the homeland
- Problems with the law in the USA (if you have already been there)
- Presence of close illegal immigrant relatives in the USA
- Provocative appearance (applies primarily to girls)
If they didn't give you back your passport, then "the visa is in your pocket"; you will be able to receive it after some time at the agency. It is better to immediately ask your coordinator at the embassy what, how, and where!
For 2009, the number of refusals for Russians for an American visa remained unchanged - 5%. This was stated by the then US Ambassador to Russia, John Beyrle. According to him, "getting a visa to travel to America is practically no trouble at all." "Only 5% of all applications are rejected. 95% of all Russians who want to get a visa get it," assured John Beyrle.
In 2010, the passport was returned only when the job offer was confirmed, but there are exceptions that you simply had to ask the coordinator about before leaving the embassy.
Good luck at the embassy!
P.S. Of course, no blog will help overcome the strange feeling before the embassy; after all, personal experience is the best!
Set yourself up for the best. There is no reason for refusal - that is the most important thing. There should be delight and self-confidence in your eyes.
