Here are some of the myths about the US Student Visa.

The chances of securing a visa are higher on Mondays and Fridays because the visa officers are happier on these days.
Well it doesn’t matter which day of the week you go for your visa interview. All days are the same. Your chances of getting your visa are solely dependent on how well prepared you are for the interview and not on the visa officer’s happiness index.

July 3 and July 5 are the best days for getting a visa. Since the consulate has a holiday on July 4 (US Independence Day) the visa officers are in a very good mood a day prior and after the holiday
Again this is just another myth. All days are the same.

Greeting the Visa Officer in traditional Indian style by joining hands and saying ‘Namaste’ would make a good impression and indicate that I have strong ties with my tradition and homeland
I don’t think that would help. So just stick to the regular ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Good Afternoon’

Speaking in an American Accent would help?
Again – ‘Not Recommended’. Speak the way you normally speak. You don’t need to put on an accent.

Even if you have full funding from the university, you still need to show funds from your parents/sponsor side for the 2nd and later years of your education because the I-20 only shows the funding amount for the first year.
If you have full funding from the university you do NOT have to show any funds from your parent’s/sponsor’s side. Although the funds shown on the I-20 are only for the first year, it is understood that the funding is renewable every year. So you don’t need to show funds for the remaining years.

Showing a ‘Bank Loan’ as funding reduces the chances of getting a visa as the visa officer then assumes that you would work in the US to payoff this loan
This is again nothing but a Myth. Visa officers are not bothered about the repayment part as much as they are bothered about ‘does the student have funds available to pay for the education’. A bank loan is guaranteed money available to you for your education (your sponsor can back out, but a bank wont). So a bank loan only strengthens your financial credentials.

Having a brother/sister in the US will reduce my chances of securing a visa
No it won’t.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to write to us

Jothsna Rege - jothsna[at]academyone.net
Jay Rege - jayrege[at]academyone.net