Step 1 Apply Early!

Step 2 Documents Required for a Visa Interview

  • Required Documents for a Visa
  • Your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate may require additional documentation.
  • Make sure your social media accounts are set to 'public'. This will help with the identity and admissibility checks required by U.S. law.

Step 3 During the Visa Interview

  • Most visa interviews are only about 3 minutes long.
  • During the interview, be honest, friendly, and organized.
  • You must convince the visa officer that you are not trying to immigrate to the U.S.
  • Be prepared to explain what companies in your country that you would like to work for after you finish your studies in the U.S. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER say that you would like to get permanent residency and remain in the U.S. after you graduate.
  • You may be asked about what research you plan on doing while in your graduate program. It's important to be honest. Your program may not have a research component if you are pursuing an coursework only option. If you are doing a thesis option, tell them what you plan to research or are interested in. You will also want to be familiar with what your advisor's research area is.
  • Visa officers often ask why you chose a specific major, why you chose to study at Wichita State, or why you chose to study in Wichita. You must be prepared to answer these questions.

Step 4 Reasons for Visa Denials

The most common reasons for visa denials are:

  1. The visa officer suspected the student of wanting to immigrate to the U.S. You must prove to the visa officer that you plan to return home after graduation. Examples of proof:
    • Owning a house or business in your country
    • Having a guaranteed job when you return home
    • Having a spouse, children, or close family at home
    • You will inherit property, a business, or assets in your country
    • Have admission to a major that will allow you to get a job when you return home. For example, if you major in Aerospace Engineering, an aerospace industry must exist in your country so that you can find a job after you graduate.
  2. You do not have enough money to study in the U.S.
  3. You did not bring all required documents with you to the U.S. Embassy for the interview.
  4. You lied about something on your visa application or during the visa interview.
  5. You failed a security background check (called "Administrative Processing).
  6. You did not list your social media accounts.

Step 5 Help! I Was Denied a Visa!

  • Visa Denial Help
  • If you are denied a visa and would like to try again, you may need to request readmission for a future term and get a new I-20.
  • No university in the U.S. can control the outcome of a visa application. We cannot require the embassy to grant you a visa or influence their decision in any way.