An Australian student visa is granted to any student who has applied and succeeded in the Australia student visa interview. With the visa, one can live, study and work in Australia.
Visa interviews can be challenging for international students, whether they are conducted face-to-face or over the phone. The immigration official interviews students to have them prove that they meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirements, English proficiency, financial requirements, character and health requirements before being granted a student visa.
Tips to help you prepare
Below are Australian student visa interview tips to help you prepare confidently in order to perform well in your visa interview.
Understand the purpose of the interview
The case official wants to establish whether you are a genuine student and have enough funds to stay and study in Australia. To determine that, they have to confirm if your intended study programme is similar to that which you have undertaken and if your finances are sufficient. To check your finances, they may demand to see your:
- Bank statements
- Bonds
- Shares
- Debentures
- Other semi-liquid assets
If you prepare to present these documents, your chances of success will be higher.
Project confidence
The interviewer will also assess your level of confidence to see if you can function successfully as a student in Australia. So, try to keep calm so you won’t fumble when answering interview questions and appear as unfit for further education. If you need help, consider consulting a counsellor to coach and do mock interviews with you.
Prepare to explain the reason you wish to study in Australia
One of the questions the case officer will ask you will include why you have chosen Australia as your study destination over other countries? Prepare a clear and ready answer and list your reasons with a focus on:
- Education
- Climate
- Lifestyle
- Economy
Prepare and carefully write a statement of purpose for student visa
Know that your statement of purpose for a student visa is a document that will accompany your visa application. On it, you will state the purpose of your application and the reason for seeking to come to Australia. Prepare the document carefully.
Remember to state clearly and genuinely that your purpose is to study in Australia and then return to use your skills and advance your future career in your home country.
Prepare a list of anticipated questions in advance
There are many Australian immigration interview questions for a student visa that you have to prepare in advance to answer. You can prepare answers to visa interview questions and rehearse them thoroughly to keep yourself ready to go. If you do not have enough confidence in conversational English, you can hire an immigration consultant to guide and train you, a few sessions should be enough.
Focus areas to base your preparation on
Before you begin waiting for an Australian student visa interview call, make sure you have prepared well to answer questions in the following focus areas:
- University or college and course
- Academic qualification
- Funding your education
- Family
- Post-study plans
Finally, know that first impressions count too. So, dress appropriately and rehearse your answers exhaustively for your 10-15 minutes visa interview.
If you follow all these preparatory steps and also get help from a reliable immigration agent, the success rate for your visa approval will be much higher.
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