Clearing the interview round is a critical milestone in the Australian visa application process. After securing a successful seat at the Australian university of your choice, the next important milestone is to get a student visa. Having submitted the filled-in application form, the next important task for an aspirant is to prepare for the visa interview.
This blog post is about answering the questions and doubts you may have about this stage. An interview for a student visa for Australia is structurally no different than any other interview. You would be expected to dress formally, present all the relevant documents, answer the questions honestly and to the best of your knowledge, and display a positive attitude. For a visa officer, this is his (or her) opportunity to verify what you have written in the application form and if you truly abide by the values that your application form reflects.
Dos and Don’ts for Observing an Australian Student Visa Interview
Do’s
- Be polite while answering the questions.
- Be on time.
- Research the key features of your university and course.
- Establish a logical connection between the chosen course and your previous degrees.
- Explain clearly why you chose Australia over your home country.
- Keep original documents with you.
- Answer honestly and on point.
- Ensure that you have enough funds in your account.
Don’ts
- Don’t be late for the interview.
- Don’t bluff about your qualifications and achievements (can ask present scenarios)
- Don’t fumble while answering
- Maintain eye contact (if on a video call), it reflects self-confidence.
- Avoid unnecessary answers
So, here are some professional tips for a successful interview:
Pro-tip 1: Be consistent with your answers –
A lot of questions in the interview would be similar to the ones in the application process. As a result, it is essential to review the answers on the application form so that your response in the interview matches what you said on the application form. There is no need for the answers to be the same (no rote learning is required) as long as they are similar.
Most of the questions in the above types would be similar to what is asked in the application form. Hence, you must follow Pro-Tip 1.
Pro-tip 2:
In case, you come across a question for which you don’t have an answer, it’s a good practice to be honest and let the officer know about it. Faking an answer or giving the impression that you know it all can hamper your chances of visa approval. A lot of questions could be rigged in a manner just to test your values and conduct as an individual, and honesty is one such virtue that everyone expects.
Pro-tip 3:
While preparing for the interview, it’s not just enough to know about yourself but also about Australia. More than its weather and culture, if you could expand your knowledge about some of the current affairs news affecting Australia and its citizens, it would help you answer some of the offbeat questions that interviewers might ask just to test how aware a candidate is about Australia.
Pro-tip 4:
One of the most important aspects of a visa interview is to find out the intent of a student about going back to his or her home country after the completion of his or her studies. Study visas expire after a certain period (based on the duration of the course). A student needs to return to his or her home country.
