Each year thousands of international students apply for U.S. student visas, and the vast majority of them are denied. Unsuccessful applicants are quick to speculate about a myriad of different reasons why their application got rejected. Never ever is your visa application rejected because of your low GRE scores.

There are several legitimate reasons whereby your student visa can get denied, but your GRE score is not one of them. Graduate schools use your GRE score to determine if you make a good candidate for their school or not. Outside of that, your GRE score is irrelevant to the visa process. However, before you can apply for a U.S. student visa, you need to prove that you have been admitted to a grad school. If your low GRE score prevents you from getting into grad school, then the visa process won’t even start.

The purpose of the F1 student visa is to grant you temporary entry into the U.S as a full-time student. The duration of your visa will depend on how long your program is. Once you graduate, you are legally obliged to return to your country of residence.

Moreover, When you are called in for an interview, you must demonstrate the following, or else you risk having your visa denied.

• Acceptance to a SEVP-certified institution, as demonstrated by the issuance of an original I-20 or DS-2019 form.
• Proficiency in the English language.
• Evidence of financial resources sufficient to cover tuition, living expenses, and additional costs.
• Evidence of intent to return home upon completion of the academic program.

What are some of the common reasons for student visa rejection?

The U.S Consulate can deny your student visa application for multiple reasons. Generally, during your interview, you should refrain from saying anything suggesting that you intend to stay in the U.S after your studies.

If the interviewer catches a whiff of such an intent, you are unlikely to get the visa. Moreover, it would help if you speak confidently and are well prepared. You should know details about the program you applied, the school, and other information related to your visa.

Visa interviewers are very skillful at telling if someone is lying. If you are caught telling a lie, it will drastically lower your chances of getting a visa. Try to be honest at all times and if you don’t know the answer to any questions, say “I Don’t Know.”

That being said, here are some of the most common reasons why your student visa might be denied.

Failure to prove financial resources

You must show that you have adequate funds for the expenses listed on your I-20 form. These include living expenses, accommodation, food, and tuition, etc. Moreover, consular officers don’t expect you to have cash for the total duration of your program. Instead, you can demonstrate that you have enough money to pay for the first year of your degree.

However, you must also prove that you can pay for the rest of your program after the first year. Failing to do so will likely cause you not to get your visa.

Failure to prove intent to return home

One of the biggest causes for why applicants are denied student visas is because they fail to demonstrate their intent to return home. If a consular officer senses that you intend to stay in the U.S after your studies, you can be sure that they will deny your visa. Some of the things that can help you prove your intent to return home are:

• Existence of bank accounts in your home country.
• Potential employment opportunities in your home country after your studies.
• Written statements by family members stating plans to return.

You might be unable to provide this type of evidence as a young student who hasn’t yet established deep ties with your country. However, the good news is that the consular officers take such things into considerations.

This is not to say that young people are not rejected on these bases; denials still occur, which is why you should prepare enough documentation to support your intent to return home.

Failure to apply before the start of program

Give yourself enough time so that when your acceptance letter from the university arrives, you still have ample time to apply for the visa. It will help if you look up how long a student visa application process takes in your country. This information is typically available on the U.S embassy website in your country. If it’s not, then it always a good idea to either call them or write them an email. 

Visa processing time can vary from year to year depending on how many applicants apply at any given time.

If you apply for a student visa after your program’s start date, then without a doubt, your visa application will be denied. Moreover, you can apply for a student visa before your program’s start date and still be rejected if the consulate cannot process your application in time to start your program.

However, it can help if your institution can verify that you will be permitted to register for courses.

Failure to pass security check

You would need to pass “ClASS” or Consular Lookout and Security Check. Your name will be run through the database to see if you have been tagged for any reason. U.S. consulate can deny you a visa if your name comes up in the said database. In some cases, you might be able to avoid denial, but the visa process will take much longer as your issue is sorted out.

Moreover, you may need to pass additional security clearances if your program is politically sensitive. This is very rare but still a possibility. However, even when it happens, it rarely results in denial. In most cases, applicants pass the additional security tests, but it costs them time.