Canada Visa Interview Questions & Answers
The following are some of the Canadian student visa
interview questions that the ambassador may ask:
1. How are you doing?
Tip: You don't have to be nervous and answer in a formal
way. This question is basically asked to make you
comfortable.
Fine, Thank you.
2. Have you ever been to Canada before?
Tip: Though Visa officer has the record of all your visits
to Canada but you have to tell them the truth. If you have been
there then you should remember the date of arrival &
departure.
Yes I have been to Canada once in 2006 on a tourist Visa.
Or
No, I have not been to Canada so far.
If yes then it is advisable to remember the date of last arrival
and departure from Canada.
3. Why do you want to study in Canada?
Tip: Visa officer wants to understand your intentions to go
to Canada. As you are applying for Canada student
Visa so you should only talk about that.
I want to go there to pursue my Masters degree. Because of the
ample research facilities and global exposure available there. I
will be completely equipped in terms of practical exposure, by
being in contact with people from different nations and working
with the best technology.
4. Why did you select this particular university?
Tip: You should go through the website and handbook of your
university carefully. Pen down some highlighted features such as
World ranking, the research facility, the faculty profile, Alumni
profile etc. Visa officer wants to know the reason behind joining
the particular University.
E.g. I was keen to study in a university which can give me
quality education so while searching various options I found that
this university has got the best faculty available in my subject.
Even the research facilities are very good. Moreover it is listed
in the top 50 universities of the world with well known
professionals as its Alumni's.
5. For which course are you going?
Tip: You should go through the course content carefully. You
should know everything such as: Duration, Fee, commencement &
end date, Credits points, curriculum etc about your
course.
I am going for MS in Computer Science for the Fall 2009
session.
6. Why did you choose this course?
Tip: You should be very clear about your future plans after
doing this course. Prepare a good statement mentioning about: How
course is relevant to your previous degree, how this course adds
value to you profile, why you are interested in doing this course
etc.
This course is related to my previous studies as I have done my
B.Tech (Computer Science) and I would like to continue my education
in the same field. Moreover I am quiet interested in VLSI design and this course includes various modules
related to that.
7. Why don't you do this course here in India?
Tip: You should know what difference the course would bring
to you if done from Canada instead of India. If the course is not
available in India, you can tell the Visa Officer that it is not
offered in India. If the same course is available in India,
highlight the differences in the quality of education and the
course structure in India and Canada. You should convince the Visa
Officer that doing this course from Canada will add value to your
profile. Talk about a few researches being conducted in that field.
Technical words work out when other things don't.
Similar course in India is entirely theoretical. Whereas the
same course in Canada comes along with Internship and a lot of
project work. Internship & projects will give me a lot of
practical knowledge. After completing the course I will not get
only the degree, but also experience in the field. Also, the
research facilities are not that great here in India.
8. Which are the other universities you have applied to?
Tip: Visa Officer wants to know if you are really serious
about your education. If you applied to 4 and were accepted in 1
and got 3 rejects, you should put it this way: I applied to 4, got
1 admit, 2 awaited and 1 reject. Visa Officer will have record of
the Universities accepted your application and not of your
rejections. You should say that the chosen university was your
first choice.
I applied to four other universities and got calls from two of
them. But I preferred to choose XYZ
because of the research being carried out in the field of
XXX (mention the one related to your
course) that interests me the most.
9. How are you going to fund your education?
Tip: Visa Officer wants to know if you are well aware of
source of your funds. This is the way to verify your documents as
well.
You can say that Family funds or Bank loan (As per your Visa
documents and funds statement)
10. Are you getting any school waiver?
Tip: Mention if you are getting any tuition fee waiver or
teaching assistantship or research assistantship. That will prove
to be a positive point.
11. Why do you think the university is giving scholarship to you?
Tip: You should know how much scholarship you are getting
and probably the reason university is giving scholarship to you
Visa Officer wants to know if you are aware of the scholarship
programs and financial aid. Also if you have submitted any
Statement of Purpose for scholarship then mention about that and
carry a copy of the same.
It is because of my academic records, GRE & TOEFL Score.
12. From where did you do your under graduation?
Tip: Mention the name of the course and the university. If
the university has high ranking or some specific feature, mention
that too.
13. Tell me something about your past?
Tip: Be prepared to tell them that what you were doing
between your last school and till today. Make sure your answers are
focusing on your achievements, skills, you being a sincere
student.
After completing my studies, I worked in ABC Company as …… Executive for X years. After that I
joined XXX Company and presently working
over there for last Y years.
14. Who is sponsoring your education?
Tip: If you have a scholarship, say that. Else mention the
name of your sponsors, you may add that your father and mother are
supporting you for your higher education as per the financial
documents.
My father and relatives (As per Visa documents & Funds)
15. What does he do?
Tip: Visa officer basically wants to verify the financial
capability of the sponsors. You are advised to go through the
Income tax returns, and supporting documents of your sponsors
carefully. Have a good idea of the income source of your
sponsors.
16. What savings does your family have?
Tip: Make sure your answer focus on proof of having
sufficient funds. Go through the financial documents carefully and
mention the savings as per the documents. Always carry a detailed
bank account statements and CA report with you. If you have taken
an education loan then do mention about that and carry a copy of
Loan letter with you.
My father is having savings of around XX Lakhs. And my mother
has a fixed deposit of XX lakhs. Collectively they have sponsored
me for XX lakhs. We are also availing an education loan from
XYZ Bank for X lakhs.
17. What is your father's annual income?
Tip: Visa Officer wants to know if your father's annual
income is sufficient enough to meet your expenses of studying
abroad. They think that money can be put into banks, but annual
income is a proof which they heavily rely upon to decide the
student's parents capability to meet his educational expenses. You
should mention the annual income as per IT returns.
His annual income is XYZ.
18. How many brothers and sisters do you have?
Tip: Such kind of questions is basically to verify weather
your family has other members for whom your parents may have to
raise fund later on. Basically such questions are asked to evaluate
the balance of income and expenses of the family.
19. Do you have any relative in Canada?
Tip: Be truthful at this instance. Visa Officer will have
record of this (about your brother/sister/Mother/Father) with them.
If your distant aunt or uncle stays there, then you don't have to
say about them. All that matters is your immediate relatives i.e.
own brother, sister, father or mother. Any of your relative
overstaying in Canada may not be favorable considered.
20. Is your brother/sister enjoying there?
Tip: Visa officer wants to know what the intentions of your
brothers and sisters are. Never answer in a way that makes them
believes that they plan to settle or overstay. Any of them
overstaying in Canada may not be favorable considered. You may say
that he is finding life tough there and has plans to come back to
India after completing his studies/after a year or two.
21. What are the course commencement and completion dates?
Tip: You should remember the exact dates. Visa Officer wants
to know if you are well aware of the course duration and start
date.
22. Where do you plan to stay in Canada?
Tip: Mention the address where you have planned. This should
reflect that you are serious about your studies and have made all
arrangements for your education abroad.
23. What do you plan to do during your vacations?
Tip: Visa officer wants to know your ties to your home
country. You can say that you plan to come back to meet your family
and friends here in India. You should not say that you plan to work
in Canada as that shows you are not financially strong and you are
going there to earn money. This will make the Visa officer believe
that even after completing your education, you would like to do job
and settle there.
24. Show me your IELTS Score?
Tip: Carry all documents in such a way that it becomes easy
for you to remove and present them to Visa Officer without any
wastage of time, whenever asked for. Always try to put the better
score on the top. The speed at which you are able to show the
relevant document whenever asked for also counts a lot. Visa
Officer wants to know how sincere you are at your studies. Remember
your scores and exam dates.
25. What is your undergraduate GPA?
Tip: You should convert your percentage in GPA and remember it exactly.
26. Can you show me your degree?
Tip: Handover the degree confidently and look at the visa
officer. If asked only for a degree, do not show the mark sheets of
each semester.
27. Mention some professors' name?
Tip: Do research the university and find out specifically
the professors in your department before going for visa
interview.
28. Did you get in touch with any professors in this University?
Tip: Before going for visa interview, you should contact
professors in your department. VO wants to know how sincere you are
for doing graduation from your chosen university.
Yes, I exchanged some emails with Prof XYZ. With the area of his research and the interest I
have in that particular subject, I guess I can be good research
assistant under him. It is always advisable to carry the printouts
of the emails with you.
29. What are your future plans? Do you intend to stay in Canada?
Tip: Your answers should reflect clarity of thought, clarity
of your intentions and strong ties to your home country.
I am sure the recent growth of Indian economy will open many
avenues for me to start my company back in India. After acquainting
with latest technologies in Canada, I look forward to start my
company here in India.
30. Do you plan to work there?
Tip: Visa Officer wants to know your intentions. You should
answer in such a way that Visa Officer is convinced that you are
financially strong and plan to return to your home country after
completing your studies.
31. Do you have enough funds while you are there?
Tip: You should be confident and say yes. Visa Officer wants
to know if you have enough funds to meet your educational
expenses.
Yes.
32. What is the location of your university?
Tip: You should do some research on your university before
visa interview. You should know its exact location and the location
of different campus as well (if any). Location might be one of the
reasons that you selected this particular university, so make sure
that you know its exact location.
33. What's the difference you can make by doing your MS in Canada?
Tip: You get better opportunities once you do your MS. Show
foreign companies coming to India investing in your field. State
some technical words expressing the advancements in your
field.
Most of the Universities in Canada are going in parallel with
the latest technologies. Educating myself in those technologies
will provide me the necessary skill-set to start up something of my
own in future.
Disclaimer:The actual visa interview questions may
differ.
