Canada Visa Questionnaire
The following are some of the important questions that the ambassador asks during the interview for the student visa
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 go to Canada?
Tip: Visa officer wants to understand your intentions to go to Canada. As you are applying for 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.