INTRODUCTION
Canada is right now one of the most popular destinations for students from all over the world. Known for some of the world’s oldest colleges, set against an environmentally friendly and intellectually charged background, it provides students with the right kind of amenities to study and if needed work further. Not only that, its openness has invited immigrants to live a life of their dreams and settle down with minimum trouble.
Naturally, the stakes are high and so are the expectations. The Hurray Online Overseas Education Counselling team will assist you in your preparation for the application process and interview. You can find some common questions asked below.
Student Visa Interview Questions: Canada
The student visa interview is an important step in the process of Studying Abroad.
Once you have submitted your application for the Study Permit that permits you to study in Canada, along with the supporting documents, and after you have submitted your biometrics, you will receive a call to attend an interview.
How the interview works
The interview will be conducted at the Canadian Embassy/Consulate in your home country i.e. in India, by an immigration officer, whose task it is to assess your visa application and accordingly approve or disapprove it. The objective of the interview is to establish that you are a genuine student, who is coming to Canada for academic purposes alone.
Prepping for the interview seriously and well in advance, is the key to successfully clearing it. First, you must ensure that you are in possession of all the necessary documents prior to the interview and are aware of all the related procedures.
The second important step is plenty of preparation for the interview itself. By familiarising yourself with the kinds of questions that are likely to be asked, and preparing your answers accordingly, you will gain the confidence to handle the interview well.
Interview questions
These are the major areas of information/questions that you are most likely to be asked about.
1. Your career-plan
You will be asked about what you want to do and where do you plan to work. You must connect all your answers to your career-plan.
Your academic/employment background
2. Including questions about
- your latest/current employment
- why you plan to take up further studies
- any gap in your academic/employment history
- any change in your area of interest/study
3. Your academic potential
Including questions about
- your latest qualification and scores
- your scores on the English proficiency test i.e. TOEFL and/or the graduate qualifying exam i.e. GRE
- your grasp of the English language
4. Your decision to study in Canada
Including questions about
- what you know about Canada and its culture
- what you know about education in Canada
- why you are not choosing to study in your home country
- how studying in Canada benefits you, in terms of your long-term career plan
5. Your decision regarding your course/university
You will have to indicate the reasoning behind your decision in terms of your long-term plans.
You will also have to indicate that you are aware of everything that is involved with studying in that course/university including course structure, university culture and rules etc.
6. Your financial background
You will be asked about
- your family’s financial status, including the information in the documents you have already submitted
- details about financial sponsorship or loans taken
- whether you plan to work in Canada, including your awareness of the terms of your Student Permit
7. Your future plans
You will have to indicate that you are planning to return to your home country following the completion of your course – including references to your social and familial ties to your home country, as well as your employment prospects in your home country.
If you are planning to apply for the post-graduation work route in Canada, you must state that along with a clear awareness of the rules and procedures involved.
8. Case-specific questions
You may also receive questions specific to your case – for instance:
- information about your family/dependents and their situation i.e. whether they are planning to accompany you now, come later, or remain in your home country
- information about past travel to Canada etc.
Note: Remember that this list is indicative only. There is no fixed order or number of questions that the interviewer will ask you. Some of these questions may not be asked, while others not included in this list could be.
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR PREPARATION
1. Prepare the necessary information: Be aware of all the important practical information that you must know about, particularly those related to your course and your financial status. You must also be aware of all the rules related to international students in Canada.
2. Think about your reasons: The answers to the reason-based questions are entirely subjective. Think of valid and specific reasons. Avoid general statements.
Bad answer:
“The university is renowned worldwide for its engineering programme.”
Good answer:
“The department at the university has several faculty members, including Dr X and Professor Y, who have research strengths in the area of medical technology. This is the area in which I wish to work, and I am looking forward to benefiting from their expertise.”
3. Do not learn by rote: While preparation is essential, you must not try to memorise your answers in advance. If you do so, the interviewer will be able to recognise that you have and you will make a bad impression. Furthermore, if you are asked about something that you have not prepared for, you will be at a loss for words, creating an even worse impression.
4. Be honest: Do not falsify any information or leave anything out in response to a question. If you are caught being dishonest, your application is likely to be rejected outright.
5. Be yourself: Do not try to appear to be anything that you are not – whether this is in terms of mentioning skills or interests that you do not possess, or even using words that you do not understand or a fake accent.
For all your Study Abroad needs, from applying to universities to acing the visa interview, the Hurray Overseas Education Consultants are available for assistance. Book your one-on-one session with us now – reach out via email:overseaseducation@hurrayedutech.com, or phone; 8971357928 for more details.
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