+7 (495) 228 03 00
What is a credibility interview?
In December 2012, after a successful pilot the United Kingdom Home Office (at that time called the UK Border Agency) introduced credibility interviews worldwide. The interviews enable Entry Clearance Officers (ECOs) and Entry Clearance Managers (ECMs) to invite students for an interview, as an additional tool to help them assess a student’s genuine intention to study. Therefore, unless you are a national of a low risk country, you should be prepared to be called for an interview when you apply for a Tier 4 visa.
What can I expect if I am called for an interview?
The interview will usually take five to ten minutes.
The majority of interviews will be conducted face-to-face but it is possible for an ECO to arrange for a telephone interview via a video link similar to SKYPE as an alternative. If you are requested to attend an interview, this is mandatory and if you fail to attend without providing a reasonable explanation, this will result in an automatic visa refusal.
The new credibility interview allows refusals to be issued even if you achieve the general requirements and score the 40 points required, but have not satisfied the ECO that you are a genuine student.
What do the Home Office expect from me when I am called to interview?
The Home Office expects you to be able to satisfy the interviewer that the reason you are applying for a Tier 4 student visa is because you genuinely wish to come to the UK to study, not for any other purpose. In order to assess this, they are likely to ask you questions on the following themes:
Why you chose to study in the UK.
Why you specifically chose to study at the University of West London and what other universities you considered.
Why you chose the course you have applied for and what other courses you considered.
How your chosen course will help you to fulfil your career ambitions in life.
Your ability to speak English (regardless of your IELTS or English language test scores). If you are unable to communicate in basic English you will be refused immediately. Even if you are nervous, please speak confidently.
Your plans to return back to your home country after your studies.
Any connections you already have to the UK, such as relatives or friends.
Any gaps in your studies and reasons for these.
They may also ask you how you intend to cover the financial cost of your life and study in the UK, and why this cost will be worthwhile to you.
If you wish to apply for the study in the UK, please feel free to contact Open World Education Group by phone: +7 (495) 228-0300.
