New Zealand student visa interview

At a glance

The position for this country

Immigration New Zealand does not publish a routine, compulsory interview step for the Fee Paying Student Visa — most applications are decided on documents submitted through Immigration Online. However, biometrics ARE required: INZ states "The Immigration Act 2009 requires us to collect your biometric information when you apply for a visa... If you refuse, we can reject your application or request." Biometrics (facial image and fingerprints) are given at a New Zealand Visa Application Centre — in India these are operated by VFS Global in New Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh. INZ may also request additional information, evidence, or a Potentially Prejudicial Information (PPI) letter response, and case officers can request an interview where genuineness of study intent or funds is in question. Treat an interview as possible but not standard, and be ready to evidence genuine intent to study and genuine access to funds.

What is actually being assessed

Every student visa interview, whatever it is called, is testing one thing: whether you are a genuine student who intends to study, can afford it, and whose plan makes sense. The questions vary; that question does not.

• Why this course? An answer that could apply to any course is the most common weakness.
• Why this university, and why this country? Specific reasons, not rankings.
• Who is funding you, and how? Your answer must match your documents exactly.
• What will you do afterwards? Coherent with the course and with your background.

Preparing properly

1. Know your own application. Inconsistency with what you submitted is the fastest way to a refusal.
2. Be able to say what the course contains — modules, not just its title.
3. Know who is paying, how much, and where it came from.
4. Answer briefly and directly. Over-explaining reads as rehearsed.
5. Do not memorise answers. Credibility assessments are designed to detect exactly that.

Our mock visa interview tool at /mock-visa-interview runs these questions with feedback, which is a better use of preparation time than reading lists of questions.