Hi Guys,
In my last blog I explained my OFC appointment experience. My earlier blog is located here.
This blog explains my experience at the Consulate Interview Appointment. If you need a shorter version, just read the part below in bold.
I had booked my consulate interview appointment at 7.45 am on the very next day after my OFC appointment. I wore formals, Full shirt, Pant and formal shoes to look serious about my further education in front of the interviewer. Needless to say, do not take any electronic appliances, do not keep anything in your pockets other than your handkerchief and do not take anything in your hands (Not even a watch or remote car keys). They will not allow it inside the consulate and there is no facility for keeping your items here. So, please do not carry anything other than your entire file which contains your passport, your i-20, your interview appointment confirmation, your DS-160 confirmation and your finances. Better to take the i-20 of other universities you have received admits to just in case they ask.
I reached the consulate around 30 minutes before the appointment time as mentioned in the interview confirmation page. There was a long queue outside the consulate. I went and stood in the queue. It was early morning and hence it was fine. Not hot as the sun hadn't grown to it's fiery rage. If you have a choice, choose an early morning interview time. In the queue, a person came and scanned my passport bar-code that was attached at the OFC. Then I went to the security check area, much like the one you go before boarding a flight. After the security check, the guys there made us sit in the consulate seating area outside in a queue for around 15-20 minutes. Please do not break the queue just because some idiot breaks it. After being seated for a while, a person came and checked my interview appointment page, passport and i-20 and told me to keep the passport and i-20 in my hand and everything else in the file. Then they allowed me to go inside the building (again in a queue) where there is AC :P. There are several counters at this place (around 45). Here, my passport was checked at one of the counters and a page, little smaller than the passport was stuck on the front of my passport. This page contained my coupon no.. Then, they guided me to the counter 41-42, I guess... Anyways, they will tell you the counter no. where your passport as well as your four left fingers will be scanned (Keep these fingers safe :P). I believe this is only for checking if they have your correct details. Then they told me to sit anywhere (I was looking for a queue but no queue here ;)) and await my coupon number to be displayed. I waited for my coupon number as well as the counter corresponding to it to be displayed on the TVs (Yes, there are a lot of them everywhere). It took around 15-20 minutes as there was quite a bit of rush on that day. I heard announcements in a few regional languages mainly intended for people who have taken a Non-English interview. Anyways, as soon as my coupon number was displayed, I rushed to that counter. On the other side of the counter was the guy from US interviewing me. As soon as you reach the counter, try to greet him... In my case he greeted me first but doesn't matter. I thought of greeting him first but when I reached the counter my brain stopped working. Give the passport and i-20 form to the interviewer.
Now after so much of writing, here comes the important part which you all have been waiting for :P
The questions that the interviewer asked me are:
1. Why did you choose this university? Just tell the truth confidently. Do not say that this is the only university I got an admit in...Probably tell a bit about the quality of university and the field that you are studying at the university.
2. Who is funding your education? Tell the truth.
3. I see that you have visited a foreign country. Why? Just tell the truth.
4. When did you pass-out of college? I told him that I passed out in 2010.
5. What have you been doing since then? I told him that I have been working in IT.
6. What are you doing in IT? If you are pursuing further studies in IT, you can explain your work. If not, tell that you are switching fields and hence would like to do further education in the field in which you did your Bachelors or similar.
He told me to wait a minute.. He seemed to be filling up some form on the computer. And then finally after the long wait... of probably 15-20 seconds or so (felt like 10 min :P), he told me that my visa is approved and you will get it in 2-5 working days. Then he gave me back the i-20 form and that's it, you exit the place. He did not ask me for any documents. Although I should not be giving advice and all, I would say that be yourself and answer confidently and truthfully.
I reached this place at 7.15 am and I was out by around 8.30 am mostly because of the wait time, the actual interview was probably just 2 minutes. Although not compulsory, it is better if you dress in formals for this interview.
I checked my mail on the next day in the evening and the mail said that the visa office had received my passport. I went to collect the passport the next day and have received my passport with visa stamped. Please take your government issued identity proof (Pan card, driving licence) original and one xerox as well as the interview appointment confirmation page to collect the passport.
I guess that's all. Don't worry. If you show that you have funding and a good reason for study, there would be no issues.
Now, seeing this blog, I have probably made this blog a bit longer, although didn't mean to :P.
Please do not hesitate to email me at rprash30@gmail.com or comment to this blog if you need any more information.
Best of luck for your interview.
Keep Laughing :D
Hi Guys,
This is in fact my first blog. A few friends (visa applicants) have asked me to explain my experience at the visa appointment centers. Hence, I thought writing this blog about my experience would help my friends as well as students in at least getting the basic structure of the visa appointments.
I had applied a couple of days before writing this blog for US Student visa in Mumbai for my higher studies. I will give you an entire overview of my experience at the visa appointments, both the Offsite Facilitation Center (Hereafter referred to as OFC) appointment as well as the Consulate interview appointment.
This part of my blog explains my experience at the OFC. My consulate interview appointment experience blog is present here.
I had booked my visa OFC appointment at 4 pm in the afternoon. I wore jeans, t-shirt and casual shoes, formals are not required for OFC appointment. When going for an OFC appointment, do not take any electronic appliances, do not keep anything in your pockets other than your handkerchief and do not take anything in your hands (Not even a watch or remote car keys), other than a file which contains your Passport, Interview confirmation and DS-160 confirmation. There is a facility where you can keep your items but at your own risk. I would recommend not taking any electronic appliances to this place, just to be safe.
I reached the OFC in Mumbai around 35-40 minutes before the appointment time. The security guard there told me to stand in the queue in the sun's heat for around 15 min. Then, the security let me in where a person checked my pockets. After that, another guy checked my documents (the passport and the confirmation page) and told me to go inside another room. As soon as I entered that room, a person gave me a coupon number and told me to be seated in the room and wait till they call my coupon number. So I sat there until another guy called my coupon number and told me to go to the counter. This wait is not long as there are around 10 counters running at any time. After I reached the counter, I gave the person my coupon, passport and confirmation page. Then the person at the counter took my photo and fingerprints(All fingers. So don't get a cut on any of your fingers before the OFC appointment. :P). The person then attached a barcode to my passport and directed me to a desk wherethe person explained the lounge access facility for the visa interview which is at the consulate. The lounge access facility involves pickup and drop facility as well as AC waiting room. It costs Rs.400. I did not take it and I do not think it is required (My personal opinion is that there is no point in doing something without having the full experience of it, especially if you are young). Then the guy showed me towards the exit.
I reached the OFC at around 3.25 pm and I was out by around 4 pm. In all, I had an excellent experience except had to bear a bit of sun's heat. So, for those who have not booked their appointments yet, I would suggest an early morning/late evening timing to avoid the heat.
Please do not hesitate to email me at rprash30@gmail.com or comment to this blog if you need any more information.
Thanks Guys.
Keep Laughing :D
