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Hi Friends,
Sorry for being late to post my VI experience.
Anyway better late than never.
Destination: Wayne State University, Detroit
Program: Master’s in English Literature and Language
Funding: None
Consulate: Kolkata
Date & Time: June 24, 2008, 8:45 AM
Decision: Accepted
For the last three days before my VI, I was too tense. In fact, I could not sleep at the night before my VI date. A lot of factors were against me e.g. it’s a second Master’s, there was no funding. But I was honest in arranging my documents properly.
I reported at the US Consulate at 8:15AM. And after showing my HDFC receipts, passport, and interview confirmation letter I entered the consulate. There my files were checked. I had two files with me. One harmonium file in which I took my academic docs and financial docs (liquid cash category), and in the other file I took the docs of our immovable property.
Entering the big room for interview and documents-verification I found quite a long queue. I stood there. There were four counters. At the first two counters, two Indians (a man and a woman) were verifying docs. At the third counter finger printing was being done. There was an Indian lady there. The queue was moving very slowly. After some time, a toddler, who was playing on her father’s lap, suddenly began to sing in distinct voice, “Om Jai Jagadish Hare”. The girl standing behind me spoke out, “Great. There is a good sign.” To ward off my tension, I asked her about her application and to my surprise found that she was of my stream, English. We were talking about our programs and research interest and then I found that it was my turn to give my documents for verification. I had to make some corrections on my DS forms. And then when I gave the man my DS forms , I-20, GRE, TOEFL score cards and photo, he told, “this photo will not do. The background is not exactly white.” The tension was creeping back. He told me that he would give me a re-entry slip and I must report within 20 minutes with a photo. I took the slip and came out of the consulate. My parents were waiting there anxiously. Told them about it. And fortunately we found that there was a studio beside the consulate. Within 10 mins I re-entered the consulate, and gave my photo. I was told to wait for my name to be announced. After 2 mins I was called for finger-printing. Finger printing was made for all the fingers of both hands. Did it at the third counter. After that the other girl of English was called for the interview. She went and within a minute came back smiling. Naturally, she had a very good chance because she was going for Ph.D. and with full funding from Univ. After 3-4 mins I heard my name was being announced. Ran to the counter. There was the American Madam. She was looking at my i-20, GRE, TOEFL score-cards, DS forms. The interview began thus:
Me: Good morning ma’m. How are u?
VO: (She looked at me for just a second and wished.) Good morning. I’m fine. How are u?
Me: Fine.
(I was looking at her face as I practiced to maintain the eye-contact with the VO always during my interview. But she was not looking at me. She was looking at my i-20 and score-cards and DS forms.)
VO: Would you please press your two middle fingers on that finger-printing machine?
Me: Certainly ma’m. (did it)
VO: Thank you. So, you are heading for Wayne State University, Master’s program?
Me: Yes, ma’m. (was revising the answer I prepared to face the question regarding my second Master’s. I was sure that the next question would be this.) But…
VO: Your family is supporting you. So do you have any financial doc regarding that?
Me: Yes ma’m. Here it is. (I gave her the copy of bank statement I sent to Wayne State University.)
VO: OK. It’s fine for the first year. Do you have anything else for the remaining years?
Me: Yes ma’m. [I gave her the three affidavit of support (of my father, mother and sister), along with the CA statement.]
VO: What does your father do?(looking at the papers)
Me: He was an employee at a national bank. Last year he took voluntary retirement and now is engaged in private coaching.
VO: What does your mother do?
Me: She is a housewife.
She finally looked up from the bunch of papers, and gave me my papers back and indicating the i-20 form said,
“Keep this i-20 very carefully. You will need it at the time of entry to the US. Your passport will be couriered to your address within 3 days. Have a nice day (smiling).”
At first I could not believe my ears and then realized that my visa was granted. Smiled and said,
“Thank you ma’m. Have a great day.
I came out of the consulate running, gave my parents the news. Made a few telephone calls to convey the news.
But I didn’t wait for three days to get my passport, I went to the office of the courier company the very next day and showing the pink HDFC slip and Interview confirmation letter collected my passport from the counter.
I prepared so many questions but none was asked. I didn’t have to touch a single financial document of my harmonium file except the CA statement, affidavit of support and bank statement sent to WSU.
Sorry for this long description. I tried to incorporate every detail.
I would like to thank all the members and moderators of this forum for the way you helped me. It was a great place to prepare for the VI.
Thank you.
Sorry for being late to post my VI experience.
Anyway better late than never.
Destination: Wayne State University, Detroit
Program: Master’s in English Literature and Language
Funding: None
Consulate: Kolkata
Date & Time: June 24, 2008, 8:45 AM
Decision: Accepted
For the last three days before my VI, I was too tense. In fact, I could not sleep at the night before my VI date. A lot of factors were against me e.g. it’s a second Master’s, there was no funding. But I was honest in arranging my documents properly.
I reported at the US Consulate at 8:15AM. And after showing my HDFC receipts, passport, and interview confirmation letter I entered the consulate. There my files were checked. I had two files with me. One harmonium file in which I took my academic docs and financial docs (liquid cash category), and in the other file I took the docs of our immovable property.
Entering the big room for interview and documents-verification I found quite a long queue. I stood there. There were four counters. At the first two counters, two Indians (a man and a woman) were verifying docs. At the third counter finger printing was being done. There was an Indian lady there. The queue was moving very slowly. After some time, a toddler, who was playing on her father’s lap, suddenly began to sing in distinct voice, “Om Jai Jagadish Hare”. The girl standing behind me spoke out, “Great. There is a good sign.” To ward off my tension, I asked her about her application and to my surprise found that she was of my stream, English. We were talking about our programs and research interest and then I found that it was my turn to give my documents for verification. I had to make some corrections on my DS forms. And then when I gave the man my DS forms , I-20, GRE, TOEFL score cards and photo, he told, “this photo will not do. The background is not exactly white.” The tension was creeping back. He told me that he would give me a re-entry slip and I must report within 20 minutes with a photo. I took the slip and came out of the consulate. My parents were waiting there anxiously. Told them about it. And fortunately we found that there was a studio beside the consulate. Within 10 mins I re-entered the consulate, and gave my photo. I was told to wait for my name to be announced. After 2 mins I was called for finger-printing. Finger printing was made for all the fingers of both hands. Did it at the third counter. After that the other girl of English was called for the interview. She went and within a minute came back smiling. Naturally, she had a very good chance because she was going for Ph.D. and with full funding from Univ. After 3-4 mins I heard my name was being announced. Ran to the counter. There was the American Madam. She was looking at my i-20, GRE, TOEFL score-cards, DS forms. The interview began thus:
Me: Good morning ma’m. How are u?
VO: (She looked at me for just a second and wished.) Good morning. I’m fine. How are u?
Me: Fine.
(I was looking at her face as I practiced to maintain the eye-contact with the VO always during my interview. But she was not looking at me. She was looking at my i-20 and score-cards and DS forms.)
VO: Would you please press your two middle fingers on that finger-printing machine?
Me: Certainly ma’m. (did it)
VO: Thank you. So, you are heading for Wayne State University, Master’s program?
Me: Yes, ma’m. (was revising the answer I prepared to face the question regarding my second Master’s. I was sure that the next question would be this.) But…
VO: Your family is supporting you. So do you have any financial doc regarding that?
Me: Yes ma’m. Here it is. (I gave her the copy of bank statement I sent to Wayne State University.)
VO: OK. It’s fine for the first year. Do you have anything else for the remaining years?
Me: Yes ma’m. [I gave her the three affidavit of support (of my father, mother and sister), along with the CA statement.]
VO: What does your father do?(looking at the papers)
Me: He was an employee at a national bank. Last year he took voluntary retirement and now is engaged in private coaching.
VO: What does your mother do?
Me: She is a housewife.
She finally looked up from the bunch of papers, and gave me my papers back and indicating the i-20 form said,
“Keep this i-20 very carefully. You will need it at the time of entry to the US. Your passport will be couriered to your address within 3 days. Have a nice day (smiling).”
At first I could not believe my ears and then realized that my visa was granted. Smiled and said,
“Thank you ma’m. Have a great day.
I came out of the consulate running, gave my parents the news. Made a few telephone calls to convey the news.
But I didn’t wait for three days to get my passport, I went to the office of the courier company the very next day and showing the pink HDFC slip and Interview confirmation letter collected my passport from the counter.
I prepared so many questions but none was asked. I didn’t have to touch a single financial document of my harmonium file except the CA statement, affidavit of support and bank statement sent to WSU.
Sorry for this long description. I tried to incorporate every detail.
I would like to thank all the members and moderators of this forum for the way you helped me. It was a great place to prepare for the VI.
Thank you.
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