Student Visa (F1, F2, M1, M2)

Hi
My name is Ekta and my visa interview was scheduled for 3rd june at 11am. Almost days ahead of the interview i was suffering from the "visa fever". However, now that it is over, its pretty ralaxing. This is my visa experience.

I reached the embassy office at 8:40am. I have read at a lot many places that there is a queue outside the embasssy, its only when you actually see the queu , you realize how late you have been for a 11am appointment. Anyways, i had to change my original plans of having a good breakfast and then waiting outside the embassy to joining the queue which didn't seem to shorten with time. I joined the queue.

After a long sweltering wait, I was allowed to get in at 10am. I produced teh apoointement receipt and the passport to the security guard and was let inside the Black Door. Once I was inside, my documents folder wasw scrutinized to ensure I wasn't carrying any selaed envelope, cds, floppy etc. Then we joined another queue to the left to pay the Rs. 441/- DD or cash. I just had to show the web appointment and gave the DD. Unfortunately, I had the DD made for the American Consulate where it was supposed to be on the name of TTS. Thankfully, I had the cash and I paid it. THen we went to the cashiers, and gave her the 4400/- DD. It was then we were let into the actual building. We were asked to stand in another queue to submit out documents - web appointment, sevis, i-20, the pink card that was given at the casheirs. Our documents were taken and we were give a card #. I founda seat and seated myself comfortable, waiting patiently for my number to be called out and observing the atomospehere at the consulate. Finally, after an hour s wait, it was time for my interview. I was given counter # 3 and the person just ahead of me was asked to come back after a month. This is my visa interview:

Me: Gud Morning sir ( A wide smile on my face)
Officer: Give me the file
Me: Here
Off: Whats your name?
Me: Ekta, Ekta Goel ( this was a real funny way of saying the name, however with my smile in place, i guess i managed to overcome this error)
Off: When did you graduate?
Me: April 2003
Off: What have you been doing since then?
Me: a long on minute story stating that i joined a one year course and took time to prepare for standardized tests
Off: Show me your certificates
Me: Sure, Here they are
Off: ( looking closely at my two degress.. the Bsc in chemistry and the one year Pg Dip in markteing) Seems like a pretty unusual combination?
Me: I realise that. I needed the 16th year of education and since I couldnt find any scince related course I went ahead and joined this course. Also, this course helped me enhance my communication skills.
Off: Give me your test reports.
Me: Here ( still smiling)
Off: Take back all your documents, You will get your visa in two- three days. (pause) Have a safe trip
Me: (donning the widest smile of the day) Thank you so much Sir.

This was my visa experience. I was really tensed. Yahoo groups have always insisted on the importance of confidence to impress a visa officer and thats the trick. Also, remember the visa officers have no intention to penalise you, they want to authenticate the information you provide and want to ensure the genuinity of the documents. They want to establish the person who they grant visa is worthy of it. All the very best for all visa seekers.