I live to dream: June 2008

Hi Guyz

Got my VISA to GATECH on June 3, 2008 at Chennai consulate…Slot timing – 4.00PM

Went to Consulate at 2.45 PM…Not even a single soul was standing there. Don’t go early, there is no point in doing so as they are leaving people inside according to slots. They will leave people inside just 15 minutes before the scheduled time. I made use of the stars and stripes lounge which is about 1km from the consulate….you can keep your bags, cellphones here….. Don’t keep any sealed covers in your harmonium folder….

I entered the consulate exactly at 4

Step1: you will have to submit the following documents at the 1^st set of counters…there are about 14 counters…

HDFC receipt (blue)

DS forms

Passport

SEVIS fee receipt

GRE/TOEFL Scorecard

University graduation or provisional certificate

No other marksheets are needed. The counters verify your DS forms.

Basic mistakes that other people did

Forgot to write the name in local language in 157 form
Forgot to sign in 156 and 158

Also carry a tissue paper or kerchief….if hands are wet while taking finger prints…they will ask you to wipe it

Once they verify these documents, they put it in a separate folder and ask you to enter the next building.

Here again, you have 7 counters for issuing VISA. There are also a few more counters that issue VISA to elder people. There are no separate counters for F1 VISA. They call you out by slot timings. You will have to go out and stand in the serpentine queue. You cannot jump between counters or choose your counters. That just doesn’t happen.

My Interview was with a male…aged around 35…..was pretty lenient in giving VISA’s

Me: Hi…How are you

VO: Fine, how about you…Did you know that girl who just went

Me: No…Any specific reason for knowing her???

VO: She is also going to the same university

Me: Oh..thats great…I will go and out and talk to her for sure then….

VO: yeah….just say a “Hi” to her

Me: Sure

VO: So…wat are your parents doing

Me: My Father is working as professor and director and my mother is into agriculture

VO: Are you working

Me: yes sir, I am working in cognizant technology solutions for the past two years

VO: How much do you earn

Me: 2.6 lks per annum

VO: I don’t remembet..wats your father?

Me: Professor and director

VO: Then he must be making a lot of money

Me: Sure he does

VO: Then why is mother sponsoring you (he asked this question…..coz I had shown the amount for I20 only from my mothers account..so it was listed there)

Me: We have a lot of agricultural land and my mother earns from it

VO: How many acres

Me: 16 (this was a lie…said at the heat of the moment…I believed he wouldn’t ask for documents…later discovered that my mom has more acres that wat I said)

VO: Ok son…here are your documents….your VISA has been granted….you will receive your passport in 3 days,…

Me: Thank you……

Took my documents out and went to VFS lounge were they provided a sandwich and coffee for the 200 bucks I paid…

Additional info:

There are around 3 males and 4 females in the 7 counters…..

2 females (middle aged and looking grim) gave a tough time…..interview went on for 15 minutes…..

1 female (good looking young…you can spot her pretty easily coz she is only qualified person there)……she wanted to hear everything from the person…..the person standing next to me was about to show her some documents and she said “ I want to hear it from you..no documents please)

1 male (he was counter 7…….he was in thirties….lean…had some glasses…..i was praying to god that I shudnt go to him..he was the toughest of the lot…a girl with 9.51 CGPA (that’s wat she said) and etc was grilled for 20 minutes before getting a VISA…I saw him reject a person too…he said” I would not recommend you to apply again..however, its your call”…

Some question I heard from other counters