My visa interview is over and I got my stamped passport yesterday. W00t! :) Anyway here’s the thing with the Visa Interview

Prepare for the worst and in all probability, the worst will never come :)

Pre-Interview

  • This post by Maverick is a must read – http://mbastory.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/gateway-to-your-visa-appointment/
  • I took home/land valuations by a Chartered Engineer/ Govt Approved Valuator so that they can be shown as fixed assets…
  • As a comprehensive funding document, I got a CA to certify the funds (along with proof). The document had the following parts:
    1. Scholarships & Loans – Proof was the I20
    2. Liquid Assets – Mine and my family’s SB & Curr A/C  – Proof was certificates from bank/ original bank statements
    3. Fixed Assets – Land/House valuations
    4. Yearly Household Income – Proof was Mine and my family’s Tax Return forms
  • As other source of funds I also took proof of mine and my family’s PF contributions and some other funds not mentioned in the above document.
  • P.S. – When you pay the Sevis fee, you have 2 options a $200 one where the posting of the receipt takes 10+ days or $235 where they mail it to you in 3 days.

Interview

I reached the consulate early (though my appointment was at 8:30 am), but there was already a queue. No cellphones, bags etc allowed and NO Sealed envelopes. I saw several people being sent out to remove them before being let in again. Here’s how it worked in Chennai:

  • First you go to a lady who enters your details into the system and verifys the documents. She asked nothing about my funding docs, but the following:
    1. The DS forms
    2. My passport
    3. SEVIS and HDFC Fee Receipt
    4. My BE Degree Certificate (in original)
    5. GMAT & TOEFL scores (if applicable)
  • Then you are sent to wait for your interview with a consulate member.

I had to wait a while and my turn came around 10 am. My interview was a breeze. She asked me nothing. When she saw I had a loan from the school, she smiled and said have a nice stay in Ann Arbor :) … The only reason my interview lengthened was because I had a name change in my passport and she stopped to verify that. Other wise…. nothing!

But, here are some observations that I had from waiting for about 2 hrs listening to about 50 ppl being interviewed:

  • The name of the school matters. It was only Me and a Harvard MBA admit who had it so easy. They were grilling people who went to not-so-famous universities (and even some known ones too, so it must have been my luck).
  • Here’s what most of them were asked:
    1. Which University did you get into and why did you apply there?
    2. What other places did you apply?
    3. How are you funding your study & stay?
    4. Current job and if it is related to the course (this was mostly for the MS applicants)
    5. Scholarships & Loan details…

All the best for anyone who is gonna go for their Visa interview…