by Rahul Yadav
Hi; first of all kudos to Umar Bhai. He is a miracle; a God’s Gift…. I have just given my step 1 on April 30. Didn’t score well though; but the point is I started researching for visa and electives only in mid may; and today 17 jun 2010; I have got my 10 yr multiple entry to the US.
Few points to remember though:
Visa i/v is not a job interview. You need to be comfortable and calm.
Visa counselor know Hindi language better than u expect them to; a counselor was conversing with an old Punjabi lady so well that I didn’t realize she was an American (MATA JI, AAPKHA DHUS SAAL KHA VISA LAG GEYA HAY) ; unless I looked at her !!!!
Visa counselors interview people for a living and trust me; they are pretty GOOD at this one. They can spot fakes and lies immediately. Don’t ever try to act over smart.
Ok; u must be knowing the basic procedure. U can read it on VFS website https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/Index.html. That’s the one to be followed. Get HDFC receipt; fill out DS 160 form; Get a photo etc etc.
And remember : SAVE DS-160 form after every page !!!! even if the website asks you to save at every 5 minutes…. The information literally EVAPORATES every 2 min. I had to fill the form 8 times. U can change the data anytime till u take the print out. You should be thorough with every detail u fill in that form. I was asked the details. Memorize the name and number of your US contact. I was asked.
PHOTO: get a good photo; every photographer knows about US visa specifications. I had heard many photos getting rejected; so wat I did was to upload the photo right from the photo studio’s computer and I gave him the money only when the photo got approved.
Supporting Docs : it was my 1st time. I took more than 150 documents with me. Right from my birth certificate through my latest mark sheets, every possible details of mom and dad, property docs. I WAS ASKED TO SHOW NONE of them. NONE !!!!! But you always have to be on the safer side.
A quick list follows :
My personal : birth; 10th ; 12th ; all MBBS mark sheets, bonafide certificate from my college, all IDs, USMLE docs all of them.
VISIT related : all clerkship letters, CS letter, CS scheduling permit, Step 1 score report, passport and visa of my US contact
US contact : memorize his/her every detail possible. Ask for a scanned copy of his/her passport and visa. U may need to show them.
Sponsor Documents: mother and father’s – bank documents; salary slips; Income tax return. And remember : AFFIDAVIT from your parents that you are their son ; u are going for US for xxxxx purpose and they are ready to bear your complete cost.
Ties : The main concern in any Tourist visa is that whether u’ll come back or not. Most universities require you to enter on Business Visa (B1/B2); the same is required for CS.. For the same purpose u need to prove to them that there is something which will force you to come back to India after doing ur business. For elderly people and our parents; that is very easy because they have property and settled business here. Problem arises for people like us; students; who are young; dynamic; ambitious; UNMARRIED and own nothing here……. In short there seems to be no reason why u can’t stay permanently in the US. The onus to prove otherwise rests with you. For that ; I got a certificate from my college that I am their bona-fide student and I will have to complete my undergraduate training in order to be eligible for a degree. I showed them my family’s net assets worth 2.5 crores which I own and will eventually inherit so I can’t leave. Any family photo of you and your parents will do. I also took all my property docs in case he asked for it. REMEMBER: NO DOCUMENTS ARE TOO MUCH. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO U’LL ALWAYS FALL SHORT….. TRY TO KEEP MAX DOCS; SO THAT U CAN TAKE OUT WHATEVER U NEED. IT WILL BE MORE AWKWARD WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING AND CANT PROVE IT USING A DOCUMENT , AND DANGEROUS TOO !!!
Ok, now. I had visa i/v on 17 Jun. 10 @ US embassy, Chanakyapuri, Delhi…..
Got up at 6 30. Got ready till 8. Reached in 1hr by car. Parked It in Ashoka Hotel parking. Walked my way to there. It was already 9. I was tense since the reporting time was 9 30 and I wanted to reached at least one hr before. After going through all the security checks; I was allotted my number and had to wait for my turn. I went inside; and got fingerprinted.
Then came the BIG moment
My visa counsellor was a Guy.
Me: good morning sir
Him: good morning; how are u?
Me: I am fine.
Him: why do u want to go to the US ?
Me: I have been selected for electives @ _______ university for Aug month. Also i’ll be giving CS in October.
Him: I am sorry; what do u do ?
Me: (meri haalat kharaab ho gayi ) I am a doctor……errrr…… Medical student.
Him: where ?
Me: xxxx xxx xxxxxxxx Xxxxx College; Delhi
Him: you said you are a med student.. right ?? how much time before you become doctor ??
Me: errr…… sir 1 ….. or 2 months. ( I was trembling from inside)
Him: what will you do there ?
Me : sir I have been selected for clerkship in xxx university. I’ll be doing that in Aug 2010, I am pretty sure to get an extension over there, then I’ll prepare for my CS exam; which I have scheduled in oct 2010; then I’ll use some free time to roam around and see US; then I’ll come back in November. Then I’ll have to go back the next year to appear in the interviews in oct nov. (this is the winning line guys because this tells the visa counsellor that u have a serious plan and will require multiple entries in the US. So kind of makes sure that u get a long term visa and trust me anything above one yr is good.)
Him: ok; who do u know in Pennsylvania ?
Me: he is xxxx xxxx (ur US contact; can be your elective co-ordinator also). He was one yr senior to me in college and a great frnd of mine. I’ll be crashing at his place for some time.
Him: do u know where is this XXX university ?
Me : XXX state.
Him: ok good…….. {long pause and continuous keyboard strokes)…….congratulations; YOUR VISA HAS BEEN AUTHORISED.
Me: thank you. May I know the duration ?
Him: TEN YEARS…………………………………
I was like W O W !!!!!! I wanted to shout right there. But I controlled; came back to my car and then shouted :P
The whole process took less than 3 minutes. I was scared because I fumbled a lot and I thought he was going to send me back home and say better luck next time…………. But the key is I maintained my composure and carried it out smoothly. NO DOCUMENTS WERE ASKED. I DIDN’T OPEN MY FILE EVEN ONCE.
The whole process after reaching the embassy took 1.5 hrs and now I am free.
DRESS: it was my 1st time. So I was pretty scared and wore a blue check shirt with black trousers and black shoes and navy blue tie to look professional. But when I went there; I realized it simply didn’t matter. I saw people in T and J; getting a long term visa and formally dressed executives sent back. And frankly it’s not a ground for rejecting ur visa. Women wore all kind of clothes….. Capri , spaghetti tops, salwar suit ; sarees ( more were there; but I don’t know the names of all :P). Most of them were in jeans and tops. BOTTOM LINE : doesn’t matter. Look smart.
So ; to summarize :
Visa process is damn easy
Never try to act over smart
Always say what u are asked; not a word more…..
Remain confident and polite; greet them and Americans are there for you.
Say only that thing; which you can prove.
Regarding Bona fide letter from College
thanks a lot for sharing this valuable information.
I have been accepted for month of jan for elective and i too have to go this visa interview procd.
What all should be written in bona fide letter from college as my college told me to bring some format, as they will go through it and then issue it.
It would very kind of you if you can let me know that.
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Aditya
Regarding Bona fide letter from College
Congratulations for your ten yr multiple entry.
Sir i have been approved for the elective in month of jan and for applying for visa i need to have the bona fide letter from dean of my college.
my dean told to get an format and he find its suitable he will issue me the one.
I just want to confirm what all things should be added in that certificate.
it would be v. kind of you to help me out.
thanks in advance
aditya
hi
In the name of God the most Gracious, the most Merciful,
My interview didn’t have anything remarkable apart from the
fact that it was too short and I got the visa, so I thought let me add some
other details here for those of you coming to Delhi. Others may skip reading
this!!
I had my interview on one these chilly and foggy January
mornings at Delhi.
Well, I would, like everyone else here thank Dr Umar for
this wonderful website. The experience of others does boost your confidence!
I had gone through all the experiences (in fact i took a
printout of it and read it like a book!!) on this site but I found that Delhi’s
are less in number.
I study at Delhi so that was a thing I found lacking. I
didn't know the exact location, the directions, mode of transit to, and most of
all how to find the correct entry point once i get there (very childish
concerns, you see :-P) and of course like everyone else here i WAS scared of a
rejection too!!
So that day, i woke up at 5, got dressed (it was too cold to
sport only a suit, i wore a shirt, pants, a tie, stuffed myself with
innerwear!!! and a jacket on top, i didn't have a "formal" coat and
of course wore my adidas sport shoes-BLACK {& yellow})
I took the security guidelines too seriously..."no
battery operated devices"....so no cells...no watch either....what if they
confiscate..ha ha!!
My friend dropped me at metro station, boarded the first
train leaving at 0602 hrs...it was still dark . I thought may be i made a
mistake by leaving so early...
The metro station nearest to the embassy is "Race
Course" (yellow line, 1 or 2 stops after central sectt). Reached there
at 0640hrs. It was freezing outside so i thought of not checking out till 7. I
sat at the platform and revised my most important documents.
Outside it was still dark and foggy. Auto rickshaws
keep shuttling on that road so you won't have much problem, just shout
"auto" and they'll (most of them will) stop. Ask for American
embassy?....Panchseel Marg??....Shanti Path?...it’s about 2-2.5
kms...(courtesy gmaps!!)
Now the auto dropped me at the main gate...he himself didn't
know the exact location..and still charged me 50..:( .. The Constable nr his
car asked in his accent...sirjee vija k liye aae ho na??....aagge se jaa k
right ho jana..aath (8) baje hi khulega...it was 710 then.
I walked along the "great wall" of the embassy and
turned right, security guards told me to go to gate#** There I found the crowd
everyone talks of...simpletons, kids, elderlies, newlyweds,
"corporates"...wow!!..so many people... every day..!!!
Then i realized, i was just in time, the moment i reached
there the guards announced, that all those who have their scheduled
appointments at 8 to form queues....it was 720 then.
We formed the queues; the security people checked our name
on their list and directed us in. I entered the door meant for the non US
citizens...God!! What was it made of...It was so heavy...lol...then i was
frisked...my plastic bag x-rayed..and i entered a "hall" with
"semi-open" roof (that word immediately came to mind when i looked
up!!) a lady (Indian) standing there
took my passport, vfs appointment, cofrmn letter, blue hdfc recpt and printed
out a token and stapled all together...yes she didn't ask for my photo...??
And she directed me to the hall....the same hall described
as a "sophisticated post office" (so apt a description!)
There, based on your token number you are told to go a
counter, this is screening or prescreening. Not sure what they call it. Here an
Indian official will check the receipt,appntmnt letter, confrmn letter and
passport. Ask you a few questions to confirm your ID and write a no. on your
confrmn letter.
10-15 mins later was our fingerprinting....and then I waited
for my token number to flash on the display panels...and then 40 minutes,,,and
it flashed...
The VO was a young African American lady in late 20s or
early 30s...
Me: (smile) good morning
VO: (no reply
VO: your passport, and application (ie the confrmn+appntmnt
letters)
me: here (i slid them through the slit)
VO: why do you wanna go to US?
me: to do my electives in ***** at ***** university and to
appear for my step 2 clinical skills exam....( a senior had told me not to use
abbreviation ie cs)..i m also awaiting acceptance from 2 other universities in
new york...so...
vo: is it a medical elective or something?
me: yes
VO: what does your father do?
me: he's a general surgeon
vo: what do u do
me: i m a medical student....final yr medical student..
vo: ok your visa has bn issued and your passport will reach
u within 5 days...
me: .......ok....
i was like....what?????????...did she just say yes????
OMG...Alhamdulillah!!
hardly took 2 or max 4 minutes!!
God knows what comes on their screens and what do they
type...and what is their criteria....but who cares.. I’m grateful that i got
approved...i didn't ask there what the duration was...i thought let it be a
surprise....5 months or 5 yrs...
i came out of the hall again into that "semi-open
roof" hall...it had some coffee and some other eating stuff...bought a
georgia "latte" for 40 bucks!!...chocolates in the fridge?.....sir 80
rupees...arey yaar rehne do....bass coffee mein cheeni aur daal do....lol
and i was out again...it was freezing cold...but i had that
warmth inside...the warmth of happiness!!....walked down the street sipping on
that latte till the last drop!!...and walked 2-3 miles to race course
station...i was getting impatient as i had to inform my anxious family, my
friends, my seniors....
reached my hostel did the Sajdah (prostration)...All Praise
belongs to God...people call it luck,i call it God's help...
my advice be
confident...prepare your answers well...have an answer for every question they
may ask you...you should be able to explain...(though i wasn't asked any)...and
do carry ALL the documents with you...i wasn't asked for any...no cs letter no
acceptance letter...
and i received the passport, 10 yr multiple entry!!..ALHAMDOLILLAH
all the best pals....May God be with all of you...all the time...
regards
Howwashafi
Many many congrats! Great
your own bank balance matters?
Hello,
I am applying for my visa soon. I would like to know that if I say that my dad is bearing all the expenses how much amount should I show in my own account? pls help. Ideally how much balance should my dad show including the valuation of the solid assets.
Visitor Visa with family or Visa for CS?
Hi,
Amazing website. amazingly put together. I have a situation here and I need your help plz.
My cousin lives in the USA and he is willing to sponsor Visitor Visa for me,my sister and my mom. My dad will stay back in India. Both my parents are doctors and we also have our own polyclinic. My sister is in her second year MBBS. I have finished my mbbs two years ago and i work at a nursing home as duty doctor and also at our own clinic..I am startin prep for usmle now.
So is it better to go for visitor group visa with my cousin as sponsor now, or should i wait till my step 1 is over and then go for visa to write cs exam itself?
plz plz suggest
thanks
This is how my Interview
Me: Good Morning Sir
Him: Good morning, how are you
Me; am good, how bout u
Him; Pretty good , so Masters at xyz University ?
Me; yup
Him: alright , have a pleasant stay in raleigh, its a beautiful city.
me; thanks a lot sir !