I thank umar bahi and this website because of which i got my B1/B2 visa with 10 year multiple entry.i will narrate my experience as well because i do strogly believe it call help others out a lot.
I had my interview in the mumbai consulate at 10 am.i had started from my home at 8:40 am but just because of traffic i reached at dot 10am at the vfs.I was already half freaked out because i was late but somehow i composed myself and got into the bus which took me to the embassy.so the point is try to be early but even if u are late dont worry the way i was worried.just b calm.
It was a flurry of activity with lot of people.i got my finger printing done and then waited for my turn.meanwhile while i notice that the interview was going to take place in a small wooden cabin where the visa officer would be separated from you by a glass window.then fianlly mytoken number was called out.i went and stood out of the cabin.a couple in front of me were interviewed but were rejected which did worsen my already low confidence.then i went in......
v.o: show me your token please
i showed her.i tried smiling at her.
v.o: why do u want to go to america?
me: i have got an oppurtunity to do a four week elective in ........in.....department
v.o: whats your program?what will u be doing there?
Me: i ll be going in early dec.i ll be under the supervision of a faculty and i ll be looking at cases and patients.
V.o: are u studying in u.s?
Me: i said no...i m studying here
V.o: which college?
Me:..... college
she kept typing and typing meanwhile my heart thumped ....
V.o: ok mam, here is the issue,,,u have applied under the wrong category
Me: but mam the university wants me to come on a visitors visa.
V.o: why is that?
Me : because we are not considered as full time students and they just want us to be on visitors visa for those 4 week of electives
V.o : anything more than two weeks is student visa.so u should apply in students visa.
Me : i started fumbling....but mam the university specifically states visitors visa.(i think i pissed her off)
v.o: i dont care what the university says.i m the u.s government.these universities dont know anything about the visas.
Me: ok mam...would u pls take a moment to look at this document.its the u.s foreign affair manual page 16 and 17
V.o ok(she went thru it)ok so ur not going to practise and its not graduate medical training?
Me: no mam.i still havent graduated
V.o : ok(she typed something) so u wont go for horse riding?
Me: i was confused...i said no...i wont have the time for that.
V.O : smiled ...no it mentions,,,,,(cudnt make out wat she said)she kept typing.ok so i have approved your visa for 10 years.make sure you make good use of it or else i will be spanked.and its going to be really cold so take your clothes.
Me: thank you...and a sigh of relief
SO, i thak you all a lot because of whic h i got it...if i hadnt taken the U.S foreign affair manual i would hav lost this oppurtunity.pls dont forget to take it.....i came almost close to getting rejected ...so i feel happy that i scraped through it....hope this helps sumone just as the way other posts did,,,,,take care
visa experience
About the documents I filed them in by dividing them in 3 categories
1) required for appearing in visa interview i.e. your hdfc slip, VFS appointment letter, the print out of your D160 form print out (the barcode on it must be clearly visible), passport sizes photograph ( not necessary but take them just in case)
2) To prove my case- Financial and letter from university / Visa letter for step 2
For financial documents i took my an parents account print our, 2-3 salary slip, IT return but the best thing to carry is a document made by a chartered accountant stating total worth including all the assets it shows in one paper total of movable and liquid assets, it looks neat and is easy to understand for VO.
From university a letter addressed to consulate general or your approval letter, all your e mail interaction with registrar.
3) other documents like step 1 mark sheet, transcript, deans letter, Your tickets if you have booked or take print our of page just before payment by going on website like makemytrip.com or yatra.com and selecting a flight from there if asked just tell " i have not booked the tickets as i wanted to first get visa but I am thinking of booking this flight, address and contact number of place you would be staying at and all e mail communication with the landlord or owner. remember read from other experiences and take all relevant documents with you, you cant be sure what VO may ask for one of my senior was told to come bake next day with daily schedule of his electives and only after submitting that he was issued visa.
Time-Now for visa interview itself my advice is reach that place 30 min before your interview time it will give you time to settle down.
Dress- wear smartly and cloths you are comfortable in. I am pretty sure they dont care what you are wearing. I wore jeans and shirt. Just remember to shave and get a hair cut done. For girls dont wear anything too modern like minis or deep neck tops etc.
In mumbai consulate after security check you will be given a small wooden stick to keep in your pocket I have no idea what it is for but I have read that it has a tracking device inside so dont forget to return it when you leave the consulate. Than you will receive your token no. and you will have to submit your passport. After this your finger print are taken and now wait begins for real visa interview. Listen carefully to the announcements for your number. I have always hated to wait outside while someone else was undergoing interview or viva this makes me anxious as may be case with some of you old, habits die hard so I shifted to front row when it became empty this way I was 1st to reach Visa counter.
The VO was a pretty lady around 25 yrs They speak slowly and clearly so dont worry if you do not have prior experience of talking to a foreigner like me.
I am including questions asked to me, my friends and seniors-
Q- So why do you want to go to usa
A- I have received approval from _____university for clinical electives and to appear in USMLE step 2 cs exam.
Q- (confused)What is a clinical electives?
A- Its a short term clinical program for undergraduate final year medical students to improve there clinical knowledge.
Q- (still confused) So what will you do there
A- My schedule will be just like a final year american student attending rounds, seeing patients, taking history, attending conferences etc
Q-so what will be your credit for this?
A- I will have no financial gain but academically it will mean a lot it will be added to my cv as a international experience and can help in getting me residency or fellowship in future.
Now mentioning residency is two edged sword, by this you show that you may need to go to usa again but it also shows that you have a interest for staying long term in usa only say it if you have a prepared answer for the next question I am giving here the answer i gave
Q- you are pursuing residency in usa
A- I will only if I get residency in neurology or else I will do my residency from here and go for fellowship in neurology in usa.
This answer shows that you have planned your future and the visa will help you in getting you there.
Q-who will be sponsoring you?
A- my father.
Q-what does your parents do?
A-my father works in______ and my mother is a house wife.
Q- May I see the approval letter
A-sure, I gave the approval letter
VO- ok your visa has been approved
The only mistake I done was to ask her duration of visa she gave me a curious glance and said its a 10 year visa but you should use the visa only for the purpose it has been granted or it will be revoked. I gave her a 440V smile and said sure maam.
other common questions are
Q- where will you be staying in usa.
Q-have you booked your flight tickets
Q-do you have any relatives in usa
Q-Who is your elective coordinator / under whom will you so the elective
They expect that you must know about the person under who you will be working so remember the name and title of Doctor under whom you are doing electives.
Q- what will be your schedule there?
Q how long will you be staying in usa?
Q- more about your family and financial status?
lastly remember one visa interview wont decide your life so be confident and act smartly and keep smiling.
-Razzor
PS-I may have forgotten few things so please go through other experiences and make a list of things you need to remember.