Visa Experience

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