I reached the consulate around 9am and there was already a lot of rush.
For a change the weather in Mumbai isn't so bad today and the long wait of around an hour was bearable.
It was 10:30 by the time my turn came. Counter number 34, the VO was a lady in her mid 30s.
Me: Good morning, how are you today?
VO: I'm good, thank you.
Please pass the I20 and Passport.
Me: Here you go.
VO: Which course are you gonna take up in UTA?
Me: Information Systems
VO: why?
Me: I've been working with Accenture for the past two years on Database and UTA has an excellent program which offers data warehousing, business data mining , business stats and econometrics which will help accentuate my skills in this area.
(She seemed impressed)
VO: who is sponsoring you?
Me: My parents
VO: What do they do?
Me: They have a business and my dad is also a roller skating coach in a private school, and I too am a Nation level skater.
VO: Oh that's great, the entire family has athletes. You should definitely go for the Derby in the US (She started talking in a very casual tone by this time)
Me: I will, for sure.
VO: I am approving your VISA, you can collect it in the next 3-4 business days. Thank you.
Me: Thank you so much, have a nice day.
Lasted for less than a minute. It seems like giving answers with confidence and smiling all along is the key. I was quite nervous prior to the interview which, in the end, turned out to be a piece of cake.
305/112/60% Nagpur university
UT Arlington