Both my Experiences for F1 Visa Interview

University - ASU
Status - Accepted on 2nd Attempt

1st Experience

Location - Delhi
Date – 26,27,28 June
Status – Rejected

I had my VAC on 26th and Interview Scheduled on 27th. My DS 160 had Mumbai Consulate on it, but I had taken the VAC’s and Interview’s appointment - both at Delhi which is lawfully valid.

27th June Visa Interview (10:30 AM)

Me : Handed my passport, i20 and SEVIS

Biometric Officer :Sorry, am unable to scan the barcode attached behind your passport. Pass me your DS160

(I passed my DS160)

Biometric Officer : So, your DS160 says Mumbai on it, I need to get your information from Mumbai. I have already made the request there, server is a bit slow, it would take 30 mins max., just sit and wait in the sofa, your name would be announced as soon as I would get your information from them.

(Sat and waited for almost 2 hours for my name to get announced, watching 100s of people getting their interviews done)

(Went to the Biometric Officer at 12:20 when Embassy was about to get closed)

Biometric Officer : Sorry, I have tried many times since last 2 hours and am still trying but am unfortunately not able to fetch your info due to server issues. The embassy is getting closed, you will need to come tomorrow for the interview. For the worst case if still the information doesn’t get transferred by tomorrow, make a new DS160 for Delhi and bring it tomorrow. I am giving you this chit for this transfer case, this will allow you to come anytime tomorrow in the embassy. Am really very sorry for this delay from our side.

(I made a new DS160 with Delhi chosen on it and went the next day at 8:30 AM, the Biometric’s staff was completely different the next day)

28th June Visa Interview (8:30 AM)

Me : Handed the chit to the officer

Biometric Officer : Just give me the new DS160 of Delhi

Me : Ma’am, I have brought the old Mumbai’s DS as well

Biometric Officer : No, just give me the new one. I would need to take photograph for this new DS160

(Took my photo at the embassy and redirected me to other biometric officer for the fingerprints before the actual interview)

(After taking my Fingerprints, BO said)

Biometric Officer : Follow the red line for the interview.

(There is a red line painted in the tiles of the Delhi embassy which moves towards the Exit gate right before which there are 5-6 chairs and just 2 VO windows)

(Was asked to sat on that chair, where there’s just waiting of 1-2 mins before the interview)

VO : Which uni are you going for MS?
‍Me :Arizona State University

VO : How many unis did you apply to?
‍Me : 4

VO : Which are they?
‍Me : ASU, SBU, NCSU, Rutgers

VO : Why ASU?
‍Me : Sir, I want to specialize in the field of web development and cloud computing and the course structure at ASU is in alignment with my interests.

VO : Why did you not go to Mumbai and came to Delhi if earlier you had DS160 of Mumbai?
‍Me : Sir, the appointment dates available at Mumbai were quite late and here they were available (Fumbled a bit answering this)

VO : Who is going to sponsor your education?
‍Me : My parents are going to sponsor my education and apart from that, I also have an ed loan.

VO : What do they do?
‍Me : My father is a government employee and he works in the Bank of Baroda.

VO :What’s his annual income?
‍Me : 9.5
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‍VO : What do you currently do?
‍Me : I just completed my BTech in Information and Communication Technology from DA-IICT

VO : What do you intend to do post MS?
‍Me : I plan to return to India and work her in MNCs as a Software Development Engineer.

VO : In which field of SE you wanna exactly specialize in?
‍Me : Web Development and Cloud Computing

VO : Sorry, your visa cannot be approved this time, the reason is mentioned in the slip. ( Handed me the 214(b) )

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I felt the visa was rejected perhaps due to :

A) Me chosing Delhi as a location post chosing Mumbai in DS160 and thus was asked to follow the red line where I feel just 4-5 people out of 100s are asked to go when they feel the case is doubtful

B) Not mentioning the savings amount of my parents as wasn’t questioned about that explicitly

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2nd Experience

Location - Mumbai
Date – 16,17 July
Status – Approved

The interviewer was a Caucasian jolly lady probably in her mid 40s.

17th July Visa Interview (10:00 AM)

VO : Ohh nice, ASU (Looked happy after seeing my uni from i20)

VO : Which other universities did you apply to?
‍ME : SBU, NCSU, Rutgers

VO : How many admits did u receive?
‍ME : 1 Admit

VO : Why did you go all the way to Delhi last time if you are from Gujarat?
‍ME : Ma’am I wanted to come to Mumbai only last time, but as the dates available were quite late in late-July, I had to chose Delhi then

VO : What does your father do?
‍ME : He is a govt employee and works in BoB

VO : So, he works in BoB and also works in govt?
‍ME : No, BoB is a govt bank, thus he is considered a govt employee

VO : What is his annual income?
‍ME : 9.5 and he also has savings of 90k USD, i.e. 62L INR in liquids

VO : What exactly u wanna specialize in SE?
‍ME : Web Development and Cloud Computing

VO : What was your GRE Score?
‍ME : 326

VO :Just wait, I will come back in a min

(She went somewhere for 2-3 mins while I was still waiting)

VO : Thank you so much for waiting

(Kept typing for 30-40 seconds after returning)

VO : Your visa is approved, you are all set to go.

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