Profile Details:
University: North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Course: MS in Industrial Engineering
First Attempt
Hyderabad Consulate
Date: May 2018
Status: Approved
Visa Interview Experience:
Went to consulate at 8:30 AM but they were letting in people with appointments from 8 to 9:30 all at once on first to first come basis. Very small queue of around 5 people outside and went in within 2 minutes. Inside you will have Security check, Fingerprint check and Passport check and then you will be made to stand in line for your counter number to be issued. As soon as I stood behind the person already interviewing they took my passport and i20 beforehand.
ME: Good morning ma’am.
VO: Why did you choose NCSU?
ME: Cited research and course work and explained.
VO: Which year did you graduate?
ME: 2014.
VO: What have you been doing since then? (Noticed I had a gap year at present)
ME: Told them I was working at a company after graduation for two years and decided to take last year off before my Masters.
VO: How did you choose this school?
ME: Told about how I spoke to friends, my college professors and my online search.
VO: Who is sponsoring you?
ME: My father.
VO: What does he do?
ME: Answered.
VO: What is your fathers salary?
ME: Answered.
VO: Do you have any property in India?
ME: Yes and gave value.
VO: Have you ever travelled outside India?
ME: No.
VO: Are your parents only son?
ME: Yes.
VO: Your visa is issued you can collect it in 3 to 5 days, Thank you
Two videos I found on YouTube on what happens in OFC and VISA interview that I found close to reality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yli9HiOsJ5c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPb2bzdjD-Y
My advice is if you finalized your university attend as VISA interview as early as possible, don't listen to consultants and waste your time gathering unnecessary financial documents.
Edit 1: OFC Process detailed:
You will be allowed to enter building 15 minutes before appointment, First check of required documents i.e. DS160, Appointment letter, Passport and SEVIS fee receipt. After the check you will the OFC room where multiple checks of your DS160 and Passport are done basically there should no mismatch between DS160 confirmation and Passport. Then they stamp your DS160 and paste a barcode on your Passport. After that you will a cabin assigned to you fro registering your finger prints and photo. That’s it and whole process takes 5 to 10 minutes apart from waiting in queue for another 15 minutes.
Edit 2: Some people are asking me via PM why I am suggesting early dates. Way back I read that State Secretary issued a memo asking VISA officers for tougher screening and norms to limit the number of interviews per day. So I just thought if suppose they feel like restricting student levels they might scrutinize more near June / July. This is just my opinion and I am not trying to spread any panic. I am just saying if you have necessary docs and finalized university there is no need for waiting.
Edit 3: People are asking for documents I will list the ones I took
Passport, I20,DS160, Appointment, Sevis receipt
GRE/TOEFL & All Decisions
Undergrad certificate and Work experience cert
Bank balance statement, ITR 1 year + 3 month salary slip, Property valuation, EPF passbook(Only online passbook print) and 6 month online print of Bank transaction statement.
Property Deed docs, Resume
But I was not asked for anything except Passport, i20 Just be confident and answer about finances. They don't have time to check, when one person is interviewing there are two persons standing behind him. So just answer confidently he will not ask for any document.
