VISA'ed

The reporting time for the interview was 7:45 am. It was advised that I reach the US consulate half an hour before the reporting time. I had a bad experience of the huge serpentine line in front of the Consulate, and the last I was there - it took me 4-5 hours for the whole process. I had learnt the lesson the hard way. So I reached the Consulate by 6:30 am and even then there were around 60 people in front of me. I had got in touch with all the people who had already got their Visas and had a list of questions that the consulate officers had asked. While standing in the queue, I was trying to remember the questions and the possible answers. Getting bored in the queue, I started talking with an uncle standing right infront of me. I was surprised to find that he had no clue of the whole Visa process. He had paid for the services of an agent who had done all the paperwork for him. Though I felt good that I knew the process in and out, I still envied that person because I was not sure whether the effort was worth it or not. Anyways, I focused on the more important thing for which I was there. Finally, I entered the Consulate office. (Yes, for about an hour, I was still standing outside the office.) After the security check and an initial screening of my passport, my token number sticker was put on the passport. Then I was back in the queue again. At the next check post, they again took my passport and scanned it. It was 7:45 am and I was finally ready for the interview. The only issue was that the consulate officer would open the windows only at 8 am. While I waited, I felt quite at peace with myself and all the nervousness seemed to have evaporated. When the windows did open and the interview started, I saw a lot of people going back with their passports. That meant that their Visas were rejected. Nervousness was back ! When my token number was displayed along with the window number, I promptly went to the window only to find out that it was the same window where all the passports were being scanned.

They had made a mistake ! Why me God ?! Why can’t you get it done with !!!!!        

I was assigned another window. This is my conversation with the consulate officer:

Me: Good morning
CO: Good morning, give me your passport and I20.
(I promptly handed both my passport and I20 to him)
CO(After taking a look at my I20): Which course?
Me(thinking - isn’t it specified in the I20 itself !): MBA
CO(started scratching my L1 visa): Congratulations, your visa has been approved and you will get your passport in a week.
Me(relieved and a bit surprised): Thanks and have a nice day!!!

As is evident, the whole conversation wouldn’t have lasted for more than 15 seconds. Though I was surprised, that he did not ask me the usual questions - I was happy that I finally got it. Almost 5 months after the admit and with around 3 months of restlessness, I had finally got the Visa.(I would still suggest people to be thoroughly prepared because after talking to other admits I realized mine was indeed a special case and others were asked the usual run-of-the-mill questions)

I remember sharing my pessimism of the foreign sponsor with almost every other person I interacted with. I know people would have got sick of hearing the same thing again and again. But I could not help it. Only after I got my Visa, I felt relieved. It was only then that I started dreaming of my life at Tepper. Yes, I am a dreamer - what can i say !