Finally am done with one of the most strenuous parts of my journey towards a graduate degree! I got my visa yesterday and it was the most horrid experience of my life. The interview itself hardly lasted a minute….and best of all I was asked no questions!! But the worst part was the 6 hours I had to endure in waiting and anticipation! Delhi Embassy needs an expansion in counselor services ASAP!!!
Guidelines for Delhi Embassy!!
I will give a small description of what one should expect when going for the interview at shantipath. Reach the consulate an hour in advance (no need to if yours is the first slot of the day of-course!!!). If you are lucky/unlucky, the crowd will be quite huge and you will be allowed to get into the verification queue. Once you are in the queue, your documents (passport, i20, HDFC receipt, DS-156, 157, 158, appointment letter and sevis fee payment receipt) will be checked by someone. Ask any doubts / queries you have and fill out the form if you have left out any section blank! Once you reach the verification counter (its a series of windows – 4 actually just outside the entrance to the building!), pass on the documents and answer any questions if asked! Once verification is over, ask the guys helping if you need to wait outside (will happen during lunch hour which extends till 1:30 or if there is a lot of rush!). If not then go inside the building. You will be asked to surrender anything not allowed inside. After going inside, you will need to stand in another queue to get fingerprinted/profiled. Next go to the help desk and ask for your number. Next wait for your number to be announced (meanwhile, you can indulge youself with some horrendously expensive food/drinks). Once you are called, you will have to get into another queue which will in all likelihood move at a snail’s pace (depends in the VO’s and the time they take for the interviews!). After your interview (hopefully with an approval), come out the same way you got in and enjoy the day!!!
