F1 Visa for Agricultural Engineering

Hi HSB and followers. Well with a thanking note to not just to HSB but also to its followers let me share my visa interview experience at Chennai consulate on June 21 st 2011. And hopefully not much debate will take place on my English. 🙂

• F1 Visa Interview Experience and Questions

Here is my profile.

• Program applied : Biological & Agricultural engineering
• BE in Biotechnology from VTU Karnataka, India.
• Acads : 82 %
• GRE : 1130 (750Q +380V)
• TOEFL : 104
• Successful Research project in under graduation and few rewards in various events.
• 6 months of internship at an agricultural laboratory.

Universities Applied

• NCSU – Admit
• WSU – Admit
• Uni of Mineesotta – Reject
• UFL – Reject
• Texas Tech – Admit.

Well my experience was quite surprising as it turned out to be for just 50 seconds or so. I was there at the consulate at 8:30 (for 9:00am slot).

After quick initial screenings I was asked to move counter 9 to submit passport, I20, Degree certificate, GRE and TOEFL score cards nothing else.

An Indian lady placed them in a separate folder that she had and passed them back. I had canceled my first passport for change of address and had a new one. So she asked for the old passport and the reason for cancellation. (Make sure you carry the old passport if you have canceled one.)

Then went to counter 12 for finger prints and greeted by a visa officer (edited here) for the first time. He took the finger prints and I was out to next building within a minute.

I waited hardly for about 10 mins till the screen showed my token number. Went to counter 28 and was surprised again to see a (edit) man in the seat (though he had US accent :)). There was a lady before me carrying her daughter in hands for a different category visa. And it was my turn the next minute.

I’m not sure whether I was smiling at the VO as I moved towards the counter or till the end of my interview that lasted in quick succession of about 50seconds or so.

He was really very quick between his questions as if it was rapid fire round in quiz. But the interaction went in professional manner. He never bothered to check a single document of mine. All he started with was I20 and ended with the same. 🙂

US Student Visa Interview

Me : good morning sir.
VO : no response. (in fact looked strange. )

I passed the folder that carried Passport, I20, Degree certificate, GRE & TOEFL scorecards.

VO: Why Agricultrual Engineering? (My I20 mentioned the course as Agricultural engineering.)
Me : India generates huge amount of agricultural biomass every year which is being used ineffectively. There needs to be someone who can handle the same effectively to produce value added products.

VO: What kind of products?
ME : Biofuels, Ezymes, antibiotics & many more.

VO: Where did you graduate from?
ME: VTU, Belgaum.

VO : what was your class?
Me : First class with distinction

VO: What was your rank?
Me : I was first to the batch.

VO: First to the batch?
Me: Yes sir.

VO: What was your score?
ME : 82%

VO: Any backlogs?
ME: No sir. No backlogs.

VO: when did you graduate?
ME: 2010

VO: How are you funding your education?
ME: My parents are sponsoring my education. (I forgot to mention about the bank loan. :))

VO: What do they do?
ME : Answered

VO: You will get your passport within 2-3 days through courier.
ME: Thank you sir.

I personally don’t have any extra advices to be given to the future candidates as all of them are already on this blog and on many other sources.

Just be to yourself. Be completely frank on DS160. Stand straight at the counter :). be quick to answer truthfully.

Good luck .

Congrats

Shared by Gaurish. Congrats on successful F1 stamping.

Don’t address people by skin color. Edited your comments for that same mistake