I woke up by 7 am and got ready by 8 am for going to the embassy. It was a weird feeling, i knew I am not going to US but still there was nervousness around the very fact that I was going to have an interview ! After a long time !
After a heavy breakfast, I headed out for the embassy, which was not very far from where I had bunked. After crossing the road, as i started walking towards the direction of Embassy (cos i dint know the actual location), I started seeing a very long queue of some people. At first, I didnt understand the reason of the queue but as I walked along it, I realized the queue had decent people standing in it and that too with a lot of documents. Suddenly, i had a fear that what if this is the line for the US Consulate. And as i kept walking, the line started at an arbitrarily put board in the way. I kept walking ahead and as it happend, a guard inquired if I am here for US ccounslate and I nodded. He then asked me the time of my meeting which I happily said 9 (since it was already 8:25 am) So after submitting my bag in a shaddy and mobile storehouse, I went ahead for getting an entry.
First entry point had a very short queue. There we were just required to show the online application submission form and then we were issued the appointment number. Mine was N - 321.
After this, we had a security check by a guard. At that point he told that I cannot keep the mobile with me and will have to resubmitto the same shady mobile stall. Pissed off by the fact that the guy didnt tell me before, i resubmitted my package. Post doing this I was allowed to enter the first gate. Immediately after that we were made to enter in a very ordinary looking building and with a very small passage left by a huge table. Two guards are behind the table who siffle through your documents and check for any cds or pendrives. Once done, the candidates are passed through a security door and post that into a overly occupied room which is swarming with people, chairs and lot of counters on one side. I was asked to take one of the chairs and wait to see my number appear on the lcd screens. There were 4 screens put in the room, which was 5 times in length versus breadth. The number on the screen flashed N251. This itself was an indication that a long wait ensued. However, the numbers were assigned pretty quickly. Meantime, i observed that none of the candidates were being asked anything. Plus the people behind that counters were indian. This was highly unlikely that such an important job of granting US visa was trusted to Indians. So I was skeptical if this was the only process for visa.
Anyways, after about 30 minutes of wait, my number flashed on the screen and I had to report at counter no. 4. There were 4 people ahead of me in the queue. It took about 15 mins before my turn came. THere were two students ahead of me who were heading for a spaceprogram to US. This was very interesting but that took a while. So at the counter, I was simply asked to show my HDFC bank receipt and my online resgistration form. AFter this the lady behind the counter simply suggested me to head to counter no. 6. Counter number 6 was for just getting the finger prints done. Post this, we were told to head to the another room which was on the left and back of the current one. As I got out of this one, the guard showed the way for the other room. The door of the other room was really heavy and difficult to pull. This was the way probably how i had supposed Embassy to be.
SO I entered a lobby where there was only one female police office who told me to enter the other door. This door opened to a room very similar to the first one however, much well built and lesser people and sound. Here english people were behind the counter and every window took a lot more time. So I patiently waited for my turn and looked around. There were nice portraits of Barak Obama, Hiliary clinton and some joseph guy. Post that there were photos of places in US like Texas, Lousiana etc.
SO i waited for about 30 minutes and then i got my turn. Well i was quite nervous, although it didnt matter. SO i got behind the counter. An english man was behind the counter. He asked for my passport and dint look at it. He started firing some questions:
- whey are you going to US?
for a business training
- how long is the training?
for 3 weeks
- who is conductin this training?
laurent marting the CTO of the company
- how long you have been with the company?
2 years
- your visa has been approved and you will be getting it in 2 weeks by mail.
I was happy. Finally, i managed to clear this interview and sounded confidant as well !!
However i was amazed that none of my documents were viewed or checked. I slowly got out of the room and happy !!
The agony was over.
