F-1 VISA Interview Experiences

#VISA Interview Experience Intended program: PhD in Civil engineering spring 2024 Intended University: Temple University Visa status: issued on 20 dec (F1);passport collection email on 21 December. Appointment date: 19 December 2023 (emergency) Visa application: completed ds-160 on 25 Nov after receiving i-20 on 22 Nov. Submitted visa fee on 27 Nov. Took regular date for may 19, 2024 on 28 Nov. Then after submitting the SEVIS fee, I requested an emergency appointment that I was accepted on Dec 1 and rescheduled the appointment to 19 Dec,2023. I-20 information: research Assistantship (surplus) Documents check: appointment letter, passport, i-20 I reached embassy at 9 am and came out at 10 am. My interview was at 9:45 am. The appointment letter and passport are checked at the gate. Before that, there was a large quere but they were taking the applicants forward as per the appointment time. There was body check. Then, there was line for passport sticker. After that, there was another line for finger print (Chinese woman). During these times, there were sitting arrangements as well. After sticker, they were a sitting line for the visa interview. They also instructed to keep new passport and i-20 in hand for students. Visa officer (nice black woman): please come forward and pass me your passport and i-20. (I was standing distantly and didn't hear the interview in front of me. The place was very crowded). Me: passed Visa official: How did you manage Assistantship? Me: I emailed the university. After that, I was scheduled a interview. The interview went well. Then, I submitted official application. ( She was busy and I spoke low pitched. Then, she noticed that I stopped talking) Visa officer: What is your research interests? Me: I am working on geo hazard analysis using machine..... ( I spoke loudly this time and couldn't finish the sentence) Visa officer: your visa is approved (loudly) and passed the leaftet. Me: I said, thank you very very low pitched but she wasn't looking and got busy. I waited 2-3 more seconds and left the counter. Profile: BSc. In petroleum and mining engineering, CUET (good gpa); decent test scores (gre+IELTS); published relevant research articles.

VISA Interview Experience Interview Date: December 19, 2022 Passport Issued: December 21, 2022 Passport Collected: December 26, 2022 (23, 24, and 25 were holidays) Appointment Type: Emergency (Emergency Request Approved on the 3rd trial). Profile: · B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from KUET · CGPA: 3.05 · GRE: 314 (Q-166, V-148, AWA-4) · TOEFL: 104 (R-28, L-29, S-22, W-25) · 2 conference papers (1 as 1st author) · 1.5 years of job experience in an MNC. Intended Program: M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. Intended University: Georgia Southern University (Spring 2023) Assistantship: RA with full tuition waiver (5K deficit in the I-20). Interview ins and outs: · Appointment was at 13:00 · I reached the embassy at 12:00, waited outside, then got in line at 12:45. · After a long tiring waiting, the interview started at around 14:40. · VO Description: Famous Bald American -------------------------------------------------------------------------- VO: Hello Sir, Good Afternoon (With a big wave by his hand). Me: Good afternoon, Sir. VO: Please pass me your passport and I-20. Me: Here they are. May I put off my mask, please? (While passing the documents) VO: Yes of course (Smiling at me with a look as if there was no need to wait for his permission) In my I-20, the tuition waiver is written as “GA Waiver & Tuition Reduction” VO: What is GA Waiver? Me: GA waiver means Graduate Assistantship waiver. (At this time, he shouted with joy – ‘oh! Assistantship!’; then he turned towards the computer and started typing. I already knew what was coming, but kept saying “I have a Graduate Research Assistantship which comes with a full tuition waiver.” VO: Then after completing the typing, he turned towards me and asked “Are you married?” Me: Yes Sir. VO: Will she not go with you? Me: No Sir, she is also doing her masters in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland! VO: Edinuaah! So, don’t you want to go to Scotland? Me: No Sir, I have been working on this project for quite some time now and my supervisor has instructed me to learn some new skills for it. So, I really want to get a result out of it. VO: I see. Congratulations then. I am approving your VISA. Please collect your passport within 14 days. Me: I only heard the term “approving your visa” properly. Everything else faded in my ears. He gave me the I-20 and a blue leaflet. I just said “Thank you, Sir, thank you very much” with a big smile. He smiled back and said, “Have a good day”. I nodded, then left.

𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1 Visa Status: approved 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝: Tuition Waiver + Medical Insurance + All fee waiver+ RA + TA - $5.5k surplus 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: Spring 2024 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Utah State University Intended Program: Phd in Aerospace Engineering. 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝: passport • Visa Appointment confirmation page • DS 160 confirmation page • SEVIS fee • I-20 form • All transcripts & academic certificates of F1 • NID • IELTS Scorecard • Offer letter and admission letter Documents checked- Current passport, i20 and DS confirmation page, Appointed Confirmation. 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨: 11 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫: Indian American Male 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Approx. around 2-3 minutes. Me: Good morning. VO: Good morning. Pass me your passport and i20. Me: Here you go. VO: Why Utah State University? Me: I had a zoom meeting with my professor. We shared our common research interest. Then, he asked me to apply. VO: What is his research. Me: Told. VO: Can you please explain the uses and impact of your research? Me: I explained in 4-5 sentence. ( He seems satisfied.) VO: Now I understand. Your research field is interesting. Did you visit outside of BD? Me: Never. VO: You Graduated from which University? Oh! I see! MIST. I heard a lot about it. Are you married? Me: Yes. Recently I got married. VO(with a warm smile): Congratulations! Is she going with you? Me: No. Not now. She is pursuing her MA in Bangladesh. VO: Which University? Me: Chittagong University. VO: What's her major? He: Told. VO: (silently looking at the screen for 10-15 seconds) Congratulations. Your visa is approved . Collect your passport when you get an email. Me: Thank you so much! My Profile: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering Military Institute of Science and Technology(MIST) CGPA: 3.55 out of 4.00 IELTS: 7.5 [L-8, R-8 S-6.5, W-6.5] GRE: 299 [ Q-159, V-140, AW-3.0] Publication: None Work experience: None. Universities I applied: 1. Utah State University [ Full fund with RA+TA $5.5k surplus ] 2. University of Arkansas [ Full fund with RA+ $3000 Fellowship] 3. Oklahoma State University [ Partial Fund] 4. Michigan Tech [ Accepted without fund] 5. Western Michigan University [ Accepted without fund ] 6. University of South Alabama [ Partial Fund] 7. University of Texas at elpaso [Rejected ]

And trust me I don’t think this 1/2 min of interview decides if you are eligible for the visa or not. They have decided it before even seeing you. They do all types of background checks before your arrival. So just be real and give the interview and avoid all the negativities around you.

Visa Interview Experience Visa Approved Westcliff University Session: Spring 2024 Program: Masters in Information Technology Interview Date: 27 November 2023 Initial Date: 5 May, 2024 * Rescheduled date 3 days before the interview Passport Collection: 03 December, 2023 Arrival time: 9:10 am Interview: 10:15 am Duration: 1-1.5 min Counter 07 VO: Mid aged white American lady (When I was standing in the queue she looked at me a few times and smiled while taking another interview. Though she refused the candidate in front of me and while giving her the refuse letter she again looked at me smiled and said ‘come come’. To be honest her gesture gave me so much confidence during my interview) Me: Good morning VO: pass your i20 and passport (with smile) (I was passing all of my passports) VO: Just the recent one Me: Sure, here VO: Why are you going to the US? Me: I am going to pursue my Master’s degree in Information Technology from Westcliff University. VO: Why Westcliff University? Me: Well officer I already had a disadvantage because of my bachelor’s cgpa. Which is a bit lower than 3, so I already had less university options as most of the university requires cgpa above 3 for postgraduate. And also the course curriculum I was looking for matched completely with Westcliff. I was interested in Cyber security and IT. Most of the universities that matched my profile either offer MS in IT or MS in Cyber security. But in Westcliff I found this opportunity to do my MS in IT with a concentration of Cyber security. So, I have taken 2 majors- Cyber security and IT. Though it’s completely an optional think but perfectly goes with my interest. These factors made me choose Westcliff. Silence for 15/20 sec. She was looking at computer screen VO: (Said something I couldn’t hear) Me: Sorry? VO: Why didn’t you go on the school trip? (Basically back in 2015 a study tour to the US was arranged by my school. At that time I also got visa but half of my tour mates were refused) Me: That’s a really tragic story. A very close cousin of mine suddenly passed away. It was a crucial time for me and my family. I wasn’t in the mental state of going on a vacation. That’s why I skipped the trip. VO: Sorry to hear that. Who’s your sponsor? Me: My father VO: What does he do? Me: He is a producer. He produces TV shows, series, and dramas. Besides that he also has his own garments accessories business. Basically they make garments accessories like cartons, hangers, poly bags etc. and supply those to different garments factories. His annual income is around x usd. VO: Congratulations! I am approving your visa. (Handed the blue leaflet) Me: Thank you. Thank you so much (Couldn’t believe my ears) VO: You welcome (With a very big smile) My profile:- SSC: 5 (2014), VNS HSC: 5 (2016), VNC BSc: 2.74 (2022), CSE, BRAC University IELTS: 7 Applied university: Cal State LA, Westcliff University Before the visa interview I faced a few more questions at the passport scanning counter. Q: Is this your first time facing the interview? A: No. Previously I faced the interview for a B1 visa. Q: Do any of your family members hold a US visa? A: Yes, my father got a B1 visa a couple of months ago. Q: What’s his name? A: Told * I heard so many negative things regarding the university but I really didn’t believe them because a cousin and a friend of mine already go to this university and they haven’t faced any visa related issues. They got approval on their 1st attempt for last spring session. But the low visa ratio news made me so nervous and almost broke my confidence. I know I had an advantage of getting a US visa before but still the negative posts made me rethink my decision so many times. But that day when I went to the embassy the whole atmosphere made me positive and confident. I don’t know why people are talking about the low visa ratio. I saw so many people getting approval and also many of them being refused. To me it was a 50/50 ratio. If you are confident and if your background is strong you’ll definitely get the visa.

𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1 Initial Interview Slot: 9 may 2024 Rescheduled interview date: 24th December 2023. Again Rescheduled interview date: 17 December Time: 8.30(30) 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: Spring 2024 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: University of Missouri- Kansas City Intended Program: PhD in Mathematics 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝: Graduate Assistantship with Full Tuition Waiver+ stipend + health insurance. On the day of interview: 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝: passport• Visa Appointment confirmation page • DS 160 confirmation page • SEVIS fee payment confirmation page • I-20 form • All transcripts & academic certificates photocopy with main copy• NID • University offer letter •Funding letter, Admission letter, Passport Photocopy. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲: 7.0 AM. 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲: 7.30AM First check: At embassy gate. A male security officer checked all of our passports kept at transparent file that we were carrying. Second check: Before entering the compound. (Had to wait for around 15 minutes ) Check interview confirmation page. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: at around 8. 0 am. 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨: 12 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫: A Native Young Man 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Approx. around 45 Second Me: Good morning. VO: Good morning(with a smile). Please pass me your passport then he asked me to give him I-20 Me: Here you are sir. VO: Thank you. Which University you are going to attend? Me: Told. VO: What is your research interest? Me: told. then he is writing something. Almost 30 second later. VO: Are you arival USA before? Me: No I am approving your visa. Best of luck. My Profile: M.Sc in Mathematics , CGPA: 3.93 out of 4.00 GRE: NO GRE English Language Proficiency Test :. Duolingo. Teaching experience: 1 year As a Lecturer in a Private University.

𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1+F2 Visa Status: Issued for both F1 and F2 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: Spring 2024 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Rochester Institute of Technology Intended Program: PhD in Computer and Information Sciences 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝: Graduate Research Assistantship with Full Tuition Waiver + stipend + health insurance . Deficit: $12,500 F2 On the day of interview: 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝: All passports including the previous ones • Visa Appointment confirmation page • DS 160 confirmation page • SEVIS fee payment confirmation page • I-20 form • Bank statements • All transcripts & academic certificates • NID • University offer letter • Marriage Certificate, Marriage Photos • First check: At embassy gate. A male security officer checked all of our passports, visa appointment letter and DS-160 along with the transparent file that we were carrying. Second check: Before entering the compound. Documents checked- Current passport and interview confirmation page [A Bengali male officer checked the DS 160 confirmation number and then attached a sticker behind the passport] Entered embassy and then the interview room. We waited inside the room watching the interviews happening while a Bengali Lady officer asked us to go to counter 9. Third check:. Fingerprint: An Asian American lady greeted us with a warm smile and she took fingerprints of both of us. After that, we waited in the bench for our serial to come. 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨: 09 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫: A half bald American man. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Approx. around 30 seconds Me and my wife: Good morning officer. Passed our passport and i20. VO: Congratulations! What was your undergraduate University? Me: Told. VO: (Looking at the computer screen) Tell me about your research. Me: Explained in 4-5 sentences. VO(with a warm smile): When did you get married? Me: Told the exact date. (We got married this year) VO: (Asked my wife) What is your profession? Wife: Told.(She is a job holder) VO: I am approving your visa. Collect your passport in 14 days. Take some warm coats with you! It’s very cold in Rochester. My Profile: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: B.Sc. in Computer Science CGPA: 3.81 out of 4.00 GRE: 307(Quant: 151, Verbal 156, AQA 3.5) IELTS: 8.0 [L-8.5, R-9.0 S-7.5, W-6.5] Publication: None Work experience: 2 years I have mailed around 23 professors managing my high work pressure. Got replies from 4 to 5 professors. Was able to manage an interview with just my supervisor. Had 3 interviews with her. In the 3rd interview she offered me the position. NOTE: I had an immigration petition and my sibling is already in the US. Mentioned these in DS160. VO didn’t ask anything regarding these. Had $12k+ deficit. VO didn’t ask about sponsors either. I think genuine student intent matters the most. If you have a good scholarship from a good school and can convey the message, you are good to go.

#visainterview 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1+F2 Initial Interview Date: 7 May, 2024 ER applied: 13 December, 2023 ER approved: 18 December, 2023 Rescheduled Date after ER: 19 December, 2023 (8:30 am) Visa Status: • Initially Approved by VO on 19 December 2023 at around 10.30 am. [right after interview] • F1 + F2 issued on 21 Dec, 2023 and Received passport collection mail on 22 Dec, 2023 . passport collected on 24 Dec. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: spring 2024 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Intended Program: PhD in Industrial Engineering. 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝: Graduate Research Assistantship with Full Tuition Waiver+ stipend + health insurance . Surplus: 5.5k USD even after adding F2. On the day of interview: 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝: All passports including the previous ones • Visa Appointment confirmation page • DS 160 confirmation page • SEVIS fee payment confirmation page • I-20 form • Bank statements • All transcripts & academic certificates • NID • University offer letter • Marriage Certificate, Hindu marriage registration (in english), Marriage Photos • 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲: 7:00 AM. 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲: 8:00 AM First check: At embassy gate. A male security officer checked all of our passports, visa appointment letter and DS-160 along with transparent file that we were carrying. (Here a lil bit confusion occurred because they couldn't find our names in their appointment list, then we have to wait until they ensured our access to the embassy) Second check: Before entering the compound. Documents checked- Current passport and interview confirmation page. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: at around 9:45 am. 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨: 12 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫: An American man with beard on his face. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Approx. around 45 seconds [The person before us got rejected by him and we were afraid to see this. After that, the VO called us and we got in.] Me and my wife: Good morning officer. He said with a smile, “Hi, please pass me your current passport and I-20" **Passed both of our current passport and I-20. VO: (After watching my i-20), so what is your research interest. Me: My research interest is based on Optimization and operation research. VO: What kind of assistantship is this? Me : This is a Research Assistantship and my research will be based on designing an Optimized Transportation Infrastructure so that several innovative features can be performed easily like maintenance, delivery systems with reduced time and cost. VO: (Looking at my wife with a smily face) How long have you been married? My wife: 5 months. VO: How you met each other? My wife: Actually we have completed our undergraduation from same university and met each other in first year, then we fell in love and after graduation we decided to marry. VO: Wow, congratulations, so have you any plans to study there? My wife: I haven't think about it yet, I just want to support my husband in a new environment in a new country. VO: Then I would suggest you to apply to the same university, you will have a great chance to get admitted there. (Then he kept our passports in the right side of his desk and said) Okay, your visa is approved, collect your passport within one or two weeks. Have a great day. We: Thanks a lot sir. My Profile: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: B.Sc. in Industrial and Production Engineering from BUET. CGPA: 3.68 out of 4.00 GRE: 312 (Q 163, V 149, AWA 3.5) IELTS: 7.0 [L-8, R-7, S-7, W-6] Publication: 1 IEOM conference paper.

#visainterviewexperience Visa Type: F1 Department: Chemical & Biological Engineering Degree: PhD University: The University of Alabama Session: Spring 2024 Package: Fully funded with Graduate Research Assistantship + Health Insurance + Tuition Waiver Initial Visa Appointment: 29 May, 2024 Appointment after ER: 06 Nov, 2023 CEAC Status: Approved on 06 Nov, Issued on 15 Nov Documents checked: Passport, I-20, Appointment Confirmation Counter No: 5 (probably) Conversation time: Less than 2 minute Questions asked by VO: 1. Why are you going to The University of Alabama? 2. Tell me about your research interest. 3. You are going alone, right? My Profile: BSc in Biomedical Engineering, BUET CGPA: 3.67/4.00 IELTS: 7.5 (L-8.0, R-8.0, W-7.0, S-7.5) Publications: 2 Journal Papers (Materials Advances, ACS Applied Bio Materials) Date of Graduation: May 2023 (HSC Batch 17) Universities applied: 4 (Accepted - UTRGV & UA, Rejected - Lehigh, UOklahoma)

#visaexperience 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: Issued 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 19 Nov 2023 Initial date: 30 April 2024. ER applied: 7 Oct 2023 ER approved: 8 Oct 2023 Date Rescheduled: 19 Nov 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 10:00 AM Reached Embassy: 7:30 AM Interview started: 9.10 AM. Document Check & Process: Appointment check at the gate, security checks, updated passport check, scanning and affixed sticker, information check at counter, fingerprint at counter, then the interview took place at 9.10 AM 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝: Visa appointment confirmation page • Visa fee payment slip • DS 160 confirmation page • SEVIS fee payment confirmation page • I-20 • University Admission and Offer letter • Bank statement • HSC SSC Transcript • IELTS certificate • Trade license • Visiting card -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: Bachelor in Computer Science 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Spring 2024 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: 45% Scholarship $10,374 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨: 10 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Approximate around 2-3 min -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐎: Me: Hello! Good morning, officer. VO: Good morning. Please pass me your passport and I-20 Me: Here it is. VO: Have you ever visited USA? Me: No Officer. It will be my first. (VO Looked at the I20) VO: How did you find this university? Me: Well Officer. I did some research on Google according to my educational qualification and also LinkedIn for the professor profile and went to the university website for course material. Lastly I applied to it (My voice was loud and sharp. VO was typing continuously while I was answering her question) VO: How Many universities did you applied? Me: I applied four universities those are University of South Dakota, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Louisiana Tech University, and South Dakota State University. Fortunately I got accepted from all of them. VO: Do have friends or relatives in US? Me: Yes Officer, my cousins live there. VO: Are they lives in Illinois? Me: No Officer. One lives in Virginia and another in New York. VO: Are they by born US Citizen? Me: One of them went US by immigrant visa and another went there through F1 visa. VO: The F1 student does he completed his study? Me: Yes officer. VO: What is the benefit doing this course? Me: The field of computer science offers a wide range of skills that are in high demand all over the world. There are lot of opportunities in Bangladesh. I want to see myself as a software developer in a multinational company such as datasoft, TigerIT, Brain Station 23 in my country. There are certain responsibilities that I have toward my family. Due to the fact that my mother is becoming older, it is my responsibility to manage her business after my job..(VO interrupt) VO: What does your parents do? Me: (Told the sponsor thing) VO: What the annual income of sponsor? Me: Told (Typed something in computer about 1 min) VO: Congratulations. I am approving your visa. Collect your passport within 14 days. You will get a mail. Me: Thank you officer. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞: IELTS: 6.5 Group: Science HSC: 5.00(2022) SSC: 5.00(2020) --------------------------------------------------------------------------

#visainterviewexperience Visa Type: F1 Department: Earth Sciences Degree: MS (Geography Concentration) University: University of Memphis Session: Spring 2024 Package: Fully funded with Graduate Research Assistantship + International Graduate Merit Scholarship + Tuition Waiver Initial Visa Appointment: 5 June, 2024 Appointment after ER: 26 Dec, 2023 CEAC Status: Approved on 26 Dec, Issued on 27 Dec Documents checked: Passport, I-20, Appointment Confirmation Counter No: 8 Conversation time: Less than 2 minute Questions asked by VO: 1. Who is your sponsor? (maybe she was confused as before my turn, she interviewed a lot of self funded students and also she didn't look at my I20 at first) 2. How did I manage my fund? 3. Tell me about your research interest. My Profile: Bachelor of Urban and Rural Planning, Khulna University CGPA: 3.53/4.00 Date of Graduation: March, 2022 Masters in Urban and Rural Planning, Khulna University (Did mention to my professor but didn't show during my application process) Date of Final Defense: 21 Dec, 2023 (Result yet to be published) IELTS: 7.5 (L-8.0, R-7.5, W-6.5, S-7.0) Publications: 3 Journal Papers Universities applied Spring 2024 University of Memphis Fall 2023 Western Michigan University (MS): Accepted without funding (Defer to Fall 2024) Ohio University (MA): Accepted with partial funding University of Illinois- Urbana- Champaign: Rejected University of Alabama: Rejected

00 (I have logical explanation for that. I am not that dumb tbh) 😷🙈 IELTS: 7.5 [L-9, R-6.5 S-7.5, W-6.5] Publication: None Work experience: 4+ years

𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1+F2 Visa Status: Issued for both F1 and F2 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝: Self fund. (Deficit for 1 year: $40,010, 1 year tution cost: 18,182$) 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: Spring 2024 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Shenandoah University Intended Program: MBA Applied to : Shenandoah University & University of New Heaven এরকম সেল্ফ ফান্ড এবং বাজে সিজিপিএর মনে হয় আমি একাই ছিলাম পুরো এম্বেসীতে! তার উপর মাইক্রোবায়োলজি থেকে MBA তে শিফটেড। ৫ বছরের স্টাডি গ্যাপ সহ (জব এ ছিলাম যদিও)। ভিসা পাবার আগমুহূর্ত পর্যন্ত শিওর ছিলাম না যে পাবো কিনা। আলহামদুলিল্লাহ সকল প্রশংসা আল্লাহর নিকট। 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝: All passports including the previous ones • Visa Appointment confirmation page • DS 160 confirmation page • SEVIS fee & MRV fee payment confirmation page • I-20 form • Bank statements & Bank certificates • Notary of Sponsor's properties. All transcripts & academic certificates of F1 & F2 • NID & passport copy • IELTS Scorecard • Marriage Certificate & Marriage Photos • Documents checked- Current passport, i20 and DS confirmation page. We waited inside the room watching the interviews happening while a Bengali Lady officer asked us to go to counter 10. আমি মনে মনে ওনার কাউন্টারে পড়ার জন্যই দোয়া করছিলাম, কেন যেন তাকে একটু কম রাগী দেখাচ্ছিল বাকিদের চেয়ে।) 😅 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨: 10 (But actually. Doesn't matter. I think they rotate & never sit in a fix counter.) 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫: A beautiful middle aged American woman 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Approx. around 2/3 minutes. Me: Good morning officer. (With a warm smile & happenning+confidence tone) She actually noticed me after that smile & smiled back. VO: Good morning. Pass me your passport and i20. Me: Here you go officer. VO: (Looking at my i20 with a confused tone) you have a large amount of deficit! How are you going to manage the expense? Me: My mother is going to bear that expense. VO: (Looking at the computer screen) What is her source of income? Me: Well, my parents always had big dreams about my higher studies. So they saved an amount of thousand USD approximately for this. Other than that, as for regular income, my mother gets rent from apartments in Dhaka city & * apartments in noakhali. She also gets the govt. pension of my father & interest from 2 FDRs. Along with that, she gets agricultural -'' VO: (interrupting me) Did your father die? Me: Yes. Unfortunately. VO: What did he do? Me: He was a first class Govt. Officer. He worked for the Forest Department. VO: okay.... (Typing. Pindrop silence for 10 seconds, then with a curious tone) Oh, you've changed your field from Microbiology to business background! Why so? Me: Well, there's an interesting story behind this. I was always a very outspoken person & creative to the core. I loved creative writing & generating new ideas for any campaigns. So when I was studying at BRAC UNIVERSITY(told that intentionally, because I heard that they adores BRACU, which is actually true lol.), at 3rd year, I took part in a marketing challange. I did so good that the organizing digital marketing agency recruited me right away as a part timer. & when I was done with my graduation, they requested me to join there immediately as a full time copywriter. I never had to look back on microbiology after that, because i found my rythm in digital marketing, you know! (With a persuasive smile) VO(with a warm smile): Oh I see. (Again looked back on the computer screen) How long ago you both got married? Me: We are married for 8 years. VO: oh! (Astonished, then Asked my husband) & what do you do? Husband: I am the Chief Operating officer at "X". VO: So, are you going to leave your job? He: No, not really. I am going to take a paid vacation for 3 months. VO: (silently looking at the screen for 5 seconds) I am approving your visa. Collect your passport in...(আর কিছু ঢুকতেসিল না মাথায়! 🙃) Me: Thank you so much! You just made our day! My Profile: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: B.Sc. in Microbiology CGPA: 2.68 out of 4.

Visa Interview Experience: 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1+ F2+F2 Initial Interview Date: 12 May 2024 Interview Date After ER: 29 November 2023 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: Issued. 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 10:00 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Bowling Green State University, Ohio Programme: MS in Applied Statistics 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Spring 2024 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 Details: Graduate Teaching Assistantship with 37k deficit (Because of 2 F2 and the assistantship is for only spring semester) in I-20. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝: Passport, Appointment Confirmation, I-20. Documents Carried: Visa appointment confirmation, Passports, I-20, Offer Letter, DS-160 confirmation, Visa fee pay slip, SEVIS fee pay slip, NID, Birth Certificate, Photos- 2 copies (2*2), Certificates and Transcripts, IELTS score. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interview Duration: About 7-10 minutes Counter no- 11 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕O: VO: পাসপোর্ট দিন. Then he saw my I-20 and asked them too and started speaking in English. Me: I passed all of our passports and the I-20. VO: Why Bowling Green University? Me: Told. VO: Is your assistantship a TA or RA? Me: Told. VO: Asked for the documents (since the amount was litte). Me: Then I described him about the one semester assistantship and also mentioned that they will renew the contract in fall 24. VO: Asked my husband if he is going to stay with us the whole time. Husband: Yes. VO: How many universities did you apply Me: Told VO: Which universities? Me: Told 2 of them and initially forgot about the others(with a big smile I told that I forgot) (He noticed that I was struggling to remember the names so with a smile he said it’s okay) (আমার মেয়ে খুব দুষ্টুমি করতেছিল) VO: This is not a fun place for kids. (I panicked and apologized) VO: I would not be so happy if I were her. Me: She is so active and everywhere is a fun place for her. VO: No problem. This is the age for having fun (with a big smile. He understood that I panicked) VO: Did you travel anywhere outside Bangladesh? Me: No I didn’t but my husbabd did. (Then he checked my husband's passport carefully) VO: Tell me about your sponsor. Me: Told. VO: What is your research interest (since I mentioned it in my first answer) Me: Told VO: Okay, I am approving your visa. Please collect your passport within 14 days. Take your I-20 when collect the passports. Me: Thank you so much. . On that day, I saw a lot of people getting visas, though most of them were B1/B2. There were also some rejections but due to appropriate reasons. I prayed the whole time and because of my daughter they prioritized us and they always kept us in the front of the line. So after entering the embassy everything happened so fast. In my experience, if you have a little bit of funding and your papers are legit, the visa approval will be more likely. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞: Undergraduate in Statistics Institution: Jagannath University. CGPA: 3.66/4.00 IELTS: 7.5 Publications: None --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem Assalamu Aaikum dear Altruists, #VISAINTERVIEWEXPERIENCE Alhamdulillah. All praise to Almighty Allah. *I hope this will help future aspirants* Visa Type: F1 Visa Status: Issued Intended University: University of North Carolina at Charlotte Program: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering Session: Spring 2024 Funding Details: Tuition Fees + health insurance with deficit of $5k ============================================================ Interview appointment: May 14, 2024 Appointment after ER: Dec 19, 2023 Documents checked: Interview appointment letter, passports (old and new), I-20. Documents carried: Interview appointment letter, I-20, SEVIS fee confirmation, DS-160 confirmation, passports (old and new), admission offer letter, BSc certificates and transcripts, IELTS score card, visa payment slip, NID card, bank statement and solvency certificate. ============================================================ Conversation with the visa officer (Counter 12, a white American man): Interview duration may be 2 minutes in total. VO: Pass me your i20 and passport. Me: Hello, Good morning, here you go. VO: Good morning, Can your explain your research topic? Me: Explained. VO: What type of assistantship is it? (Pointing at my i20) ME: Its Graduate Teaching Assistantship. VO: Whom are you going to teach? ME: Well, maybe I will take some lab sessions of undergrad students . VO: Do you know any topic of your lab sessions? Me: No sir, not yet. ( Then 10/15 seconds silence maybe, none of us talked and he was typing sth in his computer) VO: Congratulations , your visa is approved. passed me the blue leaflet. ...... (He was saying sth, I did not notice a single word, just took the blue leaflet and left the counter 😶) ============================================================ Profile: Undergraduate program: B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering CGPA: 3.31/4.00 Institution: Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) GRE: 🙂 /340 (Well, UNCC waived GRE) IELTS: 6.5/9 Publication: 1 journal article (Published) 1 conference paper (BUET ICME 2024) (Presented on 19 Dec after my Visa interview 🙂 and my team submitted the full article 2 months ago) ============================================================ I completed my undergraduate on April 2023, Started mailing from May. Got the professor interview call on July, received confirmation to apply at UNCC by prof on August. Immediately took IELTS, Luckily I got IELTS exam schedule just after two days from my registration. Took two days preparation as I had to catch priority deadline. Sat for GRE and received a disasterous result 🙂, did not take last month any prep as I had to take IELTS, collect my BSc certificates and transcripts and prepare SOP, LOR 🙂 When I started sending emails, I only had my CV and Thesis book. I did not have any published journal article or conference article. Also I did not have my transcripts and certificates. My suggestion would be start mailing professors asap, even if you are yet to receive your official BSc degree transcripts and certificates. Throughout this journey a lot of people helped me in each amd every step. I believe these people are the gems that I found in my undergrad. I am really really grateful to these specials. Best of luck to the future aspirants.

#Visa_Interview_experience 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1+F2 (child) Initial Date: June 5, 2023 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 26th December 2023 (after rescheduling) 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 8.00 AM 𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐂 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬Approved: 26th December 𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐂 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬Issued: 27th December Passport Collection Email: 28th December Passport Collected: 28th December -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Oklahoma State University 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Summer 2024 #Funding_Situation: Full Funding with around 8K surplus (after adding dependent there is around 2K surplus) -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨: 10 (The great American Bald Man) When I entered the interview room, I saw that he was at counter number 10 and just prayed that I shouldn’t go to this counter, but as my baby was so active at that moment, they told me to stand at counter number 10. This time I was thinking that now I have to answer many more questions, and I prepared for that in my mind. But the situation was different, and I got my visa approved quickly as I tried to be confident. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐎: (Less than a Minute) Me: Good morning, Officer VO: Good morning. Pass me your I-20 and passport. Me: Here it is. VO: Which university did you graduate from? Me: I completed both my undergraduate and graduate from Bangladesh Agricultural University. VO: Who is your advisor? Me: I was a little bit confused about that, was he asking for my Master's supervisor or my potential Ph.D. supervisor? Then I told him my Ph.D. supervisor's name. VO: His research? Me: I started talking about my supervisor's research, and after 3–4 seconds, he told me that now I am approving your visa. At this moment, I couldn’t believe my ears and then he handed me the blue leaflet. Note: Pray Tahajjut, as this helped me a lot, and practice interview questions from this group. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞: B.Sc. in Fisheries (Hons.) from Bangladesh Agricultural University MS in Fisheries Biology and Genetics from Bangladesh Agricultural University Teaching experience: 3 years IELTS: 6.5 Publication: 14

𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1 Visa Status: approved Emergency Interview: November 19 CEAC Issued: November 20 Passport Received: November 23 Arrived in the US: December 28 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝: Tuition Waiver + Medical Insurance + All fee waiver+ RA + TA - $2k surplus 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: Spring 2024 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Mississippi State University Intended Program: PhD in Computer Science 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝: passport • Visa Appointment confirmation page • DS 160 confirmation page • SEVIS fee • I-20 form • All transcripts & academic certificates of F1 • NID • IELTS Scorecard • Offer letter and admission letter Documents checked- Current passport, i20 and DS confirmation page, Appointed Confirmation. 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨: 11 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫: American White Female (good looking) 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Approx. around 15-20 seconds. Me: Good morning. Here is my passport and i20 VO: You are such a smart, young man. Me: Thanks VO: Looked at my i20. Oaww! You are a fully funded student, that sounds cool. Me: I'm not getting impressed as I just need the blue leaflet! VO: Can you tell me shortly something about your PhD research? Me: In my PhD research, I'll be concentrating on AI in Healthcare, specifically developing large scale machine learning models tailored for US healthcare professionals and Mississippi State. These models are essential to optimize decision-making processes related to medical diseases. VO: Proud of you! I'm gonna approve your visa. Please take this blue leaflet and get ready for the US. Me: I don't have any feelings! Just took the blue leaflet, back to home, left the job, and called upon Allah SWT. My Profile: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: MS in Computer Science North South University CGPA: 3.5 out of 4.00 IELTS: 7 Publication: Published: 20 (Journal Article: 9, Q1: 4 [IF: 7.7], Book Chapter: 6, Conference-5]. G. Scholar Citations: 133 Work experience: 3 years as a Software Engineer.

#visainterviewexperience 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1 [Initial Appointment date was 23rd April, 2024. Applied for ER immediately after scheduling the initial date on 31st Oct and after a long wait, ER got approved on 5th Nov. Alhamdulillah, to my surprise, got the slot for 8th Nov] 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: November 8, 2023 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: Approved 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 10:00 AM 𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐂 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: Approved immediately on Nov 8, 2023, Issued on Nov 12, 2023 Passport Collected: Received passport collection mail on Nov 13 at 2pm Noon, immediately rushed to VFS, and collected the Passport with visa within the next hour. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: University of Louisiana at Lafayette 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: PhD in Systems Engineering [Concentration in Electrical Engineering] 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Spring 2024 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) with Full Tuition and Fee Waiver & Health Insurance. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 Carried: Passport, I-20, DS-160 confirmation, SEVIS Fee Confirmation, Appointment Confirmation, GTA Funding Offer Letter, Admission Offer Letter, EBL Skybanking Visa Fee Payment Slip. 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝: I-20, Passport, Appointment Letter (Multiple Times!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Counter No: 09 (Middle Aged Bald White Man) I was sitting at the bench behind Counter 9 constantly reciting Ayatul Qursi and I saw a few interviews the Bald VO took. Out of 6-7 interviews, I haven’t seen him approve even a single visa. I was a little afraid and in my mind, I was hoping for some other counter. But the volunteers sent me to Counter 9. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐎: Me: Good morning, Sir. VO: Good Morning. Pass me your I-20 and passport, please. (Passed my I-20 and passport) VO: Why are you going to US? (Looking at the computer, scanning my passport and typing). Me: I am going to University of Louisiana at Laf … (VO Interjected suddenly while talking a look at my I-20) VO: Oww... You have Graduate Teaching Assistantship. So, what are going to do as TA in Louisiana? Me: My responsibility as GTA is to teach an undergraduate level class, conduct their laboratory and grade their papers and whatever additional responsibility my supervisor assigns. VO: You have a small amount of deficit? How are you going to pay for it? Me: My father is going to sponsor me. He is also an Electrical Engineer working as a Sub-Divisional Engineer in XXX Power Company for the last 29 years. He has saved a good amount of money for my higher studies. Also, I have been working in X for the last 1.5 years and I also have some savings to contribute to it. (VO carefully listening to me and looks satisfied) VO: Do you know what is your research going to be on? Me: My research topic is not fixed yet. But so far I am going to join Power Systems Control Advancement Lab where I have plans to work on Power converters design, integration, control, and hardware implementation for Electric Vehicles. VO: Like Tesla? Me: Yes, exactly! VO: That’s great! Does your father have a PhD? Me: Umm No he does not. (Didn’t expect this question) VO: So, you are going to be the first PhD in your family? (Smiling while sipping coffee) Me: Yes, In sha Allah! VO: So young man, you are going to be a Doctor and also an Engineer! Me: Yeah, I guess! :P VO: Congratulations sir, I am approving your visa! You will receive an email from us in about 14 days to collect your passport. Keep your I-20 with you when you travel to the United States. (Passed me the I-20 and the well awaited BLUE LEAFLET) Me: Thanks a lot, you’ve made my day! -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞: BSc. in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (AIUB) CGPA: 3.87 / 4.00 (Awarded Magna Cum Laude) IELTS: 7.0 Publications: 1

#visainterviewexperience 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: F1 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: Approved 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 16th November, 2022 (Emergency) 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 12:45 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: Masters in Computer Science 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Spring 2023 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: Fully Funded [Full Tuition Waiver + Health Insurance + GTA, around 11k surplus] -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝: I-20, Passport 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨: 8 (A very tall middle-aged American guy with a smiling face) 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: Around 1.15 PM 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Approximately 1 minute 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐎: VO: Pass me your I-20 and passport. Passed the I-20 and passport. VO: What did you study in your undergraduate ? Me: My undergraduate major was in CSE. VO: What's your plan after Masters? Me: Told. VO: How many universities did you apply....oh its fine you don't need to answer that.(with a smile) Me: (Smiled) VO: Congratulations!!. I am approving your visa. Please collect your passport within 1-2 weeks. Me: Thank you !!! -------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞: BSc. in Computer Science and Engineering, AUST CGPA: 3.309 / 4.00 GRE: waived Duolingo: 125 Job Experience: 3+ years as a Software Engineer Publication: None Firstly, I got admission offer without funding from the university. Then I contacted one of the professors and he liked my profile. Eventually offered me a TA.

(Passed me the blue leaflet and i 20) Me: Thank you. My Profile: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from RUET CGPA: 3.38 out of 4.00 GRE: NO GRE IELTS: 7.0 [L-7.5, R-6.5 S-7.5, W-6] Publication: 1 journal review paper third author and another conference paper Work experience: 10 months job experience in two company ** I have mailed around 30 professors managing my high work pressure. Got replies from 4 to 5 professors. I think to get reply , the email should be specific and relatable with the professor research interest.