Chennai consulate
Date - 21/10/20
Slot - 11:30
IN Time - 11:30
OUT Time - 12:10
Counter - 23
University - Northeastern
Status: Approved
VO was an American lady in her late '20s
Me: Good morning Ma’am, how are you doing today?
VO: Hi, Pass me your passport please
Me: sure ma’am
(Types for 20 secs)
VO: Can I have your i20 please?
Me: Yes ma’am, Here they are
(Types for 10 secs)
VO: Why Northeastern?
Me: Explained about the course curriculum and how it matches my field of interest along with the flexibility of electives provided by the university
VO: Okay, So what’s the highest educational qualification you have currently?
Me: I have a bachelor’s of Technology in Instrumentation and Control Engineering
VO: Good, From which University?
Me: From xyz university ma’am
VO: What is your undergrad GPA?
Me: I was graded at x.xx ma’am
VO: Did you give GRE?
Me: Yes ma’am
VO: What’s your score?
Me: I scored xyz ma’am
(Types for around 40 secs)
VO: Okay, So I see you graduated in 2015, What were you doing since then?
Me: Yes ma’am, Eversince I graduated I started working as a software engineer at xyz company and I got passionate about programming and have been working in different projects across various domains like Banking, SCM, Ecommerce and now I feel like upgrading my skills set with latest technologies to advance in my career to get better opportunities and roles when I come back here ma’am.
VO: (with a smile)Have you been outside India in the last two months?
Me: No ma’am, I haven’t been anywhere outside India ma’am.
VO: How are you gonna fund your education?
Me: Both my parents will sponsor for my education ma’am and apart from that I also have my personal savings which I’ll be using for my living expenses( VO Interrupted)
VO: Can you place the 4 fingers of your right hand on the scanner please?
Me: Sure ma’am(Placed it firmly)
VO: ( Was looking at me) Do you have any Quarantine plans once you land in US?
Me: Yes ma’am, Upon arrival I’ll self Quarantine myself for 15 days at a hotel or at my university’s accommodation ma’am.
VO: Congratulations!! I’m approving your visa!!
Me: Thank you ma’am, you made my day!!
Right before me 3 people got rejected for F1 visa because of stumbling and giving out textbook answers which made me quite nervous in the beginning while I was awaiting my turn, but then once my interview started I became quite confident and got my flow from the beginning.
Throughout the interview the VO glanced at me just twice and was typing full time in between questions, It was only during my last question that she looked at me continuously while I was answering.
I was just focusing on the question and was maintaining eye contact the whole time throughout the interview. I just gave the precise answer that came to my mind at that very moment just as we all do when we interact with someone for the first time.
(although I had prepared, I didn’t use any)
Feel it as a natural or candid interaction and not as an interview, that way we don’t feel nervous and that helped me a lot while answering.
I hope this helps guys!!! All the very best!!