Visa experience at Chennai for Clinical Skills examination

I am writing about my visa interview experience here, as there are not many experiences by people going to the States on the basis of CS alone. Now in order to go for electives, residency interviews or the Step 2 CS, you need to apply for a US visitor visa (B1/B2). Best is to try and apply as early as possible. Ideally, you should have taken Step 1 before you go for the interview.

I applied for B1/B2 visa. You can start the visa application process by filling in form DS160 here - https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ and then after getting the confirmation code complete the scheduling part here - http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/. Furthermore for people who are not sure which place to schedule your visa appointment, I hereby have attached the link- http://www.path2usa.com/us-consulates-in-india

Before I start talking about my experience thought should just mention it here, that each and every interview that I have read to date states that it totally depends on your luck i.e. depends on the interviewing Visa Officer’s (VO) mood. Reading this statement didn’t actually raise my spirits since luck hasn’t been on my side for the last few times when needed it badly.

At this juncture let me tell you that I'll divide this post into 3 parts

1.   Things taken
2. Questions and things that I thought would be asked
3.  Actual interview 

1. THINGS TAKEN

Now collecting things to be taken for the appointment was a tedious task since you never know what the VO will want. So just to be on the safer side this was the list I had taken

I am writing them in a set wise manner.

1^st set was GENERAL purpose documents

• Passport + last expired passport.
• US Visa Interview Appointment Letter (Date showing when is the OFC [finger print and photo will be taken] and when is the ACTUAL interview)
• DS-160 confirmation page
• Bank visa payment receipt (US Visa application fee receipt)
• 2 passport photos ACCORDING to the USA visa requirements. (details found here http://ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-photoinfo.asp)
• College Id card (to show you are a student)

Next set was for the questions why am I going to the States

• ECFMG letter stating that I have to come to the States for the examination.
• Appointment confirmation for CS
• Scheduling Permit
• Place where I intend to stay
• Also as I was planning to give my CK- Appointment letter and Scheduling permit
• Itinerary
• Statement of purpose – like what I intend to do after giving the exam and why I am giving it.
• Page 16 of U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual Volume 9  which states I have applied for the correct visa category http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/87206.pdf (link does not work) 
• Please refer to the following correction- Thanks to Dr. Anil Kumar 
• https://fam.state.gov/FAM/09FAM/09FAM040202.html (B Visas -- Page 19/22 and Page 10 - point no 5)
• https://fam.state.gov/FAM/09FAM/09FAM040205.html (F visa, and why you cannot or can use it -- page 18)
• https://fam.state.gov/FAM/09FAM/09FAM040210.html (H visa -- page 3/4)

Next set as to who would be sponsoring me in my case my dad

• Affidavit from Dad stating that he'll be financing me- Find a sample here http://neilnf.blogspot.com/2014/08/same-visa-sponsor-letter-for-step-2-cs.html
• His bank deposits, land documents etc.
• Income tax certificate last 3 years
• His passport photocopy plus his signature on it
• Summary of all funds in one letter (for at a glance stuff)

Next set personal credentials

• CV
• Step 1 Score
• Letter from college stating that I am a student and have to come back in order to graduate
• NOC from college for the exam
• LOR's from people
• Transcripts 
• Clerkship documents

Since had also applied for electives

• Immunization certificates
• Insurance certificates

 My own ID proof (Not needed) but just in case

• Birth Certificate
• PAN
• Voters ID
• Driver’s License

 And lastly an entire photocopy of the set just in case they ask to keep one. LOL :)

QUESTIONS EXPECTED AND STUFF LIKE THAT

Now for the questions part of this post I would recommend that you read umartariq (visa section - http://umartariq.com/node/70) Please go through each and every person’s experience. I felt it to be very informative. However the problem in the experience section is that everyone was going with the intention of ELECTIVES and not CS. But still it is a good place to start with in order to be prepared for surprise questions.

Few other sites which helped a lot was immihelp.com and path2usa [I have also attached links at the end of the post in case you want them]

Of course not to forget - ASK PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY gone for the interview recently as to what questions were asked to them since the VO’s don’t change their questions a lot:D:P

One question in particular which I felt should be told about is that about mentioning Step 3 on the visa application and during the visa interview? The answer is NO. Step 3 is a big no-no. The reason is that people who have gone previously for residency interviews had to stay longer to do Step 3 and many of them took extensions. Visa consulars know that. So, on the application and during the interviews, mention your reasons for visit as Step 2 CS examination and residency interviews…that’s all.

NOW COMING THE ACTUAL THING THAT HAPPENED AND DOCUMENTS TO BE TAKEN EACH TIME.

As my appointment was at Chennai I’ll narrate my visa experience there.

For your OFC appointment day, you will need to take:

• Current passport + the last expired one if any
• DS-160 confirmation page.
• Appointment confirmation page.
• One photograph as per U.S. visa specifications (you need this just in case the camera doesn’t work or so. It is not needed mostly, but why take a chance:D:P)

When getting into any rickshaw it is safest to tell them Apollo Cancer hospital, since the general public as well as the auto rickshaw fellows know about it and can point you in the right direction. The reason being that when I asked where the USA OFC centre was, people only gave me a look like I was talking in Latin and they were never asked such a ridiculous question! Anyhow I went there in the morning (appointment was in the evening) and  diagonally opposite the Apollo hospital as it is stated in the appointment letter you will find a group of people all lined up for the OFC appointment. (It is very well organised here as there are 2 separate lines based on the timings) 

So at your said appointment time you stand in the line with the above mentioned documents. The security guard tells you to enter when it is your turn. There are 3 to 4 guys in purple shirt who sit outside in the veranda and verify that you have all the necessary documents’ and then send you inside. The OFC thing happens on the 1st floor. It is a 1 - 2 mins procedure and then you can leave.

Now following your visit to the OFC place where your photo and fingerprints are taken, you will then visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

 Here you will need to take:

• A printed copy of your appointment confirmation letter,
• Your DS-160 confirmation page stamped at the OFC place (these 2 are the SAME LETTERS which you took the previous day)
• Your current and all old passports, (current and the last expired one)
• Supporting Documents as per your visa type (which I have listed above)

You can arrive at the place about half an hour in advance. Trust me, it is way more chaotic here than the OFC centre though not sure why. Anyhow keep asking the guy in front (he will be having an iPad ;) when you can enter as only he can let you in.) Now once he clears you (now you can put your tie and suit in case you have it since the show begins only after this) you’ll have a security check and then will be allowed to enter inside the consulate. Please note the things you can’t carry like mobile phone and stuff like that which will be mentioned in the appointment letter. 

Once you enter the visa consulate (it is an A/C room) you will first be issued a token number and then be sent to a place where they confirm your appointment and then you will have to sit in a place waiting for your turn. Here you can practise and check all the documents you have and keep them ready. Have a mock self-interview with yourself in your head to feel prepared.

Finally after this wait, my token number was called and I was asked to stand in a short line. Now my heart was pounding like crazy since I was expecting a tough time, since I had by mistake filled the duration intended to stay as 1 year and to my great fortune, the place which I had filled in my DS-160 form as intended stay was shut down when I checked on it prior to the interview. (I had revised my answers to 1 month and place to stay at a place where it was working and had the address :) The VO dint even bother about that.

Finally when I was called to the interview stand, I started the conversation with the VO, as was mentioned in many of the interviews I have read and I once again stress on the importance on seeing the earlier mentioned sites by wishing him ‘Good morning’ to which he replied ‘Good morning to you too’ and then asked me to hand over the passport and then started questioning me.

He asked me 4 questions (mind you 4 simple questions)

1. Why are you going to the States? -To give my USMLE clinical skills examination
2. Are you a physician? No, I am a final year student at XXX
3. Which state do you intend to visit? Atlanta, Georgia
4. How long do you intend to stay? 1 month

And boom he says your visa is approved have a nice day. I was pleasantly surprised with the interview and said thanks and went back a happy man:)

Few pointers for beginners -

1.      Wish them good morning/good afternoon early on. Don’t wait for them to initiate a conversation or ask a question. Helps build a good rapport.

2.      Be confident. You are not a thief. You are going there so that it helps you as well as them. If they don’t give you a Visa, it is not a big deal, you can apply again, and trust me a lot of people get it the next time.

3.      Also do tell them that you are a student as early as possible. Helps clear any doubt about your potential immigrant status.

4.      Be brief. Short and sweet is good. Do not elaborate unless asked.

5.      Carry all the documents you think might be important. You never know when you may need one.

All the best to all and trust in God. You will do wellJ

Now for those who come from places other than Chennai, mentioning a few places where you can stay and which are decently priced

• Amar Jyothi House - +044-24337535
• Century Residency - +044-28294001

Links to different sites

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/forms/ds-160--online-nonimmigrant-visa-application/frequently-asked-questions.html

http://www.immihelp.com/visitor-visa/visitor-visa-interview-guide.html

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visitor.html

http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-visitors-business/b-1-temporary-business-visitor

http://www.immihelp.com/business-visa/b1-visa-documents.html

http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-gen-faq.asp

http://umartariq.com/node/71

http://umartariq.com/node/183

http://www.usavisitorvisa.com/visitorvisa/visitorvisa.htm

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-typeb1b2.asp

http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/required-documents3.html

http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/hitechbs.html

http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/immigrantstous/documents-required-for-your-visa.html#DN

http://www.path2usa.com/business-visa-guide/required-documents-for-b1-visa