US Visa Experience
by
Yanan Xue
My visa interview was booked at 9
o'clock, September 10, 2009. I arrived at the
U.S Consulate Guangzhou around 8:30, and there
were already hundreds people waiting outside of
the Consulate building. I heard the visa
interview is usually started at 7:30. The guards
were holding a name list, and gave us a pass
card so that we can go into the building. The
Visa department was located on the fifth floor.
On the fourth floor there were another group of
guards holding the same name list and ask our
pass cards back, then we can go up to the fifth
floor.
First, we need go through the
security check, no water, food, cigarette,
lighter, cellphone, MP3,
electronic dictionary or any other digital
products can bring into the visa department, we
had to store/consign them outside of visa hall,
then we went to the security door one by one.
The guards checked/scanned our bags carefully,
even a 10ml liquid or a portable hard disk can
not be missed.
There are 14 windows/counters and two
separated offices in the non-immigrant visa
hall. The first one and second one are for us to
hand in the application forms, that is DS-156,
DS-157, DS-158, Passport, I-20 and Visa fee
receipt. The third and fourth windows is to
record our fingerprints, both two hands and ten
fingerprints will be recorded, then they turned
our application forms and visa back, and we went
on to another queue. The rest windows are all
for visa interview, we went to the VOs one by
one, the guard will tell us which window we
should go.
The VO who conducted my interview was
a white young man with blond hair, the questions
he raised were as bellow.
Yanan: How are you today?
VO: I'm fine, how are you?
Yanan: It's a great day for me, cause
I am here to apply for the F-1 student Visa, and
I'm gonna study in Northwest Christian
University for my master degree.
VO: You just finished one master
degree, why do you need another one?
Yanan: Yes, you know all the classed
were took in the last year, and my graduation
thesis was also about the same company I work
for.(showing the VO my graduation paper and the
company brochure), but what I learnt were just
some basic theories and ideas, it's too general
to apply in the real work life. I want to
deepen my study in this area and learn something
real practical and advanced.
VO: What's your major?
Yanan: It's business administration
and management.
VO: What do you do? what are you
going to do when you finish your study in
America?
Yanan: I am the president assistant,
especially for foreign affairs. I arrange the
meetings and conference, take minutes of the
meetings, communicate with clients, customers
and co-workers. After all, I am just an
assistant, I aims to more higher position and
payment. The company promised me a vice general
manager if I can come back with a U.S master
degree in two years.
VO: Who is gonna to pay for your
study?
Yanan: All my savings will be enough
for the first year of my study, you can see my
fixed bank account and bank statement. For the
second year my parents will support me. I have
them financial support letter and their income
statements from the employer.
VO: That's OK(he didn't look the
materials and document I showed to him)
And then he tore a blue pass paper
apart, kept my passport and forms, gave me one
part of the blue paper. I suddenly realized that
I have pass the interview. (All the materials I
took with me were in vain, he looked none of
them)I was too excited to remember what he said
to me. I just remember I told the VO it's so
cold here and made me more nervous, and he told
me do not be nervous and I will be OK. He told
me I should go to the China Post counter and
write down my address, the visa will be sent to
my place in three or four days.
I went to the post counter and pay
for RMB20 for the visa express delivery. I went
back to the security room and withdrew my
cellphone with the tag card they gave me. I
looked at my watch and It was nearly 11 o'clock.
The whole process took nearly two hours and a
half.
All in all, the whole process of the
visa interview was focused around three themes,
just like what you have told me before. What is
the purpose of my trip? Do I have enough money
for my study in the U.S? Will I come back to my
home country when I finish my study?
I am hoping this letter/my real
experience will better help the other students
in their way for the visa interview.
Here I want to express my gratitude
again to Carol, the admission director and
Nancy, the visa advisor, and every one who
offered me help during my application process. I
am really appreciated your efforts and
supports.
Best Regards,
Yanan Xue