University Name: University of South Carolina, Columbia

Major: Earth and Envt Resource Management

Term: Fall-2009

VISA Interview:

 VO: Who is sponsoring your education abroad?

ME: My father is in the gulf, sponsoring me, would you like to see my financial docs (she said not required, only to pass the score cards) 

VO: Give me your degree certificates, and score sheets (GRE and TOEFL) 

ME: I passed my docs to her, and she checked the scores, but no questions asked.

VO: Why do you want to do Earth and Envt Res Management. or something to do with career, future after doing MS

ME: .  I said that I want to work for couple of years to gain valuable international exposure and experience before moving back to Asia to handle projects locally (in my case, it worked because of my field that I chose, where internationally experience is a big deal, and opportunities in India for that particular field is a lot...but whatever you say, it has to be with confidence)

VO: What is your Father's yearly income? 

ME: I told him the basic salary in Gulf currency, converting it to approximate Indian currency, and I told her  apart from my father's savings, I have also taken a loan to supplement my requirements financially, (she didn’t check any of those docs) 

Advices for students who are planning for VISA:  

1. Be confident, there is no right or wrong answer, how it is said is what makes a difference. Feel good inside, if you have fear/insecurity, it shows through immediately. 

2. If they reject you, feel free to ask questions like - Why do you think I got rejected, I would like to improve myself so I can apply again. Feel like they are just another human being, in fact they are nice, be polite to them, they are parents themselves. Wish them, don’t forget those basic courtesies. Give respect, but not like they are army personnel...

DONT GIVE UP, Successful people don’t give up after many attempts also, that’s why they are successful. If coming to the US is your dream, then keep trying till you succeed, dont give up easily on that dream!