Ve50, Ms-Biomedical

My visa Exeprience at Kolkata : ( MS Biomedical Engineering - Mississippi State University )

•             I went early around 7 in the morning

•             stood first in the queue

•             showed passport n appointment and went inside

•             one guard started taking my oral exam....he started asking questions from my passport at the security gate itself (i thought he is also entitled by the VISA office to ask questions)

•             series of checks again

•             then finally went to the interview hall , many chairs were there, i was instructed to stand behind  some green line but i went n sat quietly

•             then i was called by an Indian lady  ( Bengali from her looks) to the counter.. there were 2 counters n 2 interview booths

•             the way she asked me my documents i thought that my interview is started n she is a lady VISA Officer .. i was nervous

•             she was acting too over smart, she didn't  accept my father's salary certificate , nor  my mother salary certificate ,

•             she didn't accept the Provident Fund document ,she kept a wicked smile n said "why ru wasting ur parents PF"

•             i didn't get my mother's IT return statement, so she  said" i think  ur mother doesn't pay taxes"

•             i got really pissed off n i said" if u have ten secs then kindly look at the salary statement, it says all abt the taxes n IT RETURNS"

•             she took tat , then threw away the land docs, CA, CE statements, Affidavits, etc

•             she took the Bank Transactions, Bank Loan Statement..then asked me to make a correction in the VISA forms

•             i went back , sat down n made the corrections n submitted the documents

•             she asked me to sit for my turn..

•             there were roughly 15-20 persons.. they had a TV playing loud.. i was not able to concentrate b'coz of the loud sound.. but somehow managed to get it right

•             I heard all abt the LADY VISA OFFICER myths from all other embassies in India.. to my great luck the VO tat day was a "LADY"

•             I just thought one thing " GONE"

•             then she asked the old couple questions for 25mins

•             i was worried of how long she ll ask me.. if she is asking so many questions for TOURIST VISA...

•             then i heard that the old man was interpreter to the lady

•             after tat their VISA was issued. i took a deep sigh of relief n waited for my turn..

•             "Sourav Patnaik" ur next.. the mic sounded..my heartbeat raised like a formula one engine..

•             i held my calm n went ahead..

•             I wished her good morning.. (back of my mind " GOD SAVE ME .. GOD SAVE ME..GOD SAVE ME")

•             first i had to scan both my index fingers...

•             i never though tat i had to give my interview standin.. ( first time standing interview experience)

VO : (she was going thru all the docs) so ur going for MS degree is it ?

me : yes ma'm

VO:  when did u complete ur UG ?

Me : May 07  ma'm

VO : Did U do any research work?

Me : Yes ma'm

VO : (she went thru my scores , i thought she might ask abt low GRE score . But No response from here.. she was busy studying the docs)

ME :(back of my mind " GOD SAVE ME .. GOD SAVE ME..GOD SAVE ME")

VO : ( saw my father's IT RETURNS n asked ) who is Arun Patnaik?

Me : My father

VO : what does he do?

Me : he is a doctor

VO : (Bank statement was in Mother's name) Who is Ranjita Patnaik ?

Me : My mother , she is also an doctor, she also pays income tax ( Stressed on this point)

VO : (Problem came when she found the Loan statement to be undated) why is the loan  statement undated?

Me : (kept quiet) (back of my mind " GOD SAVE ME .. GOD SAVE ME..GOD SAVE ME")

VO ; when did u get it ?

ME ; i got it 7 days back .. ( she matched the seal on the Loan statement  with the Bank Statement. She was convinced tat it was not fake)

VO : ( saw Bank Statement.quite convincing) do u have any brother or sister ?

Me : No               ........ (sorry Tinku :-) )

VO : I'm issuing ur visa now but when u come for PhD then ur VISA process will take abt 4 weeks or so.. and ur classes will be there at that time so plan accordingly

Me :  ok ma'm

( I thought my ears r ringing.. i said to myself did she say tat she is issuing the visa. one sec... no this cant be true.. i kept looking at her .. she was writing something on the VISA form... i should have said i dont have any plans for PhD but i said ok m'am  )

VO : Its not tat i'm scaring u but just want to remind u that plan ur PhD programme well in advance ( as if telepathically i told her tat i'm going for PhD. god knows from where she knew tat. i'm still confused tat how she told tat so confidently.. )

Me :  ok ma'm (back of my mind " Thank u GOD..Thank u GOD....Thank uGOD ")

VO :( Then came the golden words)  i have issued ur visa..u have given kolkata address ?

Me : No Ma'm its Bhubaneshwar Address.

VO : ok u can get ur VISA early Next week.. ( Smiled)

Me : thank u ma'm

VO :Ur course is quite advance ..  Good luck study well .. have a nice day

ME : thank u ma'm (back of my mind " Thank u GOD ... ur great..Thank u GOD.. ur great..Thank u God... ur great ")

I came out and i was delighted.. Felt like a big rock tat has been on my head for last 2years. finally it was removed..

but all this would not have been possible if i dint have blessings of Almighty, my Parents , Elders of family .. friends .. one n all.