Meeting with Uncle Sam......... Review on American Embassy

I am a cool guy, really I think so, that’s a personal feeling and I don’t mind if you think otherwise.

I was going literally very cool with my Girl Friend during the summers of 2004 (Last Year) when Suddenly One fine day I got a call from a company based in Chennai, they wanted some Recruiters for their office who could go to United States for 2-3 Months Training with Deloitte Consulting and than come back to Initiate the full fledged Operations back home in Chennai. Deloitte is a big name in Consulting and that was more than enough a reason for a guy like me to plunge for this kind of an opportunity instantly.

Since my cousin and a couple of friends are in USA, I was and am still very keen on going and exploring that nation. I spoke and discussed with my friends and everybody agreed that it is ok to work in Chennai ''IF YOU GET AN OPPURTUNITY TO WORK IN USA''.

Finally I landed in Chennai with hopes of getting my visa soon and going to US of A.

I never knew that I had to register myself with https://ttsvisas.comto take an appointment with US Embassy Guys. And was pretty shocked to realize that the next two months were fully booked (Since I was applying for a Business Visa - B1). Somehow after watching and checking the website for empty slots day and night - I finally got myself registered for 8th of June 2004. It works something similar to our Indian Railways thing; you get your reservation done once somebody cancels his/her appointment with those guys.

Than I started working with the company in the real pathetic environment of Chennai, Guys believe me, for a person like me, who has lived and worked in Delhi for almost 8 years, Chennai happens to be the patheticest city (Read it most pathetic) as far as Weather, Food, Site Seeing, Theatres etc are concerned. To top it all the Worst part is the Horrible Humid Weather.

The Day being 8th June 2004,my company made the arrangement of fees which has to be paid to the Embassy for granting the Visa, The Entry Fees : 441/- (Just to get inside the Gate of US Embassy), Meeting with Consular will cost you another Fees : 4400/-, Finally you are supposed to pay Visa Issuance Fees : 2200/- (If you get the Visa - Otherwise you come back and cancel this demand draft.

I was shocked:to see that in Chennai they don’t have any shades or trees or parks like they have here in Delhi, you are literally standing on a Road next to a huge flyover in the mid of the city on scorching heat and humid weather waiting for the security guard to check your appointment letter for the time slot so as he lets you in. Here you can see a host of performances by people, hugging each other, wishing luck, some on verge of heart attack, some fighting and gasping for breathes, wife’s who are in full make up, grand mother and fathers in all shapes and sizes with all kind of emotional looks etc etc.

Finally we get in:and Lo we come across guards who are more than 6' tall - damn smart - speak good English, they will scan whatever you have, no mobiles / pagers / sealed envelops are allowed inside, don’t even carry your car keys, they will keep it and you will get them back on your way back. Once inside, the first thing you do is part away with that 441/- Entry Fees, second thing you do here is pay the other meeting fee 4400/-, and in the third window you will come across a desi guy / gal asking for your invitation letter or whatever documents you are carrying, finally you will be given a token and would be dragged to a different building. Here you start thanking God that this building where you are supposed to wait for your turn is at least Air Conditioned with kool chairs and seating capacity, because till now you wouldn't have got chance of sitting anywhere.

The D Moment:Finally they set us all in a queue of 10 guys for different visa, the guy sitting inside the bullet proof cabin will calls us one by one for a personal round of interview, you've got to be standing straight in front of the glass, say clearly and slowly into the mike, don’t say anything which is not asked, show the documents he is asking you, don’t try to press him or do anything which is not being asked - were the instruction given by a lady, as if we are illiterates and have got to learn how to behave. Cool, this lesson further depressed people around me, I cud see one lady sweating profusely even in the cool AC hall. Finally that guy looking like Brian Adams called me - He asked me the following questions:

What is the purpose of your visit?

Me : My company is putting me on training / recruitment session with one of our clients deloitte consulting.... blah blah.

How long you are going to stay in USA?

Me : 45 Days at the most.

Whats your current salary ?

Me : 300 Thousand (They wont understand a monthly salary thing).

I am denying your visa at this time, you may take your documents back.

Me : Have a great day. (Go to hell - this I didn't said) :)

It took him 5 minutes or less than that to shatter my dream and spoil two years of my career where in I will have to work further in night shift.

Good Part :I got married since I couldn't go to USA.

Best Part : I resigned from that company went back to aamchi Delhi back to where I belong on further fat package.

The Biggest Best Part :MY current company is filing for my H1 visa this time and I am gonna go again to Brian Adams sometime in early 2006.

Till than - Ratings and comments are more than welcome and THINK POSITIVE.