My day out at the embassy.. Review on American Embassy

Hi guys this is my first review a long time after reading some real good stuff at MS.

The day was a Friday my company told me to take an appointment with the embassy at Chennai (I live at B'lore) through https://ttsvisas.com for those of you who don?t know, you can get ur appointment online to the embassy through ttsvisas. All the info about the documents to be carried, DD?s, forms to be filled is available at ttsvisas.com so I won't be mentioning it here. What I intend to do here is provide a few pointers for all the visa aspiring candidates (all the best to them!!).

To my luck I got my appointment on the next Monday itself. Lucky cause most days of the year the US embassy is on holiday 31 holidays plus sat and Sunday every week. That?s almost 40% days in a year. So book well in advance and after booking keep checking ttsvisas daily, (every 5 mins if u r in IT ;) for better dates as some dates may free up.

After taking a lot of pain getting documents, us visa photos, certificates, bank statements etc?and filling the 2 non immigration forms DS 156 (common) and DS157- (for males only) I reached Chennai on Monday morning at 4:30am itself didn?t sleep a wink in the 2 nd class AC train. Traveling by train is the most horrible thing that can happen to you cause our trains really stink.. But that?s another story. Took a pre paid auto to the hotel Palm groove near the embassy where my company had made reservations. Hotel Palm groove is a v average place costs Rs 850/- plus tax for a day for a room of 2 beds, non AC. Its a Mysore hotel(Veg) & the food there is B'lore style I believe. My appointment was at 1:45 pm so I slept for sometime.

By 12:30 I was dressed up and ready with all the documents, forms, DD's, passport etc.. I left the hotel at 1:00pm reached the embassy gate by 1:10 pm itself. First they check the web appointment receipt (that got from ttsvisas) and ur passport, only then u can enter the embassy otherwise u can't, so don?t forget to take that letter.

Next u pass thru a metal detector so u gotta throw away ur calculator, scissor, stapler, bags etc.. dont carry any of these. There?s no place to keep them and the guards are v rude, one lady in front of me had to throw away her calculator, lipstick, and other make up stuff, one of the guards just kicked all the items away as that lady went in. Needles to say she lost all the items. So I repeat DOCUMENTS ONLY.

Now we are into the embassy now you will see a line on ur left where u pay ur first DD for 400 Rs to ttsvisas(after all u got ur appointment thru them). Take the receipt and stand in line in any of the 4 counters available pay the next DD for 4,600rs or so (these two DD's are non refundable, yes u got me right ..even if u don't get the Visa!) here they collect ur invitaion letter from the US, letter from India and your passport. At least for me they asked cause I applied for a B1/B2 visa. Then they give u a green card (not green card to the US plz..) containing ur number by which you'll be called to meet the consular.

Take the card and head to the next building where u can have a cool drink :). After refreshing, seat ur self at one of the chairs provided and await ur turn to meet the consular. The waiting can be anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hrs or so depending on the number of ppl so be patient and quietly observe whats going on with the interviews and learn. I had to wait for 1 hr or so and I found that may help you guys, when ur number is called get up and stand in the line in front of the interview counter. Don't go even if its ur turn, the consular will call/gesture u to come. Say a polite good morning Sir, and then keep quiet he will ask u the questions just answer them confidently. When asked ur purpose of ur visit give a brief answer don?t start with stories like 'am goin to US for..blah blah blah..' just say 'business training sir' or whatever is appropriate. Consular like those who talk less ;) Also don't carry plastic bags which make irritating sounds and am sure u don?t want to irritate them, don?t lean on the counter stand up straight (I saw many ppl doin it) keep ur documents at the side not in front of you and lastly remember feel good about urself and ur country :).

My interview was only for 60 secs cause I had the proper invitation letter from my parent company in the US. The consular was v polite after asking few basic Qns. even said congrags to me. Next I paid up my final DD at counter-1, for 2,300/- and left. I got a B1/B2 visa for year with multiple entires :)

(If u get the visa they keep the pasport and send it by courier so dont ask for it.)

Cheers to the embassy and to you guys?

Raihan.