MUMBAI— An Indian couple who are both senior software engineers with 11 years of experience has used social media to discuss the complicated details of their successful B1/B2 U.S. visa interview. This has gotten a lot of attention from people online.
The pair started the process of getting a visa on July 27. After filling out the DS-160 form and paying the costs, they were able to get appointments faster than they had expected. Their biometrics were done well in Hyderabad on August 14, and their visa interview was set for August 22 at the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai.
When they got at the consulate, they were told to go to counter 30, where the Visa Officer (VO) was doing interviews that seemed to be longer and more in-depth than at other counters. The pair said they had a moment of terror and didn’t know if they should try to switch counters. Seeing how other applicants did before them made them even more anxious.
The interview got off to a rough start because of technological problems that made it hard for the VO to hear them. The VO said, “I can’t hear a single word that you are saying,” which made the husband go into “panic mode.” Fortunately, his wife promptly stepped in and gave a lengthy explanation that made the rest of the interview go more smoothly.
The pair was asked a lot of questions about their money, why they were going on the trip, and their connections to India throughout the interview. The wife went over their job duties, and both agreed that they owned property in India and had no family in the U.S. The spouse, who wanted more precise responses, didn’t only name cities for their two-week holiday to the U.S. West Coast. He also talked about specific places like the Space Needle, Golden Gate Bridge, and Hollywood.
Their financial security was a big aspect of their interview. The pair said that they made about ₹1 crore a year together. They also said they owned three apartments in India, two of which they rented out. This shows that they still have significant ties to their native country.
The couple had to wait a nervous moment while the inspector carefully looked over their passports. Then they heard the words they had been waiting for: “I am approving both of your visas. Have a nice day!”
Even though they had some problems at first, the pair said their success was due to maintaining calm and giving honest, detailed responses. They also said that the interviewer was understanding and gave them enough of time to explain everything without being interrupted. Their passports were returned with their granted visas on August 27.