Profile Details:

University: University of Houston
Course: MS in Computer Science
 

First Attempt
Hyderabad Consulate
Date: July 2017
Status: Approved
 

Visa interview Experience:

VO has rejected 3 people before me while I stood behind that yellow line.
Here comes my turn
ME: Good morning officer.

VO: So how many bits make one byte (in a very fast American accent)
ME: I am sorry sir. Can you please repeat the question.

VO: How many bits make one byte?
ME: 8 bits make one byte.

VO: Okay. Where are you heading to?
ME: University of Houston.

VO: What's the duration of program?
ME: Maximum of 36 months but can be completed in 24

VO: Who is sponsoring you?
ME: My parents are sponsoring me.

VO typed for sometime. Went to another room. Came back after a minute.
ME: Fake smile.

VO: What's the difference between C and C++
ME: told what ever I knew.

VO: So who is sponsoring you?
ME: My parents are sponsoring me.

VO: Can I see your financial documents?
ME: passed the loan sanction letter and bank statement.

VO: Typed for 2 mins. Looked into his system and his face displayed a surprise.
VO: Have you studied in US before?
ME: No sir.

VO: Have you been to US before?
ME: No.

VO: Have you applied to US before?
ME: Yes in 2014
(Typed for 2 minutes. Took a sticky note wrote something on it and stamped it onto back of my passport)

VO: Your visa is approved sir but it needs some administrative processing and handed me 221g white slip.
ME: I thanked him and left the place.

I didn't know what was 221g slip. I had a mixed feeling and left the consulate. And here comes the interesting part. I read about 221g in internet and every bit of it scared me. There is a 221g whatsapp group which has further demoralised my confidence due to their negative experiences. Every information I read wasn't helpful and time was ticking soon to my travel.
Every day I checked my visa status and it showed 'administrative processing'. I started losing hope and today I decided I shouldn't check the status but before that
I have decided to check it for one last time. After 6 days/sleepless nights and innumerable checks my status has turned from 'administrative processing' to 'issued'.
And that's how my visa was approved.

Tips: Go with the flow. Be precise with your answers. Don’t add stories.

Note: Content in this article is taken from a public forum moderated by Yocket. Personal details which may reveal the identity have been removed in order to maintain annonimity.