Fall 2016 Visa Experience: (Chennai Consulate | Georgia State University (GSU) | Analytics)

Applicant Background:

University: Georgia State University (GSU)Program: MS in Analytics

First TryChennai ConsulateResult: RefusalVisa Interview Transcript:

Me: Good Morning, Ma'amVO: HelloMe: Here is my passportVO: Do you have your I-20?Me: Yes, Ma'amVO: When did you finish your graduation?Me: 2015VO: What have you been doing since that time?Me: Worked at Infosys for 16 months, then left to join a start-up.VO: Why pursue this now?Me: I have studied the foundational topics for this field since my undergraduate days, and I have worked in analytics at Infosys as well as in my current role, so this is a natural progression for me.VO: How do you plan to pay for this journey?Me: I secured an approved loan of $53,000 and hold savings around $12,000. (As I reached for the loan letter, she stated she did not need the paperwork and asked if it was approved or still processing; I replied it was approved.)VO: What is your GPA?Me: 7.82 out of 10VO: What was your GRE score?Me: 309VO: The reason for your refusal is listed on this form. (She handed back all my documents.)Me: Thank you, Ma'am.

Second Try

Chennai ConsulateResult: Refusal

Me: Good Morning, Sir. How are you doing?VO: Hey, Good Morning. I am good. How are you?Me: I am well, thank you.VO: So, why GSU?Me: I selected GSU because it features a very strong industry-oriented curriculum, and the faculty members are approachable with numerous ongoing research initiatives.VO: Which other universities did you apply to?Me: Georgia State University, Louisiana State University, University of Texas at Dallas, State University of New York at Binghamton, and University of Oklahoma at Norman.VO: How many of those accepted you?Me: I received admission offers from all of them.VO: What are your plans following your MS?Me: I plan to return to India and work here.VO: How do you intend to finance your studies?Me: I have an education loan and my father is sponsoring me.VO: What does your father do?Me: He operates a two-wheeler business. He runs a two-wheeler workshop.VO: I am unable to approve your visa under section 214(b).

I felt discouraged, feeling that all my prior hard work counted for nothing. The knowledge I hoped to gain from this MS degree and its future career impact were both called into question. That motivated me to put in intensive effort and review numerous discussions regarding 214(b) refusals on Facebook groups. I also sought professional guidance, where experts analyzed every aspect of my profile and trained me on speaking with confidence and structuring my answers effectively.

Third Try

Chennai ConsulateResult: Approved

Me: Good Morning Sir!VO: Good Morning! May I have your I-20 and passport please?Me: Here they are, Sir.VO: What other universities did you apply to?Me: University of Texas at Dallas, Louisiana State University, State University of New York at Binghamton, University of Oklahoma at Norman.VO: Which other universities accepted you?Me: I was accepted by all of them, Sir.VO: So, why this specific university?Me: I chose GSU based on strong recommendations from a senior, and it ranks among the premier universities for Analytics. Furthermore, they feature the Institute for Insights, where technology firms based in Atlanta supply datasets for students to analyze and generate actionable insights; this will provide me with hands-on exposure in real-world scenarios.VO: Have you finalized your living arrangements?Me: I am currently exploring my choices. I have not decided yet.VO: What have you looked into?Me: I am looking at both on-campus and off-campus housing options. I am waiting for my visa approval before paying the deposit.VO: How will you fund your education?Me: I have an education loan from Credila for 35 Lakhs, and my parents have saved approximately 8 lakhs through savings and fixed deposits. Our real estate holdings exceed 1 Crore in value. Our family income stands at 8.36 lakhs.

VO: What is your father's occupation?Me: He owns a two-wheeler workshop. He handles sales and service.VO: What is his annual income?Me: He earns 5 lakhs per year, and we receive additional rental income from our properties.VO: What category of properties are they?Me: Two of our properties are ancestral, and we purchased another property 10 years ago. All three are residential properties.VO: Which properties were pledged for your loan?Me: We utilized two of our properties as collateral to secure the loan.VO: What is the interest rate?Me: 11.95%VO: Why did you decide to pursue your studies at this time?Me: Analytics is a discipline that demands deep expertise. At times in my job, I encounter situations where I know the required outcome but lack the exact implementation knowledge. To acquire that expertise, I need to study at GSU, which will help me advance to a superior role.VO: What is your GPA?Me: 7.82 out of 10.VO: Did you have any academic backlogs?Me: None at all, Sir.VO: Congratulations, your visa is approved.Me: Thank you, Sir. Have a wonderful day!

At last, the officer with the tattoo stamps my visa!

Note: The material in this piece originates from a public forum moderated by Ashiraj. Identifying personal details have been omitted to preserve anonymity.