A student headed to the University of Michigan–Dearborn had a seamless F1 visa interview experience at the US Embassy in Chennai on Thursday, getting approval in under 45 seconds during their first attempt. The student shared her experience on Reddit.
The applicant, who arrived at the consulate around 6:30 AM, noted that the early hours were calm but quickly turned crowded by 6:45 AM. Entry began as per scheduled slots, with the candidate entering the premises at 7:30 AM for their 8:00 AM appointment.
The visa officer (VO), described as a calm and composed Asian-American woman, started the interview by asking for the passport and I-20. The VO inquired about the applicant’s undergraduate completion date and what they had been doing since. The candidate shared their work experience as a Trainee Design Engineer and their decision to resign in order to focus on GRE, TOEFL, and their transition from production design to simulation-based design.
When asked why they chose to pursue a master’s now, the applicant responded honestly about their planned career shift and ethical decision to not join a company training program they didn’t intend to complete. The VO smiled and proceeded with biometric scanning before revealing a fun coincidence—they shared the same birthday, exactly 20 years apart. The visa was approved on the spot.
The student credited their success to being brief, confident, and honest in their answers. Interestingly, another applicant in the next line, applying to Boston University for software engineering, had her visa rejected without being asked a single question.
The experience serves as a reminder that preparation, clarity, and composure can make a significant difference during visa interviews.