OFC - 3 June, Mumbai, 11.30am.

Note: Nothing is allowed inside the Visa Application Center except your documents. No bags, no metal
objects, no cell phones. They have provision to deposit your baggage in case you are travelling in from a
different city. Please carry Rs. 400 with you, in your folder/pockets if you wish to avail their shuttle
service for your VI.

Description: Left Pune at 6am, reached VAC 10.30am. I stood in line at around 11.10am. There were
people for the 12.00 slot that were standing in line too, but they didn't let in those people until after
11.30am. You have to wait outside the gate in line in the heat/rain until they call you in. Brace
yourselves.

Once inside, they frisk you, then they scan the barcode on your DS-160, verify your name against the
passport and visa appointment confirmation. (In case your passport name and the name on your
application don't match, you'll have to change it asap. Within the same complex, they have an internet
facility. You will only be let through once this process is complete, so make sure to fill this information
accurately while booking your Visa Appointment.)

Then you're let into the OFC+Waiting Area, given a token number and called for OFC. They took a
photograph (with a DSLR) and prints of left hand, right hand and thumb impressions. And paste a sticker
at the back of your passport which has DS-160 bar code.

I was out by 11.40am.

VI - 9 June, Mumbai, 9am.

Note: Absolutely nothing is allowed inside the Embassy except your documents (in a folder) and an
umbrella. No bags, no metal objects, no cell phones.

Description: Left Pune at 4.3am and reached BKC at 7.30am. Entered embassy at 8.50am. After you enter
the security gates and walk up to the main entry, they scanned the barcode at the back of my passport,
checked me in. Then security check. Then another waiting area where you are asked to keep your I-20
and passport in hand. After a while, I was taken in, had my passport barcode scanned, another sticker on
it with the token number. Had my left hand fingerprints taken. Waited for what felt like a VERY long time
till my token number was called.

The VO was a white guy with Blue eyes and no hair. :D Must be 30-ish.

VO: Good morning. How are you?

I: Good morning, Sir. I'm doing good.

VO: Pass me your passport and I-20.

I: Passed it.

VO: So where are you headed?

I: Purdue University, West Lafayette Campus.

VO: Wow! Purdue. (He raised his eyebrows and gave me a big smile.) What are you going to do at
Purdue?

I: MS in Mechanical Engineering

VO: What did you do your undergrad in and from where?

I: Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering from Cummins College Pune, affiliated to the University
of Pune.

VO: Which colleges did you apply to?

I: Told.

VO: Who is funding you?

I: I have a full scholarship. And if required, my father will sponsor my education.

VO: (checked I-20 to verify what I said) Wow! (Smiles) What was your undergrad score?

I: 68%, Sir.

VO: (typed something) Congratulations! Your visa has been approved. Good luck at Purdue! (big smile)

I: Thank you Sir. (big smile, grabbed my I-20 and ran)

Was out of the embassy at 10am. :D