My Visa Interview - A nervous nightmare

I didn't want to create a blog for a long time and peer pressure has forced me to create one and put up things. Anyway this is my first and would like to document my first visa interview (student visa). It was a very interesting journey till here from the preparation to the day itself.
As soon as I got my I-20 from Univ of Texas at Dallas, I was ready to prepare for Visa and started enquiring with people regarding the amount to be shown in the Bank (my greatest worry). After a brief counselling from my Counsellor (Esbee Consultants), I got to know the procedures and things related to that. I had to show liquid cash of atleast 1 years study and for the second year - education loan. Next 2 months went by accumulatin cash from all sources (genuine. Not advisable to fake) and getting the approval of education loan.
A second briefing session was up and I had to get the other documents like Affidavit, Bank Statement, FD statements, CA statement, Form-16, etc. This was just the beginning. Though I was ready with the documents, it was a tough journey for the past two weeks as I was quite nervous and didn't know what would happen. A final one-on-one with my counsellor was a mock visa interview where he checked my documents and asked a few questions just like the ones asked at the Consulate. I screwed up a few answers and went along makin confusin statements (a strict no-no). I was advised to be calm and not to be nervous. But still the nervousness dint cease to exist. This was the very few times I have been nervous. Never been so nervous for the engineering exams too.
It was June 20th and I was at office and one of my friends (Vikram Keshav) was online (his visa was cleared) and he asked me if I was prepared. I said yes and he started asking questions. Though I was busy at office, i thought this would help me. I answered quite well and he said i would get the visa and to be confident. This boosted my confidence and helped me relax a bit.
It was 21st and I had to leave for Chennai. We reached chennai and next day 11.45 am in front of the consulate. The queue ended on the footpath outside the consulate. I had to jump a barrier to gain advantage in the queue. This was no problem and I force my dad also to do the same. 12.00 and still in the same location. It was quite sunny and I had taken an umbrella with me. Made my dad run around for water and maaza a few times. As others beside me had not brought an umbrella, I asked them to share the shade and we were 4 to 5 squeezed under the umbrella.:)
All along, we started playing a game of 'guessing'. We had to guess if the person coming out had got a visa or not seeing their faces. It was tough but it got boring after few mins. After around 2 and half hours, we were let in and d A/c was a blessing. This was just the beginning.
We had get our documents verified. And after shifting queues for 1 hour, we were seated in the adjoining building. Then the finger scanning and after shifting seats for another 1 hour, I was called for the interview and a queue shown to join. All along, I was feeling very hungry and cursing everyone of the premises for not providing shelter outside. Was really tensed and had to visit the restroom twice. Luckily there was coffee available inside and it was again refreshing.
The first thing on my mind was whether the interviewer was a lady. I had heard that the ladies are a bit fussy about granting visas and was advised to choose a queue in which the interviewer was a male. Was it 'rumors' or was it reality? I never got to test. But yeah, one thing for sure, my heart was pounding and could not think of it. My only intention was to prove the 'rumors' were 'rumors'. I was also seeing the 'male' interviewers also rejecting student visas statin one reason or the other some of them genuine i felt.
My interviewer was a male around 45-50 years of age and he looked pleasing. But when he rejected the visas of two students ahead of me, I got tensed. But to hell with it. I said to myself 'whatever be the outcome I will answer whatever I know'.He called me and this is how the conversation went.

Visa officer(V.O): Hello,
Me: Hello :) (smiling as always)

VO: (looking at my forms)So, you've been going to University of Texas at Dallas.
Me: yeah, thats right

VO: (lookin at forms still) What are you doing your masters in?
Me: Networking Algorithms (Actually I want to do Networking 'or' Algorithms. But in the nervousness, I missed the conjunction. thought he would not ask further)

VO: What exactly are Networking algorithms?
Me: I meant Networking 'and' Algorithms. (Again nervousness played a role and changed the 'or' to 'and'.)

VO: Oh ok, what do you want to do after studies?
Me: I would like to pursue a career in my field of interest i.e Networking.

VO: Hmm Ok. How long have you been working?
Me: 2 years

VO: Which company? (looking at the forms..) IBM right?
Me: Yeah right...

VO: You have a lucrative job here. You are leaving your job and going...
Me: I will still be back as a software engineer.

VO: Are you sure u'll be back? (I don know whether he meant you will be back to India or whether u ll be back as SE)
Me: Yeah. definitely.

VO: Which is your dream company?
Me: IBM is also one of my dream companies

By this time I was confident and my nervousness was gone and I knew I was going on well.

VO: You like the company?
Me: Yes

VO: Explain your work function..
Me: Blah Blah Blah (Confidential)

VO: So, you are a Java programmer..
Me: No,...Blah Blah Blah (Confidential)

VO: Give me your certificates and Marks Cards

VO: (Looking at the I-20). Your fees is around 20000 dollars i.e.9-10 lakhs
Me: Yeah 9 lakhs per year

VO: How are you going to fund yourself?
Me: My dad has savings of around 11 lakhs and since I have been working, I have saved around 3 lakhs. Still Ill be short of 5-6 lakhs. So, for my second year, I have applied for education loan and its approved.

VO: What is your dad doing?
Me: He was a professor of Physics for aroudn 30 years. He is now retired and he is working as a mentor in a pvt. institution?

VO: Does he teach now?
Me: No, more or mentoring.

VO: Ok son, your Visa is approved. Your passport will be couriered within 2-3 days.
Me: Thank you Sir.


Huh, after all this, I was so relieved, took time and sat on the chair to set right my documents. Then asked one of the co-ordinators whether my passport will be couriered(just to confirm) and then exited the building with a smile.
This was my adventure and the whole 'VISA' thing was out of the way. I did not find one particular thing which can ensure you a 'reject' nor an 'accept'. I think a combination of everything - academic records, work experience (plays major role), honesty, authentic records, good preparation with the documents, confidence in answering questions, focus on your goals and a thorough understanding of your subject and related stuff will play a role in getting your visa. Hope this was a good read. All the best if any of you are applying for a visa.