Hi r/usvisascheduling! My wife (30F, resident doctor, IVY med college) and I (33M, corporate guy, IVY tech college) just wrapped up our US B1/B2 visa process at New Delhi for a June trip, and I’m here to spill the tea—chaotic parking, nail-biting slot hunts, and all. Hoping our experience & tips are useful for anyone braving the same path!

The Why

My wife got invited to present her research at a prestigious medical conference on the East Coast (cue proud husband vibes). We figured we’d pair it with some city-hopping and a visit to a relative in the Midwest. With solid profiles—me at a global brand, her at a top-tier govt medical college, a combined income of 70-80 LPA, and past travels to Europe(only me), Japan, SE Asia, and UK(only me)—we felt confident but knew the process would test our patience.

Step 1: DS-160 Form

Filling out the DS-160 was like writing a novel about our lives. Long, detailed, but straightforward since it’s online. No chaos here, just make sure you triple-check every field. Pro tip: Save your progress often; the system loves to log you out.

Step 2: Scheduling the Appointment (AKA The Hunger Games)

Booking via usvisascheduling.gov.in was a saga. Adding my wife as a dependent took weeks of back-and-forth tickets, emails, and calls—think of it as bureaucratic cardio. Once sorted, we faced the real beast: snagging early slots for our June travel. The VAC (biometrics) and consular appointments are a two-part deal, and you’ve got to book the consular slot within 30 minutes of the VAC one. Slots were showing for next year!

I turned into a slot-hunting ninja, checking every 30 minutes (8 AM, 8:30 AM, you get it) until the system locked me out for 24 hours for “excessive clicking.” Facepalm. Enter checkvisaslots.com—a paid extension that crowd-sources real-time slot updates. On April 13, between 2-3 PM, notifications lit up my phone like Diwali. I pounced, securing a OFC slot for April 23 and a consular slot for May 5. The slots vanished by 3 PM, so it felt like winning a lottery. Tip: If you’re in a rush, this extension is a lifesaver. Agents might help, but I’m a DIY guy—trust the system, stay alert, and you’ll manage.

Step 3: OFC Appointment (April 23)

Our 9 AM VAC appointment at the VFS center (under the Shivaji Stadium metro) started with a parking quest. We parked at NDMC Multilevel Parking Capitol Place and walked over. Reddit saved us here—car keys (modern electric knob) were allowed, so we left all electronics in the car. The entrance had a 50-70 person queue, a mix of early and late appointments. It moved slowly; 30 minutes to reach the gate where staff meticulously checked DS-160s, passports, and confirmation letters. No phones allowed, but lockers were available for others.

Inside, it was organized chaos: bag checks, passport scans, and a sticker slapped on our passports. The biometrics line (fingerprints and photo) had 10 counters and took another 30 minutes. Total time: about 45-60 minutes. The staff were firm but kind, especially when we triple-checked about the car keys (my wife’s paranoia paid off). Tip: Arrive on time, bring only the required docs, and confirm car key rules at the gate.

Step 4: Consular Appointment (May 5)

We prepped like we were defending a PhD thesis, thanks to Reddit’s treasure trove of interview experiences. Over 2-3 evenings, we practiced answers while driving or chilling, covering purpose, conference & research details, itinerary, work, funds, US relative and family ties. Confidence was our mantra—no sweaty, scripted vibes.

For the 9:45 AM consular slot, we arrived at 8:20 AM to avoid another queue nightmare. Parking was a circus; guards kept saying “go straight, turn,” but after two loops, a kind guard pointed us to Malcha Market parking (5-10 min walk, nearly full). We splurged on a 50-buck auto ride to the embassy gate because, priorities. My wife, ever the car-key detective, confirmed they were allowed (same drill as VAC).

Security was a breeze: two checks (one outside, one inside with machines). The open-air waiting hall had water, cafe, washrooms, and rows of seats. We lucked out, filling the last spots in the first row, so we were called inside in 5 minutes. Inside the embassy, it’s like an airport counter: passport scans, biometrics verification, and then the interview queue. The zigzag line to 20 glass windows took 20 minutes, and you can overhear interviews—nerve-wracking but insightful. We noticed rejections often tied to nervous rambles, scripted/long answers or DS-160 issues. Confidence and honesty are your VIP pass.

Our interview was a breeze:

• VO: Good morning (to both of us), please pass me your passports
• Me: Good morning officer, yes please, here are the passports...(then i added after handing over)..How are you today?
• VO: (looking up after picking up the passport and with a little smile) I am good, how are you doing?
• Me: I’m good too! (Eye contact, chill vibes)
• VO: So why do you want to go the US?
• Me: My wife is going to present her paper at [conference] at [city] and we will explore [city] along with XX city in east coast and also go to YY city to meet our relative before coming back.....(before he could ask next Q, i added one more detail)....she has been invited to present
• VO: (looking at my wife) What is your research about?
• Wife: Explains paper in clear, concise terms
• VO: (looking at me me briefly) What do you do?
• Me: (Confirming if he is referring to me) You are asking about me?
• VO: Yes
• Me: I am in [domain] research and currently working as a [job title] at [full company name]
• VO: Do you have any kids?
• Me: No.
• VO: How long will you be staying in the US?
• Me: 10 days, from [start date] to [end date]
• VO: Congrats, your visas are approved! You shall get them in 7-10 days.
• Me: (smiling) Thank you officer, have a lovely rest of the day
• VO: (smiling) You too

This VO ruthlessly denied visa to the guy just before us and said to him that "seems like you are reading scripted answers, explain me in a more casual day to day English" during the interview. Nerves! We had to be relieved finally, Gosh!
We walked out grinning like kids who aced a test. Took an auto back to the car, hit a nearby cafe, and toasted with coffee and a giant cookie. Sweetest reward ever.

Tips for B1/B2 Applicants

• Slot Booking: It’s a lottery. Checkvisaslots.com’s paid plan was clutch, but you need to pounce fast. If you’re in a hurry, agents might help, but I say DIY with attention and basic smarts.
• Parking[New Delhi]: VAC = NDMC Multilevel Parking Capitol Place. Embassy = Malcha Market. Both are a short walk; budget time or take an auto.
• Docs: DS-160, passport, confirmation letter for VAC. Embassy might not ask for more, but carry proof of purpose (e.g., conference invite), funds, and ties.
• Interview: Be confident, concise, and honest. Practice but don’t sound scripted. Also don't argue at all with the VO, neither during the interview nor after. We saw a modern woman (mid 30s) arguing desperately after her denial and once she left we observed that VO kept writing something in his notes. They only type when they are denying, so the more they write, the more bad it is.
• Car Keys[New Delhi]: Modern keys are usually fine; confirm with guards at both locations.
• Reddit: Read past posts. They’re a goldmine for prep and peace of mind.

Final Thoughts

The process tests your patience, but with prep and persistence, it’s doable. My wife and I felt like we conquered a bureaucratic beast, and that cookie tasted like victory.

Good luck to everyone else—hope you’re celebrating with your own giant cookie soon!

Cheers!!