B1/B2 visa approved at Kolkata consulate (India)

Got approved recently at Kolkata consulate in India, for medical observership. It was a great experience. I believe I answered everything correctly and that was the reason for approval along with the fact that the visa officer was very reasonable. I do not think there was any bias at all. It was all based on answers.

I will not describe the officer, but he/she was rejecting a lot of people in front of me. But I could hear them giving terrible incomplete short answers. Most of them had good jobs with a good enough salary. A few of them were students who had gotten into a US university. They still got rejected. 6 out of 8 people in front of me were rejected.

Based on this, I decided to give as much information as I could such that the every answer ended with me coming back to India. But he/she didn’t really ask many of those where I could do that lol.

The interview lasted maybe around 7-8 mins. The other officer that was there (which I was hoping I’d get) was asking Qs for only 2-3 mins. But ofc my luck had a different plan and a better one at that.

But I loved talking to the officer.

Officer: Good morning Me: Good morning officer, how are you doing today? Officer: I’m good. How are you? Me: I’m good! Officer: Purpose of visit? Me: So I’m a medical doctor officer— interrupted Officer: Wow that’s great! Which specialty? (Very inquisitive) Me: well, I am a general physician right now. And I am working as a government medical officer in (particular state) under the (I fumbled and paused). Sorry. So I’m working under the (specific office) in (specific district) in (specific state). Officer: oh okay. So you were saying about visit US? Me: yes officer. I have been accepted for an observership at ________ for 4 weeks ——interrupted Officer: which hospital come again? Me: ________hospital which is affiliated to university of ________. I have accepted for 4 weeks at dept of ________ under Dr ________, who is board certified specialist. [Types a lotttt] Officer. Okay. How did you come to know of him? Me: Actually I was researching medical programs in Nephrology which gives observership opportunities to International Medical Graduates. I applied to a few, and was accepted at this University hospital. [Constantly typing as I’m answering] Officer. Okayy. And who will sponsor the trip. Me: My father will be sponsoring the trip officer. He is a retired Govt official and gets a monthly pension, as well as rental income from 3 properties which brings his monthly income to a total of ______INR and ______usd. Officer: State or central govt? Me: State govt. Officer: But he’s retired right? Me: Yes officer but he was a senior Govt official and he now receives a pension. Officer: any other source of income? Me: Yes officer, he has monthly income from 3 rental properties which brings the total to ______inr and ______usd. Officer: oh okay then (Pause) [Also typing] Officer: so have you done your post graduation? Me: No officer. My post graduate entrance examination is on ______ (specific date) and I will take this exam in India after coming back from the US. Officer: oh so you haven’t done specialty training yet? When is your PG exam? Me: It is on _______(specific date) [Typing] Officer: Which specialty do you want? Me: Hopefully IM and then I plan to do superspecialty in nephrology or cardiology. Officer: That’s great. will you be paid in the US? Me: No officer. It as a completely unpaid observership.

Officer: Approved. (Smiles)

Me: Thank you officer!!

My advice:

1. Have a cohesive story which makes sense. Don’t say weird stuff like you’re going for a medicine rotation and then say I’m interested in surgery. Be concordant and honest.
2. Prepare well for the interview. Everyone is different. My officer asked a lot of Qs but checked zero documents, while the other officer was asking only 2-3 Qs and was checking documents. Be ready for anything.
3. Greet them well. Address them as officer.
4. Whatever you say should be available to be checked online. If you talk about a specific doctor, his details should be present online when you type his name on google. Same for your hospital/university where you’ll be going.
5. Show strong home ties. This is the MOST IMPORTANT. I said I’ll come back for the neet pg exams. She asked me when is the exam, and answered with the specific date. Don’t lie.