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Me: Good morning Ma'am.
VO: (No response)
VO: Please pass me your documents... Place your right thumb on the "fingerprint analyzing thingy"(I have no idea what it is called)... (Then she gave a confused ...distracted look)... No sorry. Place your right index finger.
(Begins typing frantically on the keyboard... Goes through my passport)
VO: So you don’t want to stay in India?
Me: Ma'am the course that I want to pursue is really specific. I am sure that such a specific course is not available in India. Moreover University of Pennsylvania has an extremely well reputed biological sciences division.
VO :( Looking at my J-1 visa stamp) what was this J-1 internship all about?
Me: Ma'am, for my final semester in college, I had applied for a 6 month internship at the University of Chicago. This project work was part of my course curriculum.
VO: Who will be funding your education?
Me: I have a fellowship grant from the University of Pennsylvania and funding guaranteed for full five years of the course.
VO: Oh.. You are going for PhD?
Me: Yes Ma'am
VO :( Almost immediately...out of the blue) Your F-1 visa is granted.. Your passport will be couriered to you within the next seven days.
Me: Thank you Ma'am.

Me:gud afternoon ma'am
Vo:gud afternoon, give me the visa forms
vo: y US?
me : to pursue Masters in Computer Science at North carolina state univ
vo:y Masters degree
me: its research and application oriented blah blah blah
vo: which univ
me: north carolina state univ
vo:whats your GRE
me: 1330... 790 in Quantitative and 540 in Verbal
vo: whats your UG %
me: 81%
vo: any backlogs
me: no
vo: what does your father do...
me: told
vo: whats his annual income...
me: told
VO: how are you going to fund your education..
Me: told i have fixed deposits, bank balance, and educational loan.... including the amounts
Me: you want to see any documents...
VO:no not necessary...
looks at the computer screen and types something....
VO: your visa is approved
Me: thank you ma'am

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