Being my first Visa interview, i had butterflies in my stomach though i tried to act nonchalant. i always wanted to travel on work, and not travel as a spouse or a dependant but i have to agree it doesn’t happen too often in my field of work. Between us, S was the experienced one and he gave me a lot of gyaan.
S carried a fat file, while i had to follow him carrying a few documents, which talked nothing about my work or qualification, but only about my identity, whom am i married to etc. Suddenly, i realized my life and key to the US depended on S, so i clung to him like number 10 on Tendulkar’s playing shirt.
Then the question started. First they asked S all the what, where, why, hows of his job profile. i was prepared for myself too. You see, i have never stayed for 3 yrs in any company and that tells about my interview facing skills. With utmost pride, i was prepared to say i work for a biiiigggggggggg IT company , the RandD division, no, not Rand, but R and D as in Research and Development . i was about to answer like a self-appraisal meeting. Suddenly, he asked me, “Ma’am how long have you been married?” i looked at S and mentally calculated how long we have been married. Ok, ask something about my job i thought to myself. The next question was, how did we meet? i replied, ‘online’ thinking what a famous blogger i am and how widely unread it is, but how S was a fan and started mailing me. i almost gave my URL to this guy, but he was not bothered. Finally, he asked me “Where are you working?” i was dying to answer all that i had prepared. i whispered the name of my company and he concluded for me that i am going to quit as i have to go as a dependant. i stared at S, and S nodded on my behalf. The visa got stamped and i can visit or be with him as long as he is in the U.S. but i cannot work. However, i am looking at freelance or part-time opportunities, pole- dancing for one.
S carried a fat file, while i had to follow him carrying a few documents, which talked nothing about my work or qualification, but only about my identity, whom am i married to etc. Suddenly, i realized my life and key to the US depended on S, so i clung to him like number 10 on Tendulkar’s playing shirt.
Then the question started. First they asked S all the what, where, why, hows of his job profile. i was prepared for myself too. You see, i have never stayed for 3 yrs in any company and that tells about my interview facing skills. With utmost pride, i was prepared to say i work for a biiiigggggggggg IT company , the RandD division, no, not Rand, but R and D as in Research and Development . i was about to answer like a self-appraisal meeting. Suddenly, he asked me, “Ma’am how long have you been married?” i looked at S and mentally calculated how long we have been married. Ok, ask something about my job i thought to myself. The next question was, how did we meet? i replied, ‘online’ thinking what a famous blogger i am and how widely unread it is, but how S was a fan and started mailing me. i almost gave my URL to this guy, but he was not bothered. Finally, he asked me “Where are you working?” i was dying to answer all that i had prepared. i whispered the name of my company and he concluded for me that i am going to quit as i have to go as a dependant. i stared at S, and S nodded on my behalf. The visa got stamped and i can visit or be with him as long as he is in the U.S. but i cannot work. However, i am looking at freelance or part-time opportunities, pole- dancing for one.
23 comments:
ahhh, I understand...but you will be settling there?? Thers nice...US is a nice place. I have visited that place on work and always wanted to go there with hubby :)
Enjoy...enjoy...
Bon Voyage. Always a relief to get Visa done smoothly.
kools...:)..have a great stay in the u s of a..:)..and keep blogging, now with part time/ no job u would have plenty of time to blog ...and plenty of material too..:)
....how about going back to school while you can't work in US?
@Stone: Strongly considering that. However, I am still clinging to my job here right now. Let us see. Problem is I am under pressure to start a family by all relatives and friends on FB.
@Shrutzz: hey gal, i know the whole world has travelled on work assignments. I envy you. :-)
Wow...Arunima-hearty congrats...you'll be visiting the US of A whenever you want,now..and,a big smile(as always) at the adroit way you mentioned the visa interview...specially the 'I almost gave my url to the guy'..waise,I'm surprised- US interviews are so simple now? I always heard that they're an ordeal.
@AmitL: it is still an ordeal for many poeple. I saw a couple of people getting rejected. One guy even said, sir please sir please, this is the second time etc. Felt sad at why we are so hung up with the US. And there was a huge crowd too.
Mine was easy because it was a H4 visa.
Hi Arunima,
Congratulations about your visa :-)So when are you planning the trip to US?
hhmmm...wifey is on H4 too for past 5+ yrs, and she hates sitting idle at home.
so I'll again strongly recommend further studies; narrow-down your choice of course MBA/MS or whatever and go for it and side-by-side keep looking for some company/consultant to file your H1B.
Starting family means delaying further studies/job by ~3 years.
Sorry for giving so much 'uncalled for' gyaan :-)
hahha....always such googlies come when one has prepared too much!!!
anyways..have a happy time there!!!
Enjoy.
But I think that man would have liked reading you.
His loss.
Will miss you.
Hey there, strolled back in here after what seems like a hundred years and glad to see that you're still writing :)
This post reminded me of my visa interview from another lifetime...I had to do it alone and they wanted to see my wedding picture!!
Btw, which part of the US are you moving to??
Arunima, great post, as usual. I was laughing out loud. The way you capture the fluditiy of your thoughts in your writing is just envious. So here's my thought - why don't you get more inspired and write a great book when you're in the US. I'm sure it'll be a NYT best seller. At least, I can guarantee that one person will buy it.
Shiv and I in the consulate. Shiv with me for dependent Visa. :)
Guy in the glass cage: Who is Meenakshy?
Me: (Raises hand)
Guy in the glass cage: (After two quations about my qualification and job-description and seeing our wedding pictures): When did you get married?
Me: 7 Feb 2004 (Shiv's birthday) no no no 10 Oct 2004 (My Birthday)no no no no (Shiv smiles and taps me) 2 Feb 2004 :(
Guy in the glass cage: keep your LEFT hand index finger on the scanner.. this one, he had to remind about the LEFT hand thrice and shiv had to tap me on the left hand...
I thought I am a gone case.. will never get the work-visa.. GOT IT
It's not difficult to get a company to sponsor you if you look in the right places. A friend who accompanied her husband got a work visa in 5 months..All that being said, all the very best in the new phase. Kids will come but become full first unless your clock is running.
Hey this is unrelated to your post but I hv been reading your blog religiously :) or days! A friend gave me the link. It has been a delight, moreso reading all the blogs and literally going thru ur life. Awesomely written, very interesting and lot of fun!
Hey I tried to leave a comment yday but cant see it! Anyways,came across your blog through a friend and its been an absolute delight!! Reading your oldest to latest blogs feels like watching a movie :D Keep writing and have a great time in US :)
@The Ordinary one: Thank you very much. You have made my day. :-)
@nautilus: Welcome back yet again and please do keep coming back.
@white Magpie: Nice to see you here. Please continue blogging regularly.
@Stone: Thanks a lot for the suggestions, bussy. Been doing a lot of thinking and I completely understand your wife.
hi hi..have fun in US..pole dancing and all included.
I know that 'not-so-important spouse' feeling. I recently started my permanent residency application as spouse and felt really sad that I had to call myself 'partially dependent'..and I make sure to tell everyone that I could get my own, but I am going the spouse route because it should be much faster than a new application :p
Congrats there!
So when r u leaving for the US of A. About visa interviews, i remember taking my son when he was 4 year old, for the interview and when the visa officer asked "what will you do in US?" he replied very sweetly ."I want to see the snow!" and she gave a big smile!
"...am under pressure to start a family by all relatives and friends on FB."
I think it should be fairly easy to start a family on Facebook. LOL
The one in real life is the hard part! :D
@Claytonia: lo, indeed!
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