A student from VIT Vellore recently shared his smooth experience obtaining an F-1 visa at the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai. The interview, which took place on June 10, 2025, lasted just 20 seconds and cleared the way for his graduate studies at North Carolina State University, where he will pursue a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a focus on VLSI.
He had applied to four universities and was accepted at Arizona State University, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and NCSU. Texas A&M University was the only rejection. With a CGPA of 8.6 and a TOEFL score of 100, he didn’t submit GRE scores, as they were not required. He had no prior work experience and relied on his academic credentials and confident attitude during the interview.
At the consulate, he was called to Counter 33, where he met a friendly visa officer—a man in his early 30s. The officer asked a few straightforward questions about the universities he applied to and his parents’ occupations. Within moments, the officer said, “Congratulations, your visa has been approved,” without asking for fingerprints.
The entire consulate visit took about an hour, and the student attributes his success to staying composed, smiling, and being fluent and clear in his communication. His advice to other applicants is to practice speaking in front of a mirror, stay relaxed, and avoid over-preparing to the point of sounding rehearsed. He believes that the initial few seconds of the interview can set the tone and make all the difference.
Another individual on Reddit shared a similar experience, mentioning that their visa was approved within 30 seconds after answering just two questions. They, too, are from VIT Vellore and heading to NCSU for the same program.
