The difference between failure and success lies in doing something 'almost right' and 'exactly right'.
Edward Simmons
Finally, I want to share with you information about how my interview went) in principle, yours should go exactly the same way)
February 5th. -25C. Moscow.
In the morning, we arrived at the embassy 2 hours before the interview. It turned out to be easy to find the consulate; on the street in front of the building, crowds of guys were standing with only one thought, and it was visible on their faces - how to get a visa) just give it to me already).
It didn't take long to find the CMO group - there was the largest delegation from InterExchange) you just couldn't miss it) At the monument to F.I. Chaliapin, a representative of CMO stood and called out names through a megaphone (like a Spartak fan). The guys approached and had numbers stuck to their jackets and bags, into which all unnecessary things were put and left outside the embassy walls, since you cannot bring metal, sharp, and other unnecessary things inside (you never know, someone might not handle their emotions and start throwing cigarettes at the consul or threatening with nail scissors)) anything happens=)
In front of the embassy, there was a car from CMO where we put all our unnecessary things:
- Mobile phones
- Lighters
- Bottle openers
- Cans of drinks
- Nail scissors
- Apartment keys
- Players
- Belts
- Cigarettes
- Relatives, they won't be let into the embassy anyway, and they won't help you during the interview:)
Except for documents, you cannot bring anything into the embassy.
We entered the embassy in turns (the guys from CMO stuck numbers on everyone's clothes, in alphabetical order).
In front of the embassy, a Russian policeman checked passports, and then an American "cop" searched us with a metal detector) while saying "ryuki f styorony" (hands to the sides))) and don't gaze:)
Further, inside the embassy, there is a queue before another metal detector.
There is no cloakroom in the embassy, but fortunately, there is a toilet))
We pass through the metal detector gate)) then we sit in the waiting room and wait for our turn) we receive documents from the representative, we go to do fingerprint scanning. Then the next room – the interview.
The interview room is quite small, there are chairs, so you can sit down)
If I'm not mistaken, 5 booths) yes, you can't call it anything else. Just a window, partitions on the sides, the booths are open and everyone can watch you, which confused me a little. The queue to the windows) is live, so we can choose which one to go to ourselves) - democracy) No one announces your name - so while you are standing in line, watch and listen to what is happening in different windows) In some, everyone passed quickly and with smiles, and in others, almost everyone stood for a long time painfully. There is a hanger by the windows, so we hang our jackets so that our hands are free to hand documents to the consul.
I was at window 13, a very pleasant consul, asked the main things, wished me a good trip.
My dialogue with the Consul:
I: Hello!
Consul (K): So, Kamil?
I: Yes!
K: Where are you going to live in USA?
I: I'd like to visit USA next summer! (I was nervous, didn't understand the question)
K: Where in USA?
I: I'd like to live in New York, Brooklyn!
K: OK. Why Brooklyn?
I: Because it's near to New York! (I agree, I was slow)
K: Brooklyn is New York (with smile)
I: Yes, I know (with smile) I want to see New York and I want to visit big city!
K: Who did pay for this program?
I: My parents! My father!
K: OK! Is your father from Dushambe?
I: Yes, but my mother is from Uglich! (Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan, Uglich is in the Yaroslavl region)
K: Ok. What's your father's job?
I: He is owner of business.
K: Ok. What business does he have?
I: Shop.
K: What's the shop?
I: uh (forgot how to say groceries)...goods
K: What's kind of goods? (waits a little and sees that I'm not answering, starts asking)... food, drink...vodka, sigarettes?(he started laughing)
I: Yes, food...but not vodka!
K: Not vodka!? (here I thought about why I said that, because these are unnecessary questions, but the consul was no longer up to vodka)
K: OK! Are you from Moscow or Yaroslavl?
I: Yaroslavl
Then he started stamping and signing) I started to worry)
K: Have you any questions about this form? (lifts and shows me a printout about our rights in the USA)
I: No!
K: Well, Kamil! Have a nice summer in New York!
I: Thank you:) I was just happy)
All interviews take 1-3 minutes, consuls simply don't have more time for you (I understand, it's a pity). You leave immediately, by the way, if they refused, they must return your foreign passport))
There were about 400 of us on February 5th, I think! As I heard, 5 people were refused – 1.25% refusal, an excellent result (for comparison, 25% is the probability of being born Chinese, so...).
If refused, you can re-apply for an interview at the embassy, and there will be a different consul to exclude personal "animosity", in general, subjectivity.
Good luck to you guys, it's easy in the embassy, but nervous! And so, if you go, dress warmly, because while we were waiting for our turn for 3 hours... it was not very comfortable.
GOOD LUCK AT THE EMBASSY, SEE YOU IN THE USA:)))
