My US Travel Experience - 2

I disconnected the call and stood up and looked at her confusingly. She again said “Rajan, could you come with me for few minutes, just some formalities”. And she started walking and I followed her and I asked her “What madam? Any problem?” She again said “No no don’t panic, it’s just a formality,” and she entered into a room which is mentioned STAFF ONLY. I hesitated for a second and she said “Come sir, I’ll take you back in the same way, don’t worry”. Then she entered from one room to another, then one lift, and we went 2 floors downstairs and reached the basement. There one police men was sitting and she asked to give the hand baggage to him, then he tore off the tags in the baggage which had the security check seal. Then he asked for my Boarding pass and crossed off the security check seal in that too.  My heart started beating very fast. “What’s going on here? Why they are tearing the security check seals? What kind of formality is this?”. 

Then the police man searched my hand baggage and hand it over that lady. She said “We’ll keep this in my room for a while; we’ll take it while returning back”. Then she kept the bag in her room. I just took my passport holder with me. Again I asked “Madam, what is going on? I’m scared, where we’re going?” she said something like luggage needs to be checked again and some problem like that. I didn’t understand anything properly, she was saying mostly in Hindi. Then we went inside a room which looked like some industry. All containers were kept there. She said “Here’s where we keep all the containers which have the entire luggage, we’ll connect it to the appropriate flight. No one is allowed here, you’re probably lucky”.  “Lucky??.....Lucky???????????................you *****. Its almost 7 PM now. I have to board a flight to US in 1 hr and you’re scaring the hell out of me by bringing here and I have no clue what’s going on and you’re saying   I’m lucky???”.

Then we went inside a small room where there was only one security guy sitting and one baggage screener was also there. She asked me to wait in the room and went somewhere; I was just standing in the room with my legs shaking. Then another police man came inside. While coming itself he was shouting “who are you? What is your name?” (In Hindi). I said “My…name ..Elavarasan”. He asked “Madarasi??”.

“Yeah ..yeah madarasi”.

“Enku tamil theryum”( I know tamil).

“oh..that’s great” I smiled without smiling.

“engu pora??”(where are you going?)

“hmm..to US..America”.

He seems not a tamilian, he just spoke broken Tamil. The way he asked the questions, it seems he was trying to make me relax and not scare too much.

Then the lady came and said that she asked them to bring my luggage. She told me that my luggage needs to be checked again. Then some people brought my 2 big bags and it was fully wrapped. The police took a knife and tore the wrap and opened the bags and threw everything outside the bag. The lady said “oh me must have spent 400 rupees for wrapping that and everything is getting wasted”. “400 rupees?? Yeah that is the Important thing I need to worry about here” .I had some homemade powders like Rasam, chilli, Idli powders etc. After seeing those, his tone totally changed. He shouted “what are all these? What powders are these?”. I started shivering and said in shaky voice “Those are for cooking, rasam, chilli powders, home made”. Then after seeing that I got afraid he again turned back to normal, trying to speak in tamil to relax me. For few minutes it was like watching Anniyan (Aparichit) movie climax. One second he is shouting in Hindi next second he is politely talking in tamil. “God, I don’t even want to go to US, just get me out of this room”.

Then finally all my things are outside my bags, and time is now 7:20 PM. I stuffed everything back in the bags and the lady also helped me. It took almost 3 hours for me and my roommate to finish the packing in the morning.  Now we did it in 3 minutes. Then she tore the luggage tag and pasted a new tag in the two bags. Then only I came to understand that they did something wrong in the system while tagging my luggage. And if they didn’t fix it, it would get transfer to different flight in Delhi. So when they’re doing the tagging again after it went to the container, they needed to do it before the police officials and luggage needed to be checked again.

Then they took the luggage back to the container and the lady took me back into the airport. We went to her room and picked by hand baggage and went to the security check again. I had my jacket in one hand, passport holder in one hand and bag in the shoulder and we both were running. Once reached the security checkpoint, they asked me to open the bag and I took everything outside. The lady said “let me help, give your jackets, passport holders etc. So I gave all the things in my hand to her and finished the security check and we finally reached the gate. Time was 7:40 PM. And there was a big queue standing. She gave all the things back to me and told the security that I was taken for some formalities and so need to be allowed before others. So the security allowed me to go inside before others in the queue. While leaving, the lady said “sorry for the inconvenience sir and thanks for the co-operation and have a safe journey”.

I went inside the flight and was still in confusion and I started to feel something is missing. Then I started checking everything again and I found that my cell phone is missing. I gave to that lady during security check along with Jacket, passport holder. I forgot to get it back. I got freaked and said to a airhostess “I need to go out immediately”. She asked worryingly “What sir? Why? What happened?”.  I said “I missed my cell phone outside with one lady”. Then she said “Ok no problem, go and get it”. Then I came to the door and told one office that I want to go outside. He also asked in the same tone “Why sir? What happened”. I started blabbering “one lady, took me for checking, my cell phone.. with her, I have to go..please please”. He said “Ok sir, go” and he asked one security to go with me inside the airport. Then me and that security guy started running inside the airport and that lady is running towards us with the cell phone. She laughed and said “Oh sir!! Really really sorry sir”. I didn’t know how to react, to get angry? Or to say thanks?. I just gave a weird smile and came back to plane.

Finally I sat in my seat and felt little relaxed.  It started to rain outside and they announce that it’ll take some time for the plane to take off. I took one of my novels and started reading it. I didn’t even finish one page, I felt someone touching my shoulder. I looked up and it is that policeman who checked my luggage. There are no words to explain how I felt that time. He asked “Give me your passport, quick, give me”.  I gave him my passport and he noted down something from it and gave it back. Then he asked “You got your cell phone right?”. I shook my head symbolizing yes. Then he said “Ok happy journey and thanks for the co-operation”. It took few minutes for me to come back to feel normal. “God, till the plane lands in US, there are no guarantees that I’ll reach there”. And I was still worrying whether my luggage will tag in the flight correctly in Delhi or not.

The flight took off at 8:30 and reached Delhi at 10:45. **CHECKING**  The Delhi airport itself looked too good compared to Mumbai and Chennai airport. I was wondering how US airports will be. Then I boarded on flight to US at 1 AM with lot of excitement and fear. The journey time went mostly in movies in between meals.  Yeah they gave the meal like almost every 2 hours, and every time it was getting worse. It was like a warning to get used to US food. Two hours before reaching Chicago, they gave all the forms such as customs, Immigration check etc. And it landed at around 7:15 AM CDT on Chicago. “God I couldn’t believe I’m really in US”.

**CHECKING**

I arranged all the documents that they might ask in the Immigrations check. I was preparing answers for all questions which my teammates told me that they might ask me in the Immigration. I got nervous when I came here the counter. But they didn’t ask me anything; they just stamped the I-94 and sent. Then I was waiting for my luggage and found it when I almost decided that it got lost in Delhi. Then I came out and “wow..am I really in US? I couldn’t believe it” took a train to the domestic airport.

**CHECKING**

I got the boarding pass and searching for my Gate. The gate number is G10. It was upto G 13 ot 14 and almost in all letters. “A1-14,B1-14,…how many gates are here? This is US..hmm..i couldn’t believe it”. I asked some people and found a way to reach my gate G10. Then I reached the Gate G10. Nobody was there in the gate, of course it was too early and I had more than 3 hours layover time. I had to call my teammates in Chicago and I needed quarters to call them from a payphone. So I decided to have a cold drink to get the change and went to a restaurant near by my gate. I was looking at the menu card. “Cool drinks?..I’m in US..lets start with a beer”. So I ordered a beer, the waitress looked at me up and down and asked “may I see some id please?”. “Is it not good to ask for beer at this early morning?”. Then I showed my passport, and then she went to get a beer.  An old couple who was sitting nearby me laughed at me and said “don’t worry you’ll get used to here”. And the beer came. I told cheers to myself and had my first drink in US.

**CHECKING**

I went to payphone and tried to call my teammates, but I didn’t know how to use that phone. I asked some guy who also tried to call there, but no use. Then I asked him the local time and set my watch to the local time to catch the plane on right time. Anyway I was nearby my gate only, so I’m not worried about missing the flight. There were PC’s with Internet connections, and I update the status in Facebook that I reached Chicago. ”In Mumbai/Chennai airports only 2 or 3 laptops will be there for internet and that also won’t work properly or some keys would be missing in the keyboards. Here how fast it is!!!..God, I couldn’t believe I’m in US”.

**CHECKING**

I was roaming here and there around my Gate trying to make me believe that I’m in US. It was like in exhibition. Everything looked clean, sophisticated and luxurious. Then I went to one more restaurant and ordered a coke and took my diary and noted all the incidents happened in Mumbai airport to write in blog later. While drinking coke, I was looking at the menu board in that restaurant. “Muffins,doughnuts,bagels,trifles…ahh!! All names we heard in the F.R.I.E.N.D.S show or some English movie. Look at the peoples here, they are really white. I can’t believe I’m really in US”. I was wondering each and every second and it was like I was watching English movies for long time and suddenly I’m in the movie. Then I again went to the payphone and this time I succeeded in calling my teammates and informed them I reached. Then again some Facebook in the superfast internet and some **CHECKING** and some Oh-god-couldn’t-believe-I’m-in-US stuff. 

But every time ten minutes I was going to the gate and checking that the flight is not started yet and was checking time also constantly. Then the time reached 10:45 AM. Alarm rang in my brain. Very few people were there in the gate though just 45 minutes are there for flight to take off. I asked one old man in the gate, “flight to Philadelphia is from this Gate right?”. He replied “no, this is for Florida”. I showed him by boarding pass and the Gate G10 mentioned in that. He saw that and said “Yeah it’s right, this is G10, but don’t know about this flight, wait…this flight was at 11:30, now its 11:45. You have missed your flight”.  

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttt?????????????????..............................”

I saw my watch, it showed 10:45. “Oh my god, I must have set the timing wrong”. He said “you better go and contact some officials here.”. I didn’t know where to go, I got panicked and I went to one person in green uniform and said “Sir, I missed the flight, but I’m in gate the entire time sir”. He checked in the system and said “That flight has been changed to Gate H11, but you have missed it, it’s past 11:30. You better go there and ask”.

I started running to the gate H11 and at the same time lot of thoughts started running in my mind. “Will I get another flight? By any chance this flight would have got delayed? For next flight ticket, the money I’m having is enough? Can I use my traveller’s cheque to buy ticket? Can I stay tonight here in Chicago with teammates and go to Philadelphia tomorrow? OMG my luggage already went in that flight, can I get that back if I go delay? Why am I this irresponsible? Super fast internet?  beer in the morning? Yeah I know something like this will happen”.

I reached Gate H11 and as I was running fast I was breathing heavily. I showed the guy in the gate my boarding pass and said “huh..huh..huh…I.. huh huh missed flight..huh huh…gate changed..huh..huh…I didn’t..huh..know..huh.huh..”. He looked at the boarding pass and said “Well Sir, there is one more flight to Philadelphia which is leaving in 45 minutes from now, I’ll give you the boarding pass right now”. I said “How much huh..huh..i need to pay..huh..huh ?”. He printed the boarding pass and gave it to me and said “Sir, go to gate H1, it leaves exactly in 45 minutes”. I asked “Do i..huh.huh..need to huh..pay for this..huh..?”. He replied “no need sir, just go to the gate immediately and catch that flight”.

**CHECKING**

Then I boarded on that flight and reached Philadelphia. I got my baggage from baggage claim and took a taxi from there to Pennsylvania. While going in taxi I was looking at all the places around and wondering “am I really in US? Well In Mumbai airport they did some mistake in the system and tortured me for more than one hour and here I missed the flight itself and they just simply gave the ticket to next flight. 

NOW I SHOULD DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT I AM IN  US….100%”.

My US Travel Experience - 1

Once the VISA approved, everything happened immediately and within 2 weeks I got ready to travel to US. The day before travelling I gave treat to my colleagues and my tickets have been booked just before the treat. So after the party is over I went to office again at 12 AM midnight to take the print outs of tickets, important documents and I was still searching a place to stay temporarily for initial days. Then I got all the documents I needed, found a place to stay temporarily with TCS colleagues and I was trying to book a cab for next day to reach the airport. The time was 5 AM. I couldn’t book any cab at that time and I felt very sleepy. So I asked my teammate who was doing night shift to book the cab, and came to room at around 6 AM. Then I slept for 3 hours, woke up at 9 AM.

Tonight 8 PM flight, I have to reach the airport by 5PM, I have to leave from room by around 3 PM. I have to start packing, and finish it; pick up clothes given for alteration and I don’t have a cab booked yet. Will I catch my flight tonight?

I didn’t believe I could finish the packing before afternoon, normally my Dad used to do the packing for me wherever I had to go like while 1^st time going to Hostel, 1^st time college, 1^st time Chennai for job, 1^st time Mumbai. While doing the packing he used to give advices, warnings such as “don’t use this often; use this like this; use this every week” for each thing he keeps in my bag. So for me packing means ‘Listening to advices/warnings and watching him doing that’. But somehow I finished my packing around 12 PM. This time my Dad is replaced by my roommate.

My teammate booked the cab successfully for me; I picked up the clothes and was ready at around 2 PM. Cab came at 2:30 to my room. And my Journey starts here.

Travel Plan: Mumbai(8PM)->Delhi(10 PM),Delhi (1 AM)->Chicago(7:15 AM),Chicago(11:30 AM)->Philadelphia(1:30 PM). From Philadelphia I had to take a cab to Pennsylvania.

Once I got in the cab, I called my Dad to inform that I started.

 He asked “who are all coming with you till airport?”

 I said “No one, I’m going alone only”.

“Alone? What da? No one is coming to send off?”

“Dad, everybody has office, anyway they can’t come inside airport, and I’m going in cab so no need to worry about carrying luggage”.

“Still…, you’re going to US and no one is there to send off. Here for going to Dubai many people are creating scene and celebrate like festivals. My son is going to US and going to airport alone like an orphan. I feel very bad” said very unhappily.

“Dad, stop worrying for silly things. I will call you after I reach there, bye”.

On the way to airport I almost called all of my friends and informed. I reached airport very early at 3:45 PM itself. I went to get the boarding pass and gave my ticket printout to the lady in the counter. She looked at the timing and said “Sir, what’s the urgent now? You still have time, wait for one more hour”.Woww..probably this is the first time I’m  reaching  the airport this early. Then I waited in the airport thinking what my colleagues at the office told me the previous day.

--  “Update us once you reach Delhi Airport, then update us once you reached Chicago airport, then update once again after you reached Pennsylvania, I’m really worried about you. Go safely”.

--“Hmm..i don’t think you would reach there without making any comedies”.

--“They can still send you back to India if you answer anything wrong in the Immigrations, so be careful; don’t blabber there”.

--“We would rather want you to reach there safely instead of doing some misadventures and writing that in your blog later”.

Everyone in office had that much belief on me. So I told myself I have to be extra careful through the whole journey. So I wrapped by two luggages fully and wrote the name and US address in the outside. I kept my passport, US contact details printout, US dollars, Travelers’ cheque everything in my Passport holder and kept the holder and the files with all the documents in my hand baggage. Every 5 mins I was opening my passport holder, checking passport, money, cheque etc. And it reached 5 PM. So I decided to go to the counter and get the boarding pass. I stood up, again opening passport holder, checking passport, money, cheque etc.(you might get irritated if I say this again and again, so hereafter I will refer this sentence simply as **CHECKING**). I went to the counter.

**CHECKING**

I gave my ticket printout to the lady in the counter. She asked for passport and id proof. I gave that too. Then she tried to print the boarding pass, she swiped my passport in some machine, then she swiped again, then again, again………after few minutes she called her colleague and he tried the same again for few minutes. They were discussing something among themselves and I heard only words such as “issues”, ”record”, ”fail” etc. Then they called their supervisor who looked like my Account manager. Then he told them to try in few other ways and no use in that too. Time is 5:30 PM.  For every second it was getting late, my mind was thinking every possible way that I could’ve messed it up. “Did I missed some documents? Did I forget to do any formalities? Did I not follow all the steps? My VISA really not approved? Will they send me back? Will they detain me? Will they arrest me?”.

Then I asked them “was anything wrong from my side? Any mistake in my passport?”. They replied “No sir, nothing, it is just the system issue, you don’t need to worry, we’ll take care”. I remembered saying those exact same words to my customers in my job. I used to say that whenever I don’t know how to fix any issue, which means now they don’t know how to fix this one. Then at 5:45 PM finally they gave my Passport back and the boarding pass. I again asked “Is everything fine? No problem right?”. They again replied “No problem at all sir, now everything is fine”. I put my2 big bags in luggage which I wrapped fully. They registered it to auto transfer from Delhi to Chicago so I don’t need to check out and check in again. Then they gave the immigration form to fill. I heard that Immigration is very important process to clear, so I kept that form safely in my file and I went back and sat in the same place as before.

**CHECKING**

Time was 6 PM now. “Got the boarding pass, luggage checked in, why I’m waiting here? What I need to do next? What is that form they gave? Do I need to fill that now or in flight or in US?”.

I went to the counter where I got the boarding pass and asked that Old man who looked like my Account Manager, “What I need to do with this form?”. He replied, “fill it and go to Immigrations check, once that is cleared, complete the security check and go to gate for boarding”. “Oh!! That form is to fill now…”

I went near Immigration check where many people were filing the same form.

**CHECKING**

After filling two fields I didn’t know what to write in the next field, I asked someone who was standing nearby me, but he said he also don’t know. “What to do? Let’s go back to Account Manager”. I went to the same old person and asked the doubt and he explained and this happened couple more times. Coming back to Immigration check and going to that person and back and forth. Then somehow filled everything, cleared the Immigrations, security and reached the Gate. It was 6:30 PM.

**CHECKING**

My dad called me. 

Dad: Did you reach airport safely? Is everything fine?

Me: yes Dad, everything is fine, I got boarding Pass, now in the Gate.

Dad: You took all the documents right? Check once again.

Me: Yeah I got everything, all are clear.

Then I heard someone calling me as “Rajan………”.

I looked up, still keeping phone in my ear. The lady who gave me the Boarding pass was standing before me. She said “Rajan, you need to come with me for few minutes”. It was like a scene we used to see in many movies. Customs or Airport officials get the information in the last minute and asking the terrorist/smugglers in the same way before arresting. “Could you come with me for a minute?”.

I froze. I’m looking at her, with the phone in my ear and in the same position for few seconds.

Dad: Hello…Hello..

No answer from me.

Dad: Hello, you there? Everything is fine?

Me: Everything…………….hmm…..I’ll call you later.

******I'll Update the remaining later*********

My VISA Interview Experience

Nowadays, if you’re working in a software company, going onsite (esp. USA) is like an important field to be filled in Matrimonial Resume. I also thought that I can also go someday. Not that I wish to go to USA. I didn’t join college on my own wish, and I didn’t join job on my wish. Because that is what everyone else around me did. So I just followed them like in a sheep’s herd or you could say herd mentality. Now everyone in my herd wants to go to US, so I also wanted to go, that’s it. I didn’t have either confidence or enough stuff to search a job outside. So I decided, no matter how much time it takes to go to US in the current project, let’s just stay here and wait for our turn. But everything didn’t go in the way it is supposed to be. It seems they lost the ‘Approved’ stamp in the consulate office; they keep rejecting everyone’s VISA one by one. So I totally lost hope in that and decided to try for a job in another company in Chennai or Bangalore.

During that time I was asked to initiate the VISA processing in my Project. So I was preparing resume for both VISA and my job. I didn’t show any interest in the VISA processing, as I knew it’ll get rejected any way. So my Manager needed to remind me 10 times to do every single step. Then I took a photo for my VISA which looked very worse that anybody could say that my VISA will be rejected by just seeing that Photo itself. I just looked like a beggar in that. Some people suggested taking photo once again. I didn’t show any interest in that. Then I got the VISA Interview date finally.

A few days before the interview, I was called for briefing by my travel department. They explained the repeated questions asked in the interviews and how to answer them, and what are all the documents we need to carry with us. And finally they also explained that it is near impossible to get VISA no matter whatever we do or however we perform. In the briefing, I met a guy who‘s interview date and timing is same as of me. We were just chatting for some time. He applied for H1 VISA and he was pretty confident that he’ll get the VISA. As I’m applied for L1B and everyone who applied for L1B hot rejected in my project, I was pretty much confident that mine will be rejected.

The interview is on Monday. That guy called me on Friday evening and said “Shall we go together for interview in a Taxi; it’ll take just 500 rupees”. I asked why we can’t we go by auto/train as it will take much less amount. He said “if we go by auto/train we’ll get tired by the time we reach there, out shirts may get spoiled in sweats, so if we go by Taxi we can attend the interview freshly”. I thought “you will spend as much as you want as you’ll get the VISA, why I need to spend 250 for getting rejected”. But somehow I agreed for that. He called me again on Saturday and said “if we come back also in Taxi it seems it’ll take just 750, what do you say?” I thought of getting rid of him and going alone by Auto/train. But then I thought, if I go alone, anyway I’ll do lot of comedies in the name of adventure and I won’t reach there on time, so I agreed for that also.

Sunday morning I was searching for a shirt to wear for the interview. I found a white shirt in the midst of pile of (dirty) clothes. It was last wore by my roommate whose VISA also got rejected. I thought of washing and ironing that shirt to wear for the interview.

Sunday afternoon – I thought “what if I didn’t wash the shirt, only in the collar it is little dirty, let’s just apply soap just there and iron it”.

Sunday night – I thought “what if there is dirt in collar, any way it won’t be visible outside, let’s just iron and wear it for the interview.”

Monday morning, I woke up at 7 AM and thought “anyway it is going to get rejected, so who cares whether I iron the shirt or not”. I just stuffed the shirt onto my bag and wore one T-Shirt and got ready. The taxi came and he was already in there dressed like a District collector. He asked “are you going to wear T-Shirt?” I said “no, I have my shirt in the bag I’ll wear when we reach there”. Before he starts to ask anything about what I prepared for interview, I took one of my novels and started reading. When we reached Consulate office, I changed the T-shirt and wore my Shirt. He laughed and said “you didn’t iron your shirt at all?!?!......”. I felt like hitting him in the face. I didn’t reply anything. We went and stood in the long line outside the office.

It started drizzling and I used my file as umbrella to cover my head. There were some people selling umbrellas there and he said “Hey!! Lets buy an umbrella or our dress will become wet”. He asked the umbrella guy “how much is an umbrella?” he replied “small one is 100 and big one is 150”. He said “lets buy a big one so we both can cover our head”. I started calculating “for taxi 750, which will somehow become 800-850; umbrella 150; totally it will come around 500 each, hmm…this month I should start begging in the middle of the month itself”.

We went inside after sometime and got the tokens and were waiting. He asked me “hey!! Do you know one thing?” I asked “what?” he said “My girlfriend is waiting outside; I can’t wait for the interview to get over”. My empty stomach started burning like a stove full of gas. “Lucky *********, he is going to get VISA and his girl is waiting outside, did I ask him to tell me all these things *****”. Few minutes later his token number was called and the interview got over in 2 minutes and he got VISA. He said ‘All the best’ to me and went outside.

I was waiting alone and am really worried. The token number won’t be displayed anywhere. I have to listen when they call my number. For me, ‘Listening’ is as difficult as getting VISA, may be more than that. I waited for more than 30 minutes, yet my number has not been called. I started to worry much. Then after few minutes, they called some 7-8 numbers continuously and the numbers were in order. So I somehow listened to that and went and stood in the Gate 8. 7 members were standing in the line, 3 before me and 3 behind me and Interview was going on for one girl.

Time was 11:15. Waiting till 11:20, 11:25, 11:30…but still the interview is going on for that same girl. I thought the interview will be over in 2 minutes irrespective of the result. I peeped to see what is going on inside. The person taking interview would be around 50 years of age. The way he was talking to that girl and the way the girl is shaking her head, it didn’t look like an interview, it was like a student getting scolding from Principal. 11:40 and it was going on still. I got freaked out. I got worried as I didn’t prepare anything and I can’t just blabber for 30 minutes, which will be very embarrassing. I started looking through my resume and petition to see what are all mentioned there.

Then finally the girl came outside at 11:45, don’t know what the result is. The next guy went inside and said ‘Hi’ and came outside. When asked, he said the guy told him that he came to a wrong panel. The next guy went inside and the same happened. Then the next guy went inside and the interview started for him. I’m the next guy waiting outside. Then I just turned back and found that the 3 persons standing next to me were not there. I looked everywhere and I couldn’t find them. I don’t know where they went and I started worrying whether they called the numbers again to some other panel or not. I’m not sure whether I’m standing in the right queue. I got totally confused. Then the guy came outside and I went inside. Before seeing my token itself the guy inside asked me “why you want to go to US?” In confusion and fear, I started blabbering as “I work for TCS, going to Motorola..Onsite……..” and I got stuck. Then he said “you have come to the wrong panel my friend” and returned my token.

I came outside and started searching every panel searching for those 3 persons, but I couldn’t find them anywhere. I was roaming here and there for few minutes and stood still at one place not knowing what to do next. “I did it..I thought everything is going smooth, but here I’m, again messed up. The guy who came with me got VISA and romancing his girl outside, I’m here standing without knowing what to do, where to go; getting rejected after attending the interview is one thing, going back without attending??,it’ll be a shame and everybody is going to laugh at me. 1,37,000 rupees for sightseeing US consulate office???”

After few minutes I again started searching. ”how many time to search the same panels?”. Then I found 2 panels in the corner which is visible for human eye but me. Those 3 persons were standing there, I went and asked “why you guys came here?” One replied “previously they misread the numbers, they called again”. I asked “they called my number also?” He said he doesn’t know. However I stood in the same queue as I have no other option.

I remembered how I answered for the question in the previous panel, so I was preparing on what to say for that question. Everyone’s got finished and I entered inside. The interviewer is a lady and she asked the same question and I said something which I prepared outside. Then it went on for 2 minutes and I said many things as I did which I have never done in my life and won’t ever do in the future. Then she started stamping the passport. I peeped to look what it is, I could see only the letter ‘R’ in bold. I thought it is ‘Rejected’. She gave me my documents and threw the passport in the corner. I looked at the stampings, it is neither ‘Approved’ nor ‘Rejected’, it’s ‘Application Received’. I got confused totally and standing there itself for few seconds scratching my head. She started leaving for lunch and after watching me still standing, she asked ‘what?’ by shaking her head. I said “My passport??...” (In the History of VISA interviews I would have been the only person who asked the passport back voluntarily). She said that they will send through courier. Then only I realized that I got VISA.

It was unbelievable. I came to remember a saying by Orson Welles that “Nobody gets justice. People only get good luck or bad luck.” Here is Good luck for me. After I completely believed that I really got VISA, I called everyone to share the news.

In Phone:

Me: I got VISA.

Roommate: Really? Stop kidding…

Me: I got VISA

My Manager: What?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!???!!!!!..........(he shouted in the office).

Me: I got VISA

My Dad: ________________ (No answer…having tears in eyes).

It took some time for everyone to realize that I’m saying truth and to say ‘Congratulations’.

விசா இன்டர்வியு அனுபவம்

சாப்ட்வேர்-ல வேலை செஞ்சிகிட்டு வெளிநாடு போகலேன்னா பொன்னு கொடுக்க மாட்டாங்க போல இந்த காலத்துல. நானும் என்னைக்காவது போய்டலாம்னு நினைச்சுகிட்டு இருந்தேன். போகணும்னு ஆசை-லாம் ஒன்னும் கிடையாது. நான் ஆசை பட்டு காலேஜ்-ல சேரல, ஆசை பட்டு வேலைக்கு சேரல, செம்மறி ஆட்டு மந்தை மாதிரி எல்லாரும் என்ன பண்றாங்களோ அதை பண்றது தான் வழக்கம். இப்ப இருக்குற மந்தை-ல எல்லாரும் வெளிநாடு போக தான் முயற்சி பண்ணிட்டு இருந்தாங்க, அதனால நானும் போகணும்னு நினச்சேன் அவ்ளோதான். வெளிய வேலை தேடுற அளவுக்கு நம்மகிட்ட சரக்கும் கிடையாது, அதனால இருக்குற இடத்துலேயே எவ்ளோ நாள் இருந்தாலும் இருந்து போறது-நு நினைச்சிகிட்டு இருந்தேன். நம்ம நேரம் பாத்து கண்சொலேட் ஆபீஸ்-ல அப்ப்ருவ் அடிக்கிற ஸ்டாம்ப்-எ தொலச்சிடாங்க போல, லைன்-ஆ திருப்பி அனுப்பிட்டு இருந்தாங்க. அதனால அந்த நம்பிக்கை குறைஞ்சி வேர வேலை தேடுற முடிவுக்கு வந்தேன். அந்த நேரம் பாத்து விசா இனிஷியேட் பண்ண சொன்னாங்க ஆபீஸ்-ல. அதுக்கு ரெஸூம் தயார் பண்ணும்போதே வேலை தேடவும் ரெஸூம் தயார் செய்ய ஆரம்பிச்சேன். அப்பிடி இப்பிடின்னு ஒரு வழியா இன்டர்வியு டேட் வந்துச்சு. வேலைக்கு இல்ல..விசா-கு. நம்ம ரெஸூம் பாத்து ஒரு கம்பெனி காரனும் கூப்பிடல.

விசா ப்ரோசெசிங்-ல கொஞ்சம் கூட நான் ஈடுபாடு காட்டல, எப்பிடியும் ரிஜெக்ட் ஆகபோகுது-னு நினச்சு. ஒன்னொண்ணுக்கும் மேனேஜர் 10 தடவ சொன்னதுக்கு அப்புறம் தான் செஞ்சிகிட்டு இருந்தேன். விசா-கு ஒரு போட்டோ எடுத்தேன் பாருங்க, முகம் கூட கழுவாம அப்டியே போனேன், பிச்சைக்காரன் மாதிரியே இருந்தேன் போட்டோ-ல. அப்படி இப்படி-னு ஒரு வழியா இன்டெர்வியு டேட் வந்துச்சு. அதுக்கு கொஞ்ச நாள் முன்னாடி ப்ரீபிங்-னு சொல்லி டிராவல் டிபார்ட்மென்ட்-ல கூப்பிடாங்க. எப்பிடி பேசணும், என்னென்ன எடுத்துட்டு போகணும்-னு எல்லாத்தையும் சொல்லி கடைசியா என்ன பண்ணாலும் கிடைக்காது-நும் சொல்லி ரெம்ப நம்பிக்கை-யா பேசினாங்க. எனக்கு இன்டர்வியு இருந்த அதே நேரத்துல இன்னொருத்தனுக்கும் இருந்துச்சு. அவனும் ப்ரீபிங்-கு வந்து இருந்தான். கொஞ்ச நேரம் மொக்க போட்டுட்டு இருந்தோம். அவன் H1 விசா அப்ளை பண்ணிருந்தான். கிடச்சிடும்னு கொஞ்சம் தைரியமாவே இருந்தான். எனக்கு L1B விசா, அதனால எப்பிடியும் ரிஜெக்ட் ஆகிடும்னு தைரியமா இருந்தேன்.

திங்கட் கிழமை இன்டர்வியு. வெள்ளிகிழமை எனக்கு போன் பண்ணினான், "திங்கட்கிழமை சேந்து போலாம், போறதுக்கு டாக்ஸி புக் பண்ணலாம், போறதுக்கு 500 தான் ஆகும்"-னு சொன்னான். 500 -னு சொன்னதும் எனக்கு பக்குன்னு இருந்துச்சு. வெட்டியா 250 செலவு பண்ணனுமான்னு யோசிச்சேன். "ஆட்டோ/டிரைன்-ல போனா கம்மியாதான ஆகும்"-னு சொன்னேன். டாக்ஸி-ல போன பிரெஷ்-ஆ போய் அட்டென்ட் பண்ணலாம், ஆட்டோ-ல போன களைச்சி போய்டுவோம்-னு சொன்னான். "அடப்பாவி, உனக்கு கிடைச்சிரும் நீ எவளோ வேணா செலவு செய்வ, என்னை ஏன்டா போண்டி ஆக்குற"-னு மனசுக்குள்ள நினைச்சிகிட்டேன். அப்புறம் போனா போகுதுன்னு சரி-னு சொல்லிட்டேன். சனிக்கிழமை மறுபடியும் கால் பண்ணினான், போய்ட்டு திரும்பவும் கார்-ல வந்தா 750 தான் ஆகும், அதுலயே வந்துடலாம்-னு சொன்னான். கொய்யால!! மறுபடியும் மறுபடியும் கடுபேத்திறானே, இவன விட்டுட்டு தனியா ஆட்டோ/டிரைன்-லையே போய்டலாம்னு யோசிச்சேன், அப்புறம் எப்டியும் நான் தனியா போனா ஏகப்பட்ட காமெடி பண்ணுவேன், கூட யாராவது இருந்த ஒழுங்கா போய் சேரலாம்னு அதுக்கும் சரி-னு சொன்னேன்.

ஞாயிற்றுகிழமை காலைல, போட்டுட்டு போக சட்டை இருக்கானு தேடிட்டு இருந்தேன், என்னோட ஒரு வெள்ளை சட்டை இருந்துச்சு,கடைசியா என் ரூம்மேட் போட்டுட்டு போனது, அவன் விசா இண்டர்வியு-கு(அதுவும் ரிஜெக்ட் தான்). எங்கயோ குப்பைல கிடந்துச்சு, சரி துவைச்சு அயன் பண்ணி போட்டுட்டு போலாம்னு நினச்சேன

ஞாயிற்றுகிழமை மதியம், - துவைச்சி ஆகனுமானு யோசிச்சேன், சரி காலர்-ல மட்டுந தான் அழுக்கா இருக்கு, அங்க மட்டும் லைட்-ஆ அலசிட்டு அயன் பண்ணிடலாம்னு நினச்சேன்.
ஞாயிற்றுகிழமை மாலை - சரி இப்ப அலசில-னா என்ன?, காலர்-ல தான அழுக்கு, வெளிய தெரியவா போகுது?,அயன் மட்டும் பண்ணிடலாம்-னு நினச்சேன


திங்கட் கிழமை காலை-ல ஏழு மணிக்கு எந்திரிச்சேன், ரிஜெக்ட் ஆகபோரதுக்கு இப்ப அயனிங் ஒரு கேடா?-னு நினச்சிட்டு சட்டைய அப்டியே சுருட்டி பை-ல போட்டுட்டு, ஒரு டி-ஷர்ட் மாட்டிட்டு கிளம்பினேன்.

டாக்ஸி வந்துச்சு, அவன் அயன் பண்ண ஷர்ட்,டை-லாம் போட்டுட்டு டிப்டாப்-ஆ வந்து இருந்தான், "என்ன டி-ஷர்ட் போட்டுட்டு தான் வர போறயா"-னு கேட்டான். "இல்ல ஷர்ட் பை-ல இருக்கு,அங்க போய் போட்டுக்குவேணு" சொன்னேன். "இவன் எப்டியும் தொன தொன-னு பேசி கடுப்பு ஏத்துவானு நினச்சு, வண்டி-ல உக்காந்ததும் ஒரு நாவல் எடுத்து படிக்க ஆரம்பிச்சுட்டேன். கண்சொலேட் ஆபீஸ் பக்கத்துல வந்ததும் ஷர்ட் எடுத்து போட்டேன். "அய்யய்ய!!! ஷர்ட் அயன் பண்ணவே இல்லையா"-னு கேட்டான். ஓங்கி மூஞ்சிலையே குத்தலாம்னு இருந்துச்சு. எதுவும் சொல்லாம சட்டைய மாட்டிட்டு போய் லைன்-ல நின்னோம்.

கொஞ்ச நேரத்துல மழை தூர ஆரம்பிச்சுது, பைல்-ஆ தலைக்கு வெச்சி நின்னுட்டு இருந்தேன். மழை-கு ஏத்த மாதிரி நிறைய பேர் குடை வித்துட்டு இருந்தாங்க. "அய்யய்யோ!! சட்டை எல்லாம் நினையுது, ஒரு குடை வாங்கலாம்"-னு சொன்னான். குடைக்காரனிடம் "எவ்வளவு பா"-னு கேட்டான். "சின்னது 100 , பெருசு 150 "-னு சொன்னான். "பெருசே வாங்கிக்கலாம் அப்பதான் ரெண்டு பேரும் நிக்கலாம்"-னு சொன்னான். அதுவும் வாங்கியாச்சு. நான் மனசுக்குள்ள கணக்கு போட ஆரம்பிச்சேன், 750 டாக்ஸி-கு அது எப்பிடியும் 800 ஆயிடும், குடை 150 , எப்டியும் ரவுண்டு-ஆ ஆளுக்கு 500 . எப்பவும் மாசக்கடைசில தான் பிச்சை எடுப்போம், இந்த மாசம் கொஞ்சம் முன்னாடியே எடுக்க வேண்டியதுதான்னு நினைச்சிகிட்டேன்.

கொஞ்ச நேரத்துல உள்ள போய் உக்காந்துட்டோம், டோக்கன் நம்பர்-உம் கொடுத்தாச்சு. கொஞ்ச நேரம் கழிச்சு "உனக்கு ஒன்னு தெரியுமா?"-னு கேட்டான். என்ன?-னு கேட்டேன். "என் கேர்ள் பிரண்ட் வெளிய காத்துட்டு இருக்கா, நான் ரொம்ப எக்ஸ்சைடெட்-ஆ இருக்கேன்"-னு சொன்னான். "வக்காளி நானும் வந்ததுல இருந்து பாத்துட்டு இருக்கேன் கடுப்பு மேல கடுப்பு ஏத்திட்டே இருக்க நீ!!!"-னு கவுண்டமணி பாணி-ல திட்டி ரெண்டு அடி போடலாம்னு தோனுச்சு. கொஞ்ச நேரத்துல அவன கூப்டாங்க ரெண்டு நிமிஷத்துல முடிஞ்சுது, அப்பருவ்-உம் ஆகிடுச்சு. சந்தோசமா பிகர்-அ பாக்க வெளிய போனான்.
நான் காத்துட்டு இருந்தேன். டோக்கன் நம்பர் வேற எங்கயும் டிஸ்ப்ளே ஆகாதாம், கூப்பிடும்போது கவனிக்கனுமாம். அதனால கொஞ்சம் பயமாவே இருந்துச்சு. நான் பாட்டுக்கு எங்கயாவது பராக்கு பாத்துட்டு விட்டுவிடுவேனோ-னு. ரொம்ப நேரம் கழிச்சு ஒரு பத்து நம்பர்-அ லைன்-ஆ கூப்டாங்க, லைன்-ஆ கூப்டதால ஏதோ கவனிச்சு போய் லைன்-ல நின்னுட்டேன். கேட் நம்பர் 8 .இன்டர்வியு எடுக்குறவன் ஒரு 50 +-ல இருந்தான். என் கூட கூபிடவங்க எல்லாம் ஒரே லைன்-ல நின்னோம். எனக்கு பின்னாடி மூணு பேரு முன்னாடி மூணு பேரு. ஒரு பொண்ணுக்கு இண்டர்வியு போய்ட்டு இருந்துச்சு.

மணி அப்போ 11 :15 . 11:20 ஆச்சு, 11:25 ஆச்சு, 11:30 ஆச்சு, ஆனா இன்னும் அந்த ஒரே பொண்ணுக்கு இன்டர்வியு போய்ட்டு இருந்துச்சு. approve /reject எதுவா இருந்தாலும் ரெண்டு நிமிஷத்துல முடிஞ்சுடும்-னு நினச்சா இது என்ன கொடுமை-னு கொஞ்சம் பக்குன்னு இருந்துச்சு. என்னதான் நடக்குது-னு கொஞ்சம் எட்டி பாத்தேன், அது இன்டர்வியு மாதிரி-யே தெர்ல, ஏதோ தப்பு பண்ண ஸ்டுடென்ட் பிரின்சிபால்-ட திட்டு வாங்கிட்டு இருந்த மாதிரி இருந்துச்சு.11:40 ஆச்சு, ஆனா இன்னும் முடிஞ்சா பாடு இல்ல. எனக்கு புளிய கரைக்க ஆரம்பிச்சுது, ரிஜெக்ட் பண்றதுக்கு எதுக்குடா இவ்ளோ நேரம், சட்டு புட்டு-னு அனுப்ப வேண்டியது தான-னு நினச்சிட்டு இருந்தேன். அப்பதான் ரெசூம், பெட்டிசன்-னு எடுத்து என்ன இருக்கு ஏது-னு பாத்துட்டு இருந்தேன். அப்புறம் ஒரு வழிய அந்த பொண்ணு வெளிய வந்துச்சு, ரிசல்ட் தெர்ல. அடுத்த ஆள் உள்ள போனான், உடனே வெளிய வந்துட்டான்.என்னனு கேட்ட தப்பான பேனல்-னு சொல்லி திருப்பி அனுபிட்டானாம்.அப்டியே அடுத்து போன 2 பேரையும் அனுபிட்டான். அப்புறம் இன்னொருத்தன் போனான், அவனுக்கு இன்டர்வியு போய்ட்டு இருந்துச்சு, அடுத்து நான். தயாரா இருந்தேன். அப்ப தான் கொஞ்சம் பின்னாடி திரும்பி பாத்தேன், பின்னாடி நின்னுட்டு இருந்த பக்கிங்க எவனையும் காணோம். என்னடா ஒரு பக்கியையும் காணோமே-னு சுத்தி முத்தி தேட ஆரம்பிச்சேன், எங்கயும் காணோம். "ஒரு வேலை நம்பர்-லாம்
மறுபடியும் வேற பேனல்-கு கூப்டு இருப்பாங்களோ? அய்யய்யோ கவனிக்கலையே, இப்ப நிக்குறது சரியான பேனாலன்னு தெர்லயே!!... ". உள்ள இருந்தவன் வெளில வந்துட்டான், அடுத்து நான் போனேன்.

டோக்கன் நம்பர் பார்க்கும் முன்னாடியே "நீ எதுக்கு அமெரிக்கா போகணும்"-னு கேட்டான். நான் இருந்த குழப்பத்துல எனக்கு வார்த்தையே வரல......."நான் TCS , motorola , அமெரிக்கா, onsite "-னு ஏதோதோ உளறிட்டு இருந்தேன். டோக்கன் நம்பர் பாத்துட்டு "நீங்க தப்பான பேனல்-கு வந்து இருக்கீங்க"-னு சொல்லிட்டா
ன்.
நான் நினச்சது நடந்துடுச்சு, என்னடா இன்னும் ஏதும் காமெடி பண்ணலயே-னு நினச்சேன், பண்ணிட்டேன். இப்ப பின்னாடி நின்னவங்க எங்க போனைங்கனு தெர்ல, நானும் எல்லா பேனல்-கும் போய் தேடி பாத்தேன், எங்கயும் இல்ல. அங்க இங்க தேடிட்டு கொஞ்ச நேரம் அப்பிடியே சிலை மாதிரி நின்னுட்டு இருந்தேன். கூட வந்தவன் விசா அப்ப்ருவ் ஆகி அவன் ஆள் கூட கொஞ்சிகிட்டு இருக்கான், நான் இங்க என்ன பண்றது, எங்க போறதுன்னு தெரியாம பேந்த பேந்த முழிச்சுட்டு நின்னுட்டு இருக்கேன். அட்டென்ட் பண்ணி ரிஜக்ட் ஆனா பரவால, அட்டென்ட் பண்ணாமலே போனா காரி துப்புவாங்களே. மறுபடியும் தேட ஆரம்பிச்சேன். இருக்குற 8 பேனல்-அ எத்தனை தடவ தான் தேடுறது. அப்புறம் பாத்தா 2 பேனல் ஒரு மூலைல வெளிய இருந்து பாத்தா தெரியாத மாதிரி இருந்துச்சு. அங்க போய் பாத்தேன், அங்க தான் நின்னுட்டு இருந்தாங்க அந்த நாலு பேரும். அதுல ஒருத்தன்கிட்ட கேட்டேன் "என்னங்க அங்க இருந்து இங்க வந்துடீங்க?"-னு. "நம்பர்-லம் முன்ன தப்பா கூபிட்டுடான்களாம், மறுபடியும் இந்த பேனல்-கு கூப்டாங்க"-னு சொன்னான். "என் நம்பர் கூபிட்டன்களா"-னு கேட்டேன். "தெரில"-னு சொல்லிட்டான். சரி இதுவாதான் இருக்கும்-னு ஒரு நம்பிக்கை-ல நின்னேன். எல்லாரும் போனதுக்கு அப்புறம் கடசியா நின்னுட்டு இருந்தேன்.

ஏற்கனவே அங்க கேள்வி கேட்டப்போ உளறினது ஞாபகம் வந்துச்சு. அதனால கொஞ்சம் என்ன சொல்றதுன்னு யோசிச்சு வச்சேன். அப்புறம் ஒரு வழியா எல்லாதுக்கும் முடிஞ்சு நான் உள்ள போனேன். இன்டர்வியு எடுத்தது ஒரு பொண்ணு. அதே கேள்வி தான் முதல்ல. ஏதோ சொன்னேன். அப்புறம் ஏதோதோ கேக்க நானும் கதை அளந்து விட்டேன், 2 நிமிடம் கூட இருக்காது, ஸ்டாம்ப் எடுத்து பாஸ்போர்ட்-ல குத்த ஆரம்பிச்சுட்டா. கொஞ்சம் எட்டி பாத்தேன், ஒன்னும் தெரில, ஏதோ "R " எழுத்து மட்டும் பளிச்சுன்னு தெரிஞ்சுது. சரி ரிஜக்ட் தான் போல-னு நினச்சேன். அப்புறம் எல்லா பேப்பர்-உம் திருப்பி குடுத்துட்டா. பாஸ்போர்ட்-அ எடுத்து மூளை-ல போட்டுட்டா. அடிச்ச ஸ்டாம்ப்-அ பாத்தேன். approved -உம் இல்ல rejected -உம் இல்ல. Application Received -னு இருந்துச்சு. எனக்கு ஒன்னும் புரியல. அங்கேயே கொஞ்ச நேரம் தலைய சொறிஞ்சிகிட்டு நின்னேன். அவ மதியம் சாப்பாட்டுக்கு கிளம்ப ஆரம்பிச்சுட்டா. நான் நின்னுட்டு இருக்குறத பாத்து "என்ன?"-னு சைகைலையே கேட்டா. "my passport ??" -னு கேட்டேன். (விசா இன்டர்வியு வரலாற்றிலேயே பாஸ்போர்ட்-அ தானா திருப்பிக்கேட்ட ஒரே ஆள் நானா தான் இருப்பேன்). கொரியர்-ல அனுப்புவோம்-னு சொன்னா. கொஞ்ச நேரத்துக்கு அப்புறம் தான் விளங்குச்சு எனக்கு விசா கிடைச்சிடுச்சு-னு. என்னால நம்பவே முடியல. வெளிய வந்து ரொம்ப நேரம் யோசிச்சுட்டு இருந்தேன். சுக்கிரன் எங்கயோ அடிக்கிறான்-னு சொல்வாங்களே அது இது தானோ-னு நினச்சேன்.அப்புறம் ஒரு வழியா உண்மையாவே கிடைச்சிடுச்சு-னு நானே நம்பினதுக்கு அப்புறம் எல்லாருக்கும் போன் பண்ணி சொன்னேன்.

போனில்:
நான்:விசா கிடைச்சிடுச்சு
ரூம் மேட்: டேய் உண்மையாடா?? விளையாடாதடா.......

நான்:விசா கிடைச்சிடுச்சு
மேனேஜர்: என்ன!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!!!!!..............(ஆபீஸ்-ல கத்தவே செஞ்சுட்டார்)

நான்:விசா கிடைச்சிடுச்சு
அப்பா: __________________ (பதிலே இல்ல...ஆனந்த கண்ணீர்)

ஒரு வழியா உண்மைய ஜீரணிச்சு congratulations சொல்றதுக்கு எல்லாத்துக்குமே கொஞ்ச நேரம் ஆச்சு..