F1 VISA Interview

The thing that keeps hunting all students admitted in the US Universities, is the F1 Visa interview.
This blog is about my Visa interview experience, and a few tips derived from my experience.

I had my Visa interview at the mumbai consulate on the 5th of july 2007, at 7:45 am. I had an admit to UCLA for a MS in EE, and had partial funding in the form of RA ships for the first two quarters.

The preparation for the Visa interview took me almost a month. Guess the most gruelling part of the VISA preparation is getting the proofs for your finances in place.

You are supposed to get an affidavit from your sponsors stating that they are willing and able to fund your education in the US. In my case, I was showing a joint sponsorship from my dad and uncle. Since my uncle stayed in a different city the affidavit had to back and forth by courier for signatures.

Bank passbooks are sufficient as a proof, for your bank balances and a bank statement might be redundant if you are carrying the passbook. However, if you do not have a passbook, you would have to go to the bank and get a bank statement issued, along with the record of your transactions. I had carried the list of transactions for the last six months. (I guess it is not a problem even if you do not show transactions for all six months)

You would need to carry the original FD receipts, LIC policies, PF statements etc. Further, get the salary statements of your sponsors and yourself (if applicable).

As far as non financial documents are concerned, get the original mark sheets, degree certificates, GRE and TOEFL score reports. If you have any special merit certificates be sure to take them along. The "harmonium folder" as it is called, is quite convenient since it allows you to go to the appropriate label and pull of the document much faster than a plastic file. More often than not, you would be carrying a whole bunch of documents to the interview and this folder comes in handy.

At the Mumbai Consulate, you need to submit the DS forms and a copy of the I-20 three days in advance at the VFS application centre. These forms are not accepted by courier and have to be handed over personally. However, you can ask some relative / friend to do it for you. There are no questions asked during this submission, so you need not plan a travel to Mumbai just for the sake of submitting these documents. During submission you would be asked for a lounge facility. If you are an outstation candidate, you might want to take this service.

So, coming back to my interview experience - I was put up at Kolaba. I managed to reach the consulate by 7.15 am. I had availed the lounge facility. To get in you need to show the interview appointment letter and the coupon that was issued when you booked the lounge facility. You would be asked to go into the locker room. You can deposit your bag here. Cellphones and any other electronic equipment is to be switched off and kept in the bag. You are also not allowed to carry any glue stick / stapler. All such things go into the bag which you would keep at the locker. You are allowed to carry a wallet.

I came out of the locker room and wanted to go to the lounge to have some snacks. But it was around 7.25 then, and they had already given instructions to candidates for the 7.45 interview slot, to board the bus. This bus (has a US flag painted on it) takes you from the VFS center to the consulate, which is a short distance from the VFS center.

At the consulate you have to stand in a queue. There are separate queues for immigrant and non - immigrant Visas. The immigrant queue consists of a lot of gujjus. Many of them did not seem to know english well and I was wondering how they would manage after immigrating to the US. At the entry of the consulate you need to show your passport, appointment letter and the I-20.

Inside, there is a security check, where you are frisked and passed through a metal detector. You need to remove your belt and wallet at the security check. These are given back to you when you pass through the detector. Then, you go in and join another queue. Here you hand over you passport, I-20 and the appointment letter. That guy checks the time on the appointment letter and throws it into a bin! He would then give you your DS forms (submitted earlier), and a pink token. He packs all that material up in a folder. Let it stay arranged the way it is, else all those important documents can get messed up. And yes, he also gives you a small wooden stick, which you need to return back after the interview. You don't use the wooden stick anywhere, but I guess it is means by which they keep a check on the number of candidates inside the consulate.

Now you have the folder, the small wooden stick and the pink slip with you, along with your harmonium folder of course. You would now join another queue for fingerprinting. The guy across the counter would ask you to put your index finger on the scanner. He would take away all the documents from you, and you would now have only the pink slip, wooden stick and the harmonium folder.

You now have to wait in the hall and await the announcement of your token number. The announcements are quite clear, but you better be alert! After your announcement is made, you just need to rush to the corresponding counter and form a queue. Remember that there is no order either in calling out of the token number, or the queue that you form outside the interview booth.

So, I did all of this and joined the queue, I was second in the queue. The guy in front of me was quizzed for some time and he came out smiling and without a passport.

I entered the interview booth. This guy looked like a desi, but had a clear American accent. This is how the conversation went:

VO: give me the pink slip
Me: Good morning .. (handing over the pink slip)

He did not give any reaction at all.. So, I thought may be he is in for grilling me..
Meanwhile he takes a look at my DS form..

VO: So, you have partial funding from the university.
Me: Yes sir, I have a RA ship for the fall and winter quarters. I also have a RA ship for the summer quarter, but that amount does not reflect on to the i-20
VO: and.. you are working with Qualcomm?
Me: Yes sir
VO: So, what was your project at Qualcomm?
Me: I worked with memory BIST blah.. blah.. ( he was not listening to me and was typing something on his computer)
VO: (interrupting my explanation of my work..) So, did you develop any application for QA?
Me: Well, I did develop some methodologies for verifying the memory BIST functionality.
VO: So, what is the end product of your work?
Me: It is a chip which goes into cell phones.
VO: Ok. Your Visa is approved. The passport will reach you in three working days.

Thats it.. no queries on finances. I did not take out a single document from the harmonium folder.

The VISA interview was too easy.. and I felt as if all that running around preparation all documents was a waste. But, I might have been lucky. You HAVE to carry every thing with you.
So, go prepared and all the best.
Do, contact me if you have any further questions.

campus interview preparation - EEE

I have tried to put together this list which might help to prepare for campus interviews.

Sedra Smith

- Chap 3: basics on MOS (Ensure you can answer questions like - Whats is Vt? What factors does it depend on etc.
- Chap 4: Read the basic Amp configurations. (There is a nice figure in this chapter which you could use)
- Chap 6: Contains current mirrors and stuff (read through it. Imp is to know that design IC amplifiers cannot use discrete resistors)
- Chap 8 : Very IMP. Contains basics of feedback theory and is explained well.

Analog Electronics.

- read the basic confs of an OPAMP circuit.
(you can leave things like Sallen Key filters and stuff and read them if you find time)
but ensure u read basic filters and oscillators.. like the Wien Bridge .. etc


< style="font-weight: bold;"> Basics of R/L/C circuit analysis. (bobrow / Web)


Digi - go through slides.
try to write FSM's for some circuits. Eg. a printer gets a reset / start pulse. (described operations) .. and ask u draw a state machine.

KNOWING ABOUT SET UP AND HOLD TIMES IS A MUST!!

Kang - read the Inverter characteristics.

IN VERILOG -
know about blocking, non blocking.
always, assign, initial.
Why is initial not synthesizable?
whats is slack?

--- fork / join in verilog

- Do some puzzles. Look at prev. papers. U can use R.S. Agrawal to refresh basics on ur algebra.
- Use shakuntala devi for some good puzzles. But puzzles from apti papers might be more helpful

What else can be done?

- Basics of CAS. (FT, FFT)
- Mu. P. (addressing logic, Mem / IO addressing, OPcodes and stuff, odd - even banks, Little endian - big endian, etc.)


Look at:

http://www.vyomworld.com/placementpapers/index.asp


If you need to look for a sample resume, you could refer:

http://www.geocities.com/vaibhav_karkare/vaibhav_resume

GRE Questions

I have listed down some GRE questions . They should be a good practice resource:
The questions are not in any specific order. Not organizing them makes the practice better!


ANGUINE

A. prone
B. pessimistic
C. hindmost
D. idyllic
E. sordid

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Someone sanguine is cheerful and optimistic, and is therefore not pessimistic.

EXECRATE

A. hoist
B. engender
C. salute
D. deter
E. reek

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

To execrate is to vilify, whereas to salute is to prais

14. NOISOME

A. olfactory
B. proud
C. quiet
D. sufficient
E. innocuous

Correct Answer: E

Explanation:

Something noisome is disgusting, whereas something innocuous is harmless and inoffensive.

20. APPROPRIATE

A. furnish
B. deny
C. refract
D. rehash
E. report

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

To appropriate means to take for one's own use; to furnish is to supply.

0. PECCADILLO

A. innocent mistake
B. venal sin
C. sliver
D. rational thought
E. misconception

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

A peccadillo is a minor crime or sin; a venal sin is a serious offence.

14. ARCHAISM

A. standpoint
B. expiation
C. neologism
D. plagiarism
E. platitude

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

An archaism is an outdated expression; a neologism is a newly coined expression.

6. AIL

A. ratify
B. contemplate
C. smolder
D. thrive
E. stifle

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

To ail is to be ill and unhealthy; to thrive is to grow well and healthily.

17. PRONE

A. upright
B. rancid
C. pneumatic
D. purulent
E. slanting

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

To be in a prone position is to be horizontal, and not upright or vertical.

19. UNQUALIFIED

A. putative
B. dubious
C. certain
D. distinctive
E. argumentative

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

An unqualified success would be a complete and certain success, and would not be dubious or doubtful.

7. INTENSIFY

A. devastate
B. cumulate
C. delineate
D. slake
E. exacerbate

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

To intensify is to make tronger; to slake is to quench.

11. PREEMINENCE

A. monarchy
B. ingenuity
C. dismay
D. vanity
E. obscurity

Correct Answer: E

Explanation:

Preeminence is fame or prominence; obscurity is the opposite of fame. <-- sounds weird but one meaning of obscure is not prominent / well known

1. TENUOUS

A. flimsy
B. notorious
C. frivolous
D. ironclad
E. thoughtful

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

Something tenuous is not firm; something ironclad is very firm.

(confused tenuous with tenacious0

2. QUAFF

A. pander
B. gulp
C. decimate
D. chew
E. sip

Correct Answer: E

Explanation:

To quaff is to gulp down a drink; to sip is to take small mouthfuls.

5. SHROUD

A. peak
B. veil
C. expose
D. eschew
E. unwind

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

To shroud is to cover, and is the opposite of expose.

. SPURN

A. convene
B. jeopardize
C. woo
D. shun
E. evade

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

To spurn is to shun, push aside; to woo is to make approaches to.

11. INDISPOSED

A. indigent
B. hale
C. jubilant
D. simpering
E. disinclined

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Someone indisposed is ill, whereas someone hale is healthy.

17. DICHOTOMY

A. disparity
B. equivocation
C. monarchy
D. altercation
E. synthesis

Correct Answer: E

Explanation:

A dichotomy is a branching into two parts. The best opposite is synthesis which is joining.

19. ARCHETYPAL

A. generalized
B. idiosyncratic
C. salacious
D. apocryphal
E. consanguine

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Something archetypal is typical, whereas something idiosyncratic is quirky.

BURLESQUE

A. pantomime
B. tragedy
C. stanza
D. musical
E. rhetoric

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Burlesque is comic; whereas tragedy is serious.

6. STOMACH

A. inter
B. placate
C. repudiate
D. decant
E. eviscerate

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

To stomach something is to tolerate it; to repudiate something is to shun it.

8. BECLOUD

A. mandate
B. illuminate
C. emerge
D. dissipate
E. encumber

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

To becloud is to obscure; to illuminate is to make clear.

11. CHAFF

A. raiment
B. nostrum
C. stalk
D. floret
E. kernel

Correct Answer: E

Explanation:

The chaff is the outer part of the grain (the aste); the kernel is the center part (the essential part).

12. LABORED

A. nuanced
B. jejune
C. fluent
D. amusing
E. gratis

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Labored speech is not fluent (expressed with ease) because labored means something done with difficulty or something not subtle.

14. ABEYANCE

A. desuetude
B. cacophony
C. ascendancy
D. quiescence
E. rebellion

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Something in abeyance is not in active use. Ascendancy is a suitable opposite because it means on the increase, or rising.

17. CHAMPION

A. usurp
B. eulogize
C. assert
D. fail
E. oppose

Correct Answer: E

Explanation:

To champion is to support, therefore, to oppose is the obvious opposite

Sentence Completion:

All European countries are seeking to diminish the check upon individual ____ which state examinations with their ____ growth have bought in their train.

A. rights - liberating
B. liberties - empowering
C. spontaneity - tyrannous
D. foibles - inevitable
E. creativity - soporific

Clue: The sentence means that the countries are seeking to diminish (reduce) the check on individual freedom which state examinations impose. This suggests that almost all of the word choices (except foibles) for the first blank might work. So we look at the second blank. If the examinations are opposing freedom, then we need a negative word. Tyrannous fits the bill.
(empowering = giving power; spontaneity = impulsiveness, freedom from restraint; tyrannous = harsh, repressive; foibles = quirks; inevitable = cannot be avoided; soporific = sleep inducing)

If there is nothing to absorb the energy of sound waves, they travel on ____ , but their intensity ____ as they travel further from their source.

A. erratically - mitigates
B. eternally - alleviates
C. forever - increases
D. steadily - stabilizes
E. indefinitely - diminishes

indefinitely - diminishes
1. The conclusion of his argument, while ____ , is far from ____ .

A. stimulating - interesting
B. worthwhile - valueless
C. esoteric - obscure
D. germane - relevant
E. abstruse - incomprehensible

abstruse - incomprehensible

Antonym:

1. TILE : MOSAIC
a. wood : totem
b. stich : sampler
c. ink : scorll
d. pedestal : column
e. tapestry : rug

2. EUPHEMISM : OFFENSE
a. rhetoric : persuation
b. prevarication : truth
c. metaphor : description
d. repetition : boredom
e. conciliation : appeasement

3. CONTRACT : IMPLODE
a. expand : swell
b. descend : plummet
c. add : accelerate
d. cool : solidify
e. strech : flex


4.COHABIT : RESIDE
a. conspire : plot
b. coincide : contradict
c. secrete : conceal
d. infiltrate : influence
e. sentence : prosecute


5. ATTACK : VANQUISHED
A. woo :adored
b. smother : choked
c. spy : investigated
d. goad : provoked
e. guess: calculated


Answers
1) B ( got it wrong...but it was easy )
2) B (bridge nahin bana paya...guessed :C )
3) B
4) A
5) its D.......i was confused between C & D...dint find explanation for this convincing...with the bridge meantion C also goes fine.




1. TILE : MOSAIC
a. wood : totem
b. stich : sampler
c. ink : scorll
d. pedestal : column
e. tapestry : rug

Answer: B
Bridge: X is a small part of Y, the whole (or, in other words: many Xs make up a Y). So just as many small tiles make up a mosaic, many small stitches make up a sampler. Answer E doesn't work, because a tapestry, as a decorated and woven piece of fabric, is more of a synonym for rug - many tapestries do not make up a rug.

2. EUPHEMISM : OFFENSE
a. rhetoric : persuation
b. prevarication : truth
c. metaphor : description
d. repetition : boredom
e. conciliation : appeasement

Answer: I'd say B.
Bridge: X is used to avoid Y. So the aim of a euphemism (like 'pass away' instead of 'die') is to avoid causing offense, and prevarication is used to avoid telling the truth. As for the other answers, A, C and E don't have Xs which are used to *avoid* the Ys (rhetoric is often used to persuade, metaphors are used to describe, conciliation is used to appease), while in D, the X *causes* Y.

3. CONTRACT : IMPLODE
a. expand : swell
b. descend : plummet
c. add : accelerate
d. cool : solidify
e. strech : flex

Answer: B
Bridge: Y is a more extreme form of X. When an object contracts, it's made smaller and/or tighter; when it implodes, it becomes so small and/or tight that it collapses in on itself completely. (Hope you like my very scientific explanation ) In the same way, to 'descend' is just to 'move downwards', whereas to 'plummet' is to fall headlong downwards - quickly. I think I see why you wanted to choose D - were you thinking of 'solidify' as a more extreme form of 'cool' (i.e. 'frozen solid' = solidified?). For that answer, I'd say the bridge isn't quite right - cooling doesn't necessarily have anything to do with solidification. When you're hot and cooled by a fan or air conditioning, you don't turn solid. As for the other answers, A and E have X and Ys that are more or less synonymous (expand = swell, stretch = flex), and C doesn't make much sense (adding doesn't have anything to do with accelerating - unless maybe adding speed?)

4.COHABIT : RESIDE
a. conspire : plot
b. coincide : contradict
c. secrete : conceal
d. infiltrate : influence
e. sentence : prosecute

This one is a bit fiendish . I like it. At first I thought the bridge was just: X is synonymous with Y. But that means that both A and C would fit, so the bridge needs tightening. So:
Answer: A
Bridge: X is Y, done jointly. One person can 'reside', but 'cohabitation' involves (at least) two. One person can 'plot', but to 'conspire' needs at least two. The trick to this question is in the 'co' prefix - it means 'together' (and 'con' means 'together with'). So: COhabit - to live together; CONspire - to plot together. The evil testmakers have tried to throw you with trick answer B - COincide (which does indeed mean to 'occur together'), but you know it can't be right because the bridge doesn't work: 'coincide' doesn't mean two people 'contradicting' together.

5. ATTACK : VANQUISHED
A. woo :adored
b. smother : choked
c. spy : investigated
d. goad : provoked
e. guess: calculated

Answer: D
Bridge: X is done with a view to Y. You attack someone with a view to vanquishing (defeating) them; you goad someone with a view to provoking them. B doesn't quite work because of a technicality: you don't smother with a view to choking, you smother with a view to suffocating (as far as I know - not having had personal experience of this! )

gre_experience

I completed the GRE exam and thought that I could possibly share a few experiences related to it. Since my GRE preparation was done while I was working, this blog could possibly help people who are working and who are planning to take up the GRE. Here are a few things that I would like to quote from my experience:

How much time should be devoted for the GRE preparation?

The single largest component while preparing for the GRE is to get the word lists thoroughly memorized. Though the time taken for each person to do this would vary, in general, it always helps if one plans out a schedule and adheres to it as strictly as possible. If properly planned, one can prepare for the GRE in around 90 days, even while you are working.

My schedule for the preparation was to complete one word list each day. REPITITION, I believe is the only key to remember all the words properly. So, along with preparing the new words every day, it is mandatory to have a plan to revise them as well. I tried out a plan which was to revise the words done a day before, seven days ago and fifteen days ago, along with a new word list each day. The time that is needed for revisions should reduce with each revision of the word list. By taking the above startegy that in 50 days, you would have completed all the words and revised them almost thrice :)

It took me around 3 - 3.5 hours each day to go through this exercise. Its quite a pain at times, specially when you come home frustrated by the days work. It takes a good amount of patience to ensure that you meet the above schedule.

Making Flash Cards helps a lot!!

While revising your wordlists (remember we revise three word lists a day.. call them -1, -7, -15 for convenience) its a good idea to start noting down words that you could not get right on flash cards. This certainly means that your flash cards, will contain a word more than once (if you forget it in more than one revision). These cards can be carried around and you can go through them whenever you find spare time. If you are using a compnay shuttle and get stuck in traffic in places like Bangalore, then the odd hour that you spend in the vehicle, is a nice time to use your flash cards.

When should we start taking up the questions?

Along with doing the wordlists, one needs to get used to the kind of questions that come on the GRE. There is literally a plethora of data available on the web as far as sample exercises are concerned. Once you have completed over 1500 words, you can start going through these exercises on the web. There are some softwares which are small windows, and you can alternate between the window you are working on in office and this window, whenever it is possible for you.



What day do we schedule the test for?

If you are working then try and use the weekends that you get before the test. Which means, it is good to have the test on a Monday or a Tuesday. If you have your test on Tuesday, then you could possibly take a leave on Monday, so that you have Saturday - Monday for getting into the groove and the final preparations.

Moreover, try and take as many full length tests as you can.

Time management is really critical in the GRE, especially in the Quantitative section. The Quant is getting lengthier and the practice tests may not replicate the kind of questions that you will face on the GRE. Even then, taking these tests will give you a good idea of how you need to pace yourself through the questions. Its a good idea to devote more time to the first five questions, to ensure you have not messed up with them. DI in the Quant section and RC in the verbal section, will inevitably take more time.

There are lots of other things I would like to mention in addition to the above, but I guess I might try to write about them, based on the queries that you might have.


-- few recommended links for GRE prep:

www.majortests.com/gre
http://www.west.net/~stewart/gre/grtestv.htm

Regards
Vaibhav

WE 20 AT KERALA

WE 20 AT KERALA.

WE.. WE 20 are a group of friends from BITS, Pilani. During the last four years of staying together at Pilani, we have had quite a few trips to locations in North India. The trip to Kerala, which is what the blog is about, is however special because this was the first time that even the girls in the group could be roped in for the trip.

Kerela – .. we all had heard of it and were eager to get there and witness the beauty with our own eyes. Setting off on friday night, our group was there at Thekady by Saturday afternoon. The greenery that we saw on the road to Thekady had no parallel. It was green all around and there was no place where one could spot bare ground. Greenery that seemed to pacify all disturbance ..

The tourist rush at thekady forced us to postpone boating in the famous Periyar lake to the next morning. We paid a visit to the spice plantations instead .. The light drizzle there made the weather more pleasant than ever. Camera flashes all around.. our hearts filled with sheer delight!!We spent the evening roaming around the market place while the shopping buffs found something to keep them engaged.

The night was drawing closer and we were getting ready.. getting ready to begin the adventurous night trecking in those dense forests of the Periyar tiger reserve. Three forest department gurads accompanied us on the treck including a gunned man! Darkness seemed to swallow and engulf the entire surroundings and we were moving ahead able to see only as much ground as our torches could illuminate. Seeing those deer, wild boar, barking deer and bisons in the dark night in those dense forests was an enthralling experience. Not to mention those huge trees.. especially the one with the huge hollow bark with bats hanging upside down inside it. After three hours of roaming around the jungle we returned back to the tent we started from. It was then that we realised that we had leeches in our shoes..those ugly blood sucking creatures... bloody Son Of a Leech!!

The next morning saw us sailing across the huge Periyar lake with those beautiful herons, eagrets, cormourants flying across. It was an amazingly astounding wonderful view! The entire boat sent out a roar when we spotted elephants on the hills... Believe me, it looked marvellous.

We left for Munnar soon and reached there by Sunday afternoon. The tea planatations on that we saw on the way were possibly one of the most beautiful things that I have witnessed till date. Spending time in those tea gardens.. the small pond.. the cattle grazing.. the hanging bridge.. it was really a haeaven on this earth.

We booked a cottage in Munnar and had lots of fun playing cards and laughing together at all the jokes.. We went to the echo point and the dam early Monday morning. Time put a constraint on us to leave Kerela. We started the return journey for Bangalore. On the way, we went to the Bhavani temple near Erode where a divine sense filled the surroundings. It got really late in the night by the time we touched Bangalore.

We were really tired, but a scintillating feeling was there all along. This has been a trip to remember for life! After the trip all of us have one unanimous opinion.. Kerela is undoubtebly God's own Country!!

Acknowledgements

Kumbakarai Dhabdhaba, Son of a leech, I really appreciate this, Gudadhe Tigers, Marathalli Rockers, Indira Nagar leeches, Leechi leech, Adi ki daaroo , Scorpio Tatoo, Latrine soap, Avomin Devi, Waterfall Hungama, Amsterdam in Thekkadi, Boating Bamboo, Bamboo Rafting, Zeher Hai ke Pyaar Hai, Sutta Na Mila, Kartik’s Lift off, Battery Exhausted, Sony Music DJ, tribute to sushant , DCH, Its no river it’s a dam, File Error, Kya gaajar , the coveted seat, Veena’s elephant family, Karkare didn't spill, Least count speed breaker, Dus bahane, Tumse milke dil.., Kamar ke jhatke, paddy aur takiya, Munnar auto, Honeymoon Cottage, Elephant on Top, Topless tower, Tata Tea Ltd, hollow tree, Leech aur Anushree ka khoon ka rishta, Misha nahi to Amisha, Flora & Flora, andaz apna apna, Paddy raat ko kuch kiya kya.??