mydiamond Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 BG story: Liv is going to U.S of A for her studies. She made an online appointment with the US Embassy for student visa application on 13th May 2014, at 09:15 AM. She has been to the US Embassy once last year to apply for a tourist visa and has got the basics down already. She remembers very clearly what she needs and don't need, or so she thought. Upon applying, she submitted a pic of herself and her parents via website. The pic was successfully uploaded and submitted. Since about a week before her appointment date, Liv noticed that her I-20 (student visa document) only consists of two pages while it supposedly has three. She frantically did research and e-mailed the people at her uni but none was helpful to her. She printed herself a copy of the missing page from Google Images, holding onto the hope that this one page only serves informational purposes. This is her story of that appointment day. 12th May 2014, 10:30 PM: Liv decided it's time for bed. She sets the alarm for 5:00 AM and goes to sleep. 11:59 PM: Liv couldn't sleep no matter how hard she tried to. Eventually she resorted to playing some Sims FreePlay. 13th May 2014, 2:00 AM: Liv fell asleep, finally. 5:00 AM: Liv's alarm rang. She woke up half-asleep and walked like a zombie towards the bathroom. 5:30 AM: Liv's dad pulled out some random instructions paper from the US Embassy and pointed out that they need their photos printed. None of Liv's family members have their photos printed because they've submitted it online. It is too early to find a photo studio that would print it out for us and we don't even know where our photos' files are. 6:10 AM: After some frantic searching and rummaging through several different drawers, the CD containing our photos' files were found. We're off. 8:30 AM: A cousin who lived in Surabaya, a city two hours away from ours where the Embassy is located, informed us of a photo studio near the Embassy office which opens early and does instant printing. 8:45 AM: The staffs at the photo studio told us the machine they need for doing instant printing is not yet ready. We were directed at another printing studio which is about 5 mins drive away. We're already running late. We couldn't afford to be late. But we went there anyways. 9:12 AM: After a stressful mini argument with the printing studio's staff that walks like a snail and doesn't seem to understand we're in a rush, we're finally off to the Embassy for our 9:15 appointment. 9:15 AM: We reached the Embassy office. Luckily we're already very close by while driving back and forth searching for a printing studio. However since drop-off zone and parking area is different and very far apart from one another, a miscommunication happened and we missed the drop off zone. We drove full speed to the nearest turn, turned around hastily and drove full speed back to the drop off zone. We hit a speed bump. The car jumped up like a mad rodeo bull. Liv nearly hit her head. 9:20 AM: We reached the drop off zone and rushed to the security guards' check-in table. One guard asked to another; "what time is it?". Liv knows for sure they were 5 minutes late. But she can't afford to be late. They're already here! Liv worriedly glanced towards the other security guard. He pulled up his sleeve and looked at his coal black watch. "It's 9:15," he said. His coworker loomed over, checking his watch. "This way, sir.." he said to Liv's dad. He let us through. The song "We Are The Champions" started playing in Liv's head. xx:xx AM: Liv forgot her watch at home. She had to leave her phone in the car as well because you can't bring electronic communication devices into the US Embassy. She didn't know how long she waited in line. All she knew was ; "one down, one more to go". She didn't have a complete I- 20, and she didn't tell her parents. They would definitely kill her had they were denied application because of that. Breathe, Olivia, breathe. It's an informational document only. It is not an essential document. You should be okay! 10:xx AM: Liv and her parents were finally called to have their documents checked. The lady behind the counter took a glance over Liv's visa applicant profile. "Are you applying for a student visa? We need your I-20," she said. Liv handed over the first page. She took it and start typing on her computer. "Is this all? There's usually another page," she said again a while later. Liv choked, but chose to stay calm and hand over the third page. "Yes, that's the one!" she said. She asked for Liv's signature on the third page. Liv was ready for her to ask "where's the second page, hun?", but she nodded politely and said; "your documents are all complete! Please wait for an interview session!". For the second time in the day, Liv silently sang We Are The Champions. Oh, and did you notice? The lady didn't ask for the dreaded printed photos! Because we already submitted them online! 10:xx AM: Liv and her parents' visa were approved. Moral of the story: always double check your document requirements even if you think you already know. Or else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chula Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Congrats! Sorry for the crazy day, but yay for getting your visa approved. I know from experience that anything involving US immigration can be a real pain in the butt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Angel n Auroras Mum Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Lmao oh dear well at least you had an eventful day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robke Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 that is what they call a busy morning... well done in getting your visa .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Great storytelling 'Liv Glad it all went ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 So crazy but glad u got it all sorted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 YAY! Congrats on the approval. I don't know much about US Immigration but it sounds like a real pain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydiamond Posted May 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 YAY! Congrats on the approval. I don't know much about US Immigration but it sounds like a real pain! well now you know something about 'em LOL they're a huge pain in the neck really. They ask for different stuffs to different people. They didn't ask for our printed photos but they did ask for it to other applicants kinda like a weird, harmless, bothersome Russian roulette My interviewer's first comment: So, you're going to.... Michigan State?! It's gonna be real cold up there! Snow and everything! Pack warm clothes!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 You will have a couple of months of warm weather before the winter comes! However, they are predicting an el-Nino to be setting up for the US, and for our region that means warmer than normal winter! That is good considering we just came out of the 2nd worst winter ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Oh wow, that sounds like a stressful start to the day. Congratulations on getting your American visa approved! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 wow what a day!! Congrats on getting it sorted though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia Doyle Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 Yey congrats on getting your visa Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterchillz Posted May 15, 2014 Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 Congrats, Liv!!!! :cake: Oh, boy, I can't wait for the time when you start uploading photos from the States Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carly Posted May 15, 2014 Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 oooo, exciting times ahead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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