In a remarkable turn of events, an Indian student heading to the University of Michigan–Dearborn secured her F-1 visa in just 45 seconds during her first interview attempt at the US Embassy in Chennai.
Sharing her experience on Reddit, the student described the process as smooth and unexpectedly quick. She reached the embassy by 6:30 AM and noticed a calm atmosphere, which turned busier by 6:45 AM. Entry into the premises began according to scheduled slots, and she was called in at 7:30 AM for her 8:00 AM appointment.
The visa officer (VO) — an Asian-American woman — was calm and composed. After requesting the student’s passport and I-20 form, she asked about her graduation timeline and what she had done since then. The student explained her work as a Trainee Design Engineer and her decision to quit the job to focus on GRE, TOEFL, and her transition from production design to simulation-based design.
When asked why she wanted to pursue her master’s now, the student replied with honesty, saying she had ethically chosen not to join a corporate training program she didn’t plan to complete, instead preferring to follow her true career interests.
The VO appreciated the candid response and proceeded with biometric verification. A surprising moment followed — the two discovered they shared the same birthday, exactly 20 years apart. The interview ended with an immediate visa approval.
The student credits her success to staying concise, honest, and confident throughout the interview. Interestingly, she witnessed another student applying to Boston University for software engineering getting rejected without being asked a single question, highlighting how unpredictable the process can be.
This instance stands as a positive example for aspiring international students preparing for their F-1 visa interviews — stay prepared, be honest, and keep it simple.
