An Indian couple’s recent post on Reddit about their journey from panic to approval at the US Consulate in Mumbai has gone viral among visa applicants. The couple, both 32 year old senior software engineers with 11 years of experience, got B1/B2 visa after a long interview process.
From Application to Approval in Just a Month
According to their post, they applied on July 27, submitted DS-160, paid the visa fees and surprisingly got appointment slots on their first attempt. Biometrics were done smoothly at Hyderabad on August 14 and visa interview at Mumbai Consulate on August 22. Status was updated to “Issued” on August 25 and they received their passports with approved visa on August 27.
They are planning a 2 week trip to US West Coast in December 2025 covering Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Their travel history includes Singapore (2023), Japan (2024), Georgia (2025) and short layovers in Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan.
The “Detailed Interview” Counter Experience
The couple was assigned to counter 30, where the Visa Officer (VO) was conducting longer interviews compared to other counters. “Us internally: ‘Should we escape to another counter too?’” they recalled in the post. They described the nervous wait as they watched the outcomes of other applicants ahead of them.
When their turn arrived, audio issues made the start particularly stressful. The applicant wrote, “VO: I am not able to hear single word that you are speaking. Panic mode activated, I’m thinking: ‘Great, 2 minutes in and I’ve already failed!’” His wife stepped in to explain clearly, which helped the interview proceed smoothly.
Questions on Travel Plans and Finances
The officer asked a range of questions, from their purpose of visit to financial stability. The wife explained their roles and responsibilities at work, while both clarified they had no relatives in the U.S. and owned property in India.
The husband recalled how he felt compelled to provide detailed answers: “Me: (getting worried that just mentioning cities again might not be sufficient, so I jumped in to name specific attractions as well) We would like to visit some famous attractions – Space Needle, Golden Gate Bridge, Nearby National Parks, Hollywood.”
They also disclosed a combined annual income of around Rs 1 crore before taxes and ownership of three apartments in India, two of which are rented out.
The Final Approval
After a pause during which the officer carefully reviewed their passports, the tension broke with the much-awaited words: “Finally VO: ‘I am approving both of your visas. Have a nice day!’”
The couple credited their success to staying composed despite initial setbacks. “The interviewer was very patient and gave us enough time to explain everything without interrupting at all,” they shared.
They ended their post by thanking the Reddit community: “Big thanks to this sub for helping us – from preparation tips to shared experiences, this community was invaluable!”
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