personal info:
F1 returning to US to continue my Ph.D studies in Chemistry (anticipated graduation time Dec, 2011);
currently visting our collaborator's lab in Castellon, Spain.
interview process:
VO: So you're going to US to study?
me: I'm actually already a student in The University of Iowa. This is my 5th year in the PhD program. My
advisor sent me to our collaborator's lab in Spain to study for a few months.
VO: Oh. (Looking at my I20) So you will be just studying in the same program?
me: Yes. Actually, I am going to graduate in a few months. So I'm looking forward to becoming a "Doctor". I
mean, not the one that makes a lot of money, but still...(both VO and I laughed) I have the letters from both
my advisor in US and my advisor in Spain. Do you want to take a look?
VO: No...I think this is very straightforward. But I need to consult my colleague, --I'm relatively new here...
me: Okay. (They are talking at his desk, and his colleague was saying "Chemistry, Ph.D...We have to give
extra administrative process". )
VO: Okay, I'm sorry, but we have to hold your material for a while. But don't worry, I think everything will
turn out to be fine. It will just take some time. (turning to his colleague) Do we need any other material from
her? Okay, can you give me your CV, and research description? (He saw my folder) Ok, what do you have in
there?
me: (passing documents) CV, research description, enrollment certificate in
Iowa, letters from my advisors in US and in Spain, fellowships and offer letters. I also have my old I20
forms, because I transferred from the Iowa State University after I reached US. Do you need the old forms?
VO: No, we just need the newest one.
me: I also changed my passport recently, because my old passport expired. Do you need the old passport?
VO: No.
me: But can I have my current passport back? This is my only official ID in Spain. I have photocopies of my
passport and visa.
VO: OK. (switching documents with me) Can you give me your best contact information? We will let you
know when this process finishes.
me: Sure! (wrote on the post-it he gave me and passed it back to him) So I'm set? Do you need anything else
from me?
VO: No, we'll contact you if we do. Again, I'm sorry we can't do it today.
me: (smiling) That's fine. I actually expected it...Have a good day!
Afterwards:
回到旅馆吃完饭，我发现自己忘记把transcripts给他了。记得transcripts是checkee的必交文件，但是他也没跟我要，
难道因为我给了他enrollment certificate，所以就不用transcripts了。这也不是没有可能， 因为上次在上海签证那个
VO就说enrollment certificate和transcripts他们只要一个就行了。而且当时已经1：30pm，我不确定使馆还开不开。
西班牙这里office的工作时间很短。犹豫了一会儿，我决定打的去使馆碰碰运气。因为今天跟我面谈的VO是新手，可能
对材料要求不熟悉。如果材料送到washington，他们发现没有transcripts不给我处理那就更麻烦！到使馆以后欣喜地
发现门口还有警卫。于是跟他们解释说我上午interview的，过后发现有材料要补充，请他们帮我传一下。这些警卫真
nice，又耐心，比上海美国使馆门口的警卫好多了。他们call了使馆里面的警卫（好像是专门负责delivery的）。那人出
来听我解释后，拿了我的passport和transcripts就进去了。不一会儿，我的passport被传出来，警卫告诉我it's
settled。然后我就很开心的去逛madrid市区了。
Summary：
看来只要专业敏感，而且超过4年clear期，被check是定局。（我并不是说4年clear期内一定不会再被check，但是有可
能不被check。我上次在上海签都缺一份research description，VO直接告诉我我上次的check还有效，让我下午把补
充材料传真过来，然后几天后就拿到visa了）材料准备充分一些，头脑冷静，不要像我这样忘记递交一些重要材料，尤
其是如果碰上新来的VO。我之前看过一些帖子更悬，本来面谈是都说给visa，护照留下过几天来取。可是后来又收到通
知说需要administrative process。这不折腾人吗？幸好我护照当场要回来了，不然下个月去法国开会也有麻烦。准备
充分一些，想好一些可能的问题怎么回答。尽量不要用敏感词汇，这样可能减低被check的可能性。 但不要因为考虑防
止被check而表现的紧张或者有所隐瞒，这样可能让VO有怀疑而当场拒签，那就更麻烦。
就这些，祝大家学业顺利，事业成功！尽早报效祖国！！
