Waiting for Visa

I got a fellowship to go to US for three months.

It all started when our paper got accepted. In that euphoria Joel and I discussed plans to work on the structure of our protein and the inhibitor. I offered, very rashly, to come to UVa and work on it during the vacation period. Joel accepted. This was in October/November.

Money was obviously an issue. One needs something to live on. I found that UICC gives short term fellowships. It was a long shot and the application went awry. They wrote to me asking for lots more details. I submitted everything in January.

From January to April was a long wait. I filled the time very sensibly by attending the refresher course, going to Young Investigator's meeting, and Protein-DNA interaction meeting.

April came and it looked as though it might go without any news when finally on April 20th the email came. I had the fellowship.

Oh, since I have the fellowship, I assumed, I can just get a business visa. No, UVa said. I need an Exchange visitor visa. We started the paper work.

It took three weeks when finally Joel snatched the papers from the International office and couriered them to me.

Now comes the icing on the cake: The Consulate is not giving any visa interview appointments. They are booked solid.

So it is back to waiting game. And me, I am not known for my patience unless it happens to be embroidery. Other than biting my nails (yuck) and chewing my lips (eesh) there is nothing much to be done. Therefore, I am doing what I am best at: harassing my students and my parents.

Of course if I had any sense I would have never said no to the Green Card 7 years back. But I was so sure that I wanted to be back in India and that opportunities like the present one would never arrive, that I canceled the petition and moved back home. My sensible mother, other than saying I told you so and you should listen to your mother, would also add that if I had any sense I would have never moved back to India!