AFCOE

Burhar to NY - 1

Got the mail form New York University (NYU) on 9th May 07. I was more than pleased to open it, as I know that this is the offer which I was waiting for. I'll let you know later what sacrifices I made to accept this :-(.

This is the story about AFCOE (Application for certificate of eligibility), which I was suppose to send to NYU as soon as possible to get the I-20 (VISA related doc.). NYU sent me the offer on 24th Apr 07, here I would like to thank US post & Indian post to deliver it (what if it took 15 long days). Now it was my turn to fill the form and dispatch it.

My 'Indian' brain started working and I thought I'll fake my mom's signature, but luckily this devil was thrashed by my dad. Thanks to me for sending it to (what if, I used snail mail instead of FAX, idiot me). So the journey of AFCOE begins on one fine Monday morning from a post office in Marathalli (what name sounds funny, ya this one small 'halli' known for factory outlets).

I tried to trace my dear AFCOE but it was lost in the hands/bags of our postal department. This was a speed post but I don't know speed of what they were referring to. After a while, I got impatient and bothered my dear father. Who loves me so much that he knocked the PO door three days continuously (Fri, sat and Monday), then as the saying goes success comes to those who are persistent, my father received it. It was in safe hands of my parents Huff..

Now Mom put her sweet signature on the document(which it was sent for) and made the life of the document. Now this document was happy as it was having its first **X, what u r thinking ...it is FAX. Papa took this valuable doc to the FAX shop and Burhar shops met his expectations. Shopkeepers gave an argument that as somebody is laying the underground lines, he can not send the document to US (hmm it is pretty far), ya but they can send it to Bangalore (FAX also checks for the nationality). Whatever, then Dad went to the district place Shahdol (I know it sounds funny) and got it faxed for 500bucks.

He was feeling content, now his son will get the I 20 doc, but DESTINY...I got a mail from NYU that the quality of FAX was pathetic and they can not use it. Resend it!!! What a herculean task it is!! On 23 rd Wednesday, still NYU hasn't received AFCOE.

Anyways, after thinking for while I thought (at least tried to) if Dad can FAX me this doc and then I'll send it further. He did it, but thanks to Burhar tech. advancements that I just got few blurred lines here n there. Now the other alternative was to send it through snail mail (read speed post) to me, which could take another month or so.

Finally, I dared to explain 'email' to my dad, that he can scan and email the doc to me. So that I can take a print out and send to US. In few moments he got somebody who knows how to do it.
Hey, by the way this was great as it is really difficult to find 'techie' person in whole village, what if my father is a Senior Medical Officer. Mr. Techie used all his intelligence and in just 2 hrs the doc was there in my mail box.

Now the life seems to be easy at my office, as I'll just FAX that across to NYU. And hope to get my I-20 soon. Keeping my fingers crossed and blood pressure low.