New Delhi: An Indian man’s hopes of visiting the United States were dashed in under a minute during his B1/B2 visa interview at the US Embassy in New Delhi. Sharing his experience on Reddit, the applicant—posting under the username “nobody01810″—said the rejection came swiftly after he answered just three questions.
The man had planned a two-week trip to Florida, aiming to visit popular destinations like Disney World, Universal Studios, and the Kennedy Space Centre. However, during the interview, he was asked: “Why do you want to travel to the US?”, “Have you travelled outside India?”, and “Do you have any family or friends in the US?”
He answered truthfully, saying he wanted a vacation, had no prior international travel experience, and that his girlfriend lived in Florida. Moments later, the officer handed him a 214(b) refusal slip, stating he did not qualify for the visa.
“The trip was meant to be purely tourism-focused, with my girlfriend as an additional reason to visit,” he wrote. “I intended to return to India after the 2-week vacation.”
Seeking clarity, the man turned to Reddit to ask what could have gone wrong. Users responded with insights, suggesting that his lack of travel history combined with the mention of a girlfriend in the U.S. might have raised red flags for the consular officer.
“You’re a textbook denial,” one user commented. “No travel history and a girlfriend in the States—strong ties to the U.S. but weak ties to India.”
Others pointed out that while honesty is important, disclosing the relationship might have inadvertently suggested an intent to overstay, despite his genuine tourism plans.
The man is now seeking advice on how to strengthen his application for a future attempt.