After facing two visa rejections, an applicant from India finally received her US B2 visa approval at the Mumbai Consulate, sharing her experience to encourage others going through similar challenges.
The applicant’s first attempt came during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when she didn’t have a stable job. Although her interview was scheduled 1.5 years later, she didn’t update her DS-160 form to reflect her changed employment status, which led to a visa denial.
On her second attempt, she had a stable job, a committed relationship, and a settled life in India, but followed advice to only answer what was asked without elaborating. Unfortunately, this approach resulted in another rejection.
Determined, she prepared extensively for her third interview. She studied online videos and rehearsed her answers, but what made the biggest difference was opening up to the visa officer—sharing her story, showing her ties to India, and explaining that her family encouraged her to reapply despite previous rejections.
The visa officer listened patiently, asked questions, and gave her time to respond. She was given a 221(g) slip, asking her to submit her parents’ visa copies once approved.
Luckily, her parents received their visas shortly after, with minimal questioning since they were visiting their son studying abroad. After submitting their visa documents as requested, the applicant’s visa was finally approved.
Expressing gratitude, she thanked the visa officer for her understanding and patience.