A visit to the US Embassy in Delhi, meant to open the door to a professional opportunity, ended in rejection in just 20 seconds.
For many, a visa rejection is a setback that can be understood, but for this applicant, it marked a moment of deep confusion and uncertainty.
The applicant had carefully planned the trip for months, aiming to attend a conference in Atlanta, Georgia, an important conference for professionals in cloud-native technologies.
As a senior tech lead at a well-established company, attending this event wasn’t just a luxury, it was vital for staying on top of global tech trends.
A carefully structured itinerary, a confirmed hotel booking, and a clear purpose, everything seemed in place for a smooth interview.
Yet, within seconds of answering three simple questions, the dream of attending this conference came crashing down. After a brief exchange with the officer, the rejection slip came swiftly, with no further explanation.
What was the reason behind rejection?
The officer cited Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, indicating that the applicant failed to convince the officer of their intent to return to India after the visit.
What were the questions asked?
The applicant explained they wanted to attend the conference, detailing how staying current on cloud-native technologies was central to their career. When asked if he has travelled abroad, the applicant responded, listing trips to Lithuania, Maldives, and Indonesia. He also added that he has no friends or family in the US.
For anyone familiar with visa rejections, the 214(b) refusal is often the hardest pill to swallow. It’s a catch-all reason that does not explain exactly what went wrong, leaving applicants to wonder if they missed something or said something wrong.
With 11 years in the same job and a salary approaching Rs.1 crore annually, the idea that the applicant would overstay a temporary visit seemed far-fetched.
The presence of an eight-month-old daughter added further weight to their intention to return.
In fact, everything about the application seemed in line with what the visa officer should be looking for: a legitimate, short-term business trip with no hidden agenda.
But it was clear that something went wrong, and the rejection left the applicant at a crossroads.
‘These issues with visas are growing each day’
Netizens posted the possible reasons for the rejection. A user noted, “I think unless you are invited as a speaker, they don’t see a strong reason.” Another added, “These issues with visas are growing each day. I got my visa in 2024, citing a conference I wanted to attend but couldn’t due to delay in processing (conf was in 2023). Still got my b1/b2 without any issues.”
“They say consuls think that all applicants have immigrant intent. Then for you to get the visa, you have to answer them by being pro-active on your home ties. (Why will you come back in India??) As per your answer, you weren’t able to prove it!
Eg. What’s the purpose of your visa application?
Instead of your answer you could have worded it like this
My company requires me to attend a seminar about _______ for two weeks, so when i come back, i can teach how the program works with my team, since i am a (state your position in the company) i handle a team of 20 techs.
This way you have shown your strong ties. You will come back, you have work, your position is vital to the company, you have people who rely on you,” explained another.
“Overexplanation is the main reason..whenever we try to explain too much rejection is high.. officers think we are trying to convince them to send us somehow…I also applied for conference and I said I am going to attend so and so on so and so dates in so and so state..that’s it,” noted a user.
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