A 24-year-old woman from Cyprus has taken to Reddit to share her emotional and complex journey of multiple US visa rejections, shedding light on the often opaque and stressful process faced by many applicants.
Posting on Reddit, the woman recounted how her B1/B2 tourist visa and F-1 student visa were both denied, despite her efforts to demonstrate ties to her home country and a genuine intent to visit the United States temporarily.
According to her post, she had regularly visited the US every summer between 2021 and 2023 to stay with her father, who was working there and had a green card application pending at the time. She never overstayed her visits and returned to Cyprus each time. However, her B1/B2 renewal was denied when she disclosed that she was unemployed, not enrolled in any academic program, and was staying with her father whose immigration status was still unresolved.
Three months later, she applied again—this time for an F-1 visa—hoping to attend a US community college. She provided extensive documentation including her father’s tax returns, family assets in Cyprus, and academic intent. That application, too, was denied under Section 214(b), which pertains to applicants not proving strong enough ties to their home country.
Now nearly a year later, she has enrolled in a university in Cyprus, completed her first semester, and says her father has moved back to Cyprus permanently, cutting all remaining ties to the US. She says her current intent is to visit her boyfriend, who is legally residing in the US on an H1-B visa. She admits she remains unemployed but is seeking ways to show financial support through her family and possibly a bank loan.
“I understand I’ve made silly mistakes,” she wrote. “I just want to see my boyfriend. I haven’t seen him in over a year.”
Her story has struck a chord with many users on Reddit who have shared similar experiences of visa rejections. Immigration attorneys often caution that ties to the home country—such as employment, property, ongoing education, and family obligations—play a crucial role in tourist visa approvals.
Despite her setbacks, the woman remains hopeful and is actively seeking advice from the Reddit community on how to strengthen her next application, including whether to disclose her father’s previous status upfront or only if asked.
As her story gains traction, it highlights the emotional toll and uncertainty faced by many international travelers and students caught in the maze of visa regulations.