A 17-year-old student is drawing attention online after sharing her heartbreaking experience of being denied a US student visa despite earning a full scholarship to a prestigious American university. The student, whose name is being withheld for privacy reasons, posted a detailed account of her interview at the US Embassy in Lima on social media earlier this week hoping to gain advice and support as she considers reapplying.
Second Visa refusal after years of preparation
In the post, the student explained that this was her second visa refusal, the first being a B2 (tourist visa) denial the year prior. This time, she applied for an F-1 visa to attend a top-20 U.S. university to study electrical engineering, a field she says she chose to help improve energy access and sustainable infrastructure in Peru. Despite arriving at her 8:00 a.m. appointment well-prepared to discuss her academic goals, scholarship details, and long-term intentions to return to Peru, she says the interview was unexpectedly brief and lacked the questions she had anticipated.m“He never asked me about my university, my academic plans or courses, my career goals or long-term intent to return,” she wrote. “Other officers around me were asking all of these things. I had prepared so much… but I didn’t get the chance.”
The student, who was accompanied by her mother, said the officer asked basic questions about her family, age, social media use, and previous visa application. He then issued a refusal under section 214(b), which typically applies when an applicant fails to convince the officer of sufficient ties to their home country. “Please, no discouraging messages,” she wrote. “I’m already heartbroken, but I still believe in this opportunity. The teen shared that she had received a full scholarship covering tuition, housing, food, and other expenses, and that her mother, a professional economist working at a major Peruvian bank, would support any additional needs.
The student also shared a transcript of her interview,
VO: Who do you live with?
Me: With my mom.
VO: What does she do?
Me: She’s an economist. She works at xxx( a well-known bank in Peru.)
VO: What about your dad?
Me: He lives in another region. (I was surprised by the timing of this question. I had planned to explain this later while discussing financials—how I only live with my mom and the university considered this for my aid offer.)
VO: In Peru? Me: Yes.
VO: Why this program (Electrical Engineering)?
Me: Because I want to help improve Peru’s use of natural resources for energy, drive economic growth, and improve quality of life in rural areas. (Looking back, I feel this answer could’ve been stronger—was expecting a “Why this university” or “why this Major” question instead.)
VO: Do you have any scholarship?
Me: Yes, I have a full scholarship that covers tuition, housing, school fees, food, and some personal expenses. My mom will cover anything else I may need.
VO: Who else do you live with?
Me: My sister.
VO: Same age?
Me: Yes, she’s my twin.
VO: Do you use social media?
Me: Yes, I have Instagram and LinkedIn. I also have a YouTube account, but I don’t post anything—I’m not an influencer, so I’m not sure if that really counts.
VO: ok. Have you traveled internationally in the last 5 years?
Me: No, not yet.
VO: I see you applied for a B2 visa last year. What happened?
Me: Yes, we applied as a family. I think the officer didn’t understand our real reason for travel, which was just tourism. My mom did most of the talking and was nervous, so that didn’t help.
VO: Does your mom have a visa?
Me: No, not right now.
He then typed for a few minutes and said: “Unfortunately, we can’t approve your visa today. The reason is on the paper.”
I asked politely: “Is this a 221(g) or 214(b) refusal?” ( i thought perhaps it was to be a 221g for social media screening) He replied: “It’s in the paper.”
‘Very broad, generic answers’
The internet swiftly gave her some suggestions. A user said, “Not gonna lie or sugarcoat, but your answer to the why electrical engineering program is very broad and generic— most science and engineering disciplines can do that. It also seems that you are pushing the “going back home” narrative to justify your case that you seem defensive. If you really were to improve Peru, why not study in Peru? That’s probably also a counterargument by the VO.”
Another added, “VO: I see you applied for a B2 visa last year. What happened? Me: Yes, we applied as a family. I think the officer didn’t understand our real reason for travel, which was just tourism. My mom did most of the talking and was nervous, so that didn’t help. You gave away lot of details. From the surface looks like your b2 refusal can be reason for f1 refusal. I would suggest talk to start email thread with your professor and talk about research and work they doing. Get more details. And when asked about why this university, highlight this as the reason why you want to go. Give them strong reason of you being student and your passion to go to study. One other reason may appear : b2 got rejected now you’re trying f1 (maybe). You will get it. Try to secure new appointment. Good luck.”
A netizen noted, “Try again, sometimes it is just luck and the officer you end up with at the interview. For home ties, it is very arbitrary decision by the officers but to prepare you could just draft some letters for instance, letters from family members expressing their support and your plans to return or assets like land, property, investments in your name or your family’s. They may not even ask or reference any of it so no need to over-prepare. I personally do not think traveling to other country will really help much. Like I said, they can just decide to deny on a whim. Just hope for officer that is reasonable. Don’t get too discouraged and try to sound natural when having conversation for your second try. Goodluck!. “
“So sorry for your disappointment but you should have expected the earlier visa denial ques and answered that better. You cannot apportion blame and say that the earlier officer did not understand the real reason for traveling; instead you could have said unfortunately we couldn’t explain the tourism purpose of our visit well enough. A family denial is a little bit serious because obviously you are taking all your family ties with you, even less reason to return. However, do not get disheartened. Your goal may be delayed a bit but not denied. Please prepare a better reply to the why the course question. Do not give a very idealistic, unreal answer because thats not how the world works, unfortunately,” noted a user.