An Indian student’s aspirations to pursue a Master’s in Graphic Information Technology at Arizona State University were cut short after her F1 visa application was rejected under Section 214(b), a common clause citing insufficient ties to the home country. Sharing her experience online, the student recalled how her interview started with a twist of fate, she was initially sent away by a consular officer who had also denied her a tourist visa back in 2016. Redirected to a new officer, she explained her choice of ASU, outlined her plans to build a creative tech company in her home country, and provided details about her parents’ ability to fund her education.
However, when asked about her siblings, one studying and the other settled in the US, the officer briefly left the window, consulted the earlier officer, and returned with a denial, handing her a yellow 214(b) slip. The experience left her disheartened but determined to reapply, this time from a different city. As her story circulates on forums, fellow applicants and experts have chimed in with advice on how to handle the “What has changed since your last interview?” question a crucial moment in any second visa attempt.
‘Your answer was pretty ChatGPT-like’
The internet quickly poured in their suggestions. A user said, “You sound like a computer who has by hearted the answer before an interview. From a third person point of view you sound like you’re going to US since your siblings are already there. If after your ” education ” things don’t work out you already have family to fall back on and live there on an expired visa and become a liability to the country. Doesn’t sound very convincing you’re planning to come back.”
Another added, “You basically had a Bad luck Andy day. What are the odds of that happening though? But even then, your answer was pretty ChatGPT-like which they’ve heard 1000 times. And not to add that your sister is literally a green card holder and your brother is also there studying. It shows a family history of intent of immigration. They’re within their rights to refuse your visa application, I’m afraid. You needed to explain your ties to your home country and nothing really in your answers solidifies that even though you mentioned you’ll return. They needed something more concrete because all the evidence was against you.”
“Unclear why people with Obvious immigration intent are surprised and wonder “why?” when denied non-immigrant visas. Your parents have shipped both of your siblings to the US, one of whom has no skills and somehow acquired a greencard. It’s clear this is your family plan and the VO acted accordingly. It is in fact heartening to see laws being enforced more strictly by this administration – student visas are not intended to be a backdoor workaround to immigrate,” noted a netizen.
“You have two siblings already in the US and one has a green card. I don’t see them ever approving you for a non-immigrant visa as you and your siblings have already shown you have no real ties to your home country and you could easily overstay your visa and stay with your siblings who are already established in the US,” claimed another user.
“Always the same “because of its unique XYZ program…” to the dot. Open any visa rejection post in this sub or other related ones and you’ll find this exact BS line lol followed by nothing but fluff. It’s unique program which is absolutely not at all unique lol. It’s amazing how people keep repeating it even after so many rejections, and from broken English to suddenly a well-rehearsed but extremely abstract GPT answer would of course put off any VO, or any sane normal person tbh,” added another.