An Indian student’s dream of studying in the United States was cut short in a matter of minutes during his F-1 visa interview, all because of a phrase he used to describe his career goals. Sharing his experience in a detailed Reddit post, the 2025 aspirant recounted how a single moment changed the course of his future.
The applicant, currently working as a software engineer at a top-tier tech firm, had applied to George Mason University for a Master’s in Computer Science, specialising in Machine Learning. During the interview on June 23, when asked why he wanted to return to school after five years of work, he responded that he wanted to take his career to the “next level.”
That triggered an unexpected response from the visa officer (VO), who interrupted him to ask: “Next level, what is this next level?” While the applicant tried to explain his aspirations to become an AI or ML engineer and contribute to research-based roles, the officer had already started typing. Seconds later, he was handed a 214(b) rejection slip.
According to US visa regulations, Section 214(b) denial means the applicant failed to convince the consular officer of strong ties to their home country — often interpreted as a potential risk for overstaying or immigration. In his post, the applicant said he did not get a chance to show documents proving family ties or an employer letter offering to rehire him after his studies.
“I had dreams of studying in the U.S. — the experiences, the learning, the opportunities. But it all ended in two to four minutes,” he wrote, describing how nervousness, fast speech, and sticking only to the VO’s questions may have worked against him.
Many fellow users sympathised, offering advice to reapply for the Spring 2026 intake with a revised approach — better prepared to show home ties, clearer intent, and answers tailored to address the officer’s concerns.
While disappointed, the applicant hasn’t given up. “I know I made some mistakes, and at the end of the day, my visa got rejected. I need advice on what I did wrong and what my next steps should be,” he wrote.