A Reddit post has gone viral after an Indian student shared how his friend was denied an F-1 visa at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai within seconds, without any explanation. The incident, which took place on November 10 during a 9:30 a.m. interview slot, has sparked widespread discussion among aspiring international students and former visa applicants online.
Student claims “everyone ahead was rejected too”
The user wrote that his friend, who had secured admission to Northeastern University for a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence, faced a quick and unexpected rejection. According to the post, the visa officer asked only two questions:
— Which university? The student replied, “Northeastern.”
— Which program? He answered, “Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence.”
“The officer then returned his passport, said the visa was refused, and told him to try again next time, no slip, no explanation,” the Redditor said, adding that “literally everyone ahead of him at that counter was rejected too.” The post quickly gained traction, with many users expressing frustration over what they described as the opaque and inconsistent nature of the visa approval process.
Users debate fairness of the process
Responses on Reddit reflected a mix of empathy and realism. One user commented, “It’s not really unfair as your friend is not entitled to a visa even if he spent months applying. I recalled 10 years ago, I had an agent who helped me and a lot others to prepare for F-1 visa, they were all rejected. The reason can be various. They never guarantee you will get a visa. And honestly, why would you want to go with the state with issues in the US. There are so many other countries to go study/work at. One door closed is a sign you’re not supposed to go anyway.”
Another user pointed out that the university’s reputation could play a role, saying, “If you go to a no-name school like Northeastern, you might as well go to school in India and save a lot of money. The interviewer knows the only reason you’d attend Northeastern is to eventually work in the US.”
A third commenter highlighted the unpredictability of visa interviews, suggesting decisions might be pre-determined in some cases. “You seem to imply some bias by the officer at the counter. Even though he/she has the authority to reject the visa on the spot, the result is already decided beforehand most of the time. Don’t blame it on him/her. That’s not a healthy attitude,” they said.
Larger concerns about transparency
The post has reignited concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the U.S. student visa process. Many applicants argue that denials without explanations leave them unable to address potential issues or prepare better for future attempts. With F-1 visa rejections rising in India in recent years, students are calling for clearer communication from consulates and a more consistent evaluation process.
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