Getting a US visa is never an easy process, particularly for foreign nationals. There is a lot of paperwork, interview, and uncertainty involved in it.
One Indian couple’s dream was straightforward: go to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, experience the thrill, and watch the world’s greatest spectacle take place right in the middle of America.
The tournament is expected to be historic and is set for June 11–July 19, 2026. The event will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time, with the United States acting as the main host.
Football fans from all over the world will fill sixteen cities, and for many, this will be an experience of a lifetime.
What happened during the interview?
A self-employed video marketing specialist recently took to social media to share a detailed account of his US visa rejection.
The applicant is seasoned traveler with six international trips under his belt, was hoping to attend the FIFA World Cup in the US next year with his wife, but was handed a 214(b) refusal slip after a brief interview at the US Consulate in Chennai.
The applicant, 31, is a GST-registered video marketing specialist with nearly a decade of experience in motion graphics and animation.
His wife, 29, holds a Master’s degree in Architectural Design and is currently undergoing Bharatanatyam training, preparing for her debut stage performance next year.
According to the post, the couple had planned a 10-day trip to Seattle and Los Angeles in July 2026 to attend FIFA World Cup matches, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for football lovers.
“I went to the last World Cup in Qatar and wanted to relive the thrill, this time with my wife,” he wrote.
Their visa interview, however, did not go as expected.
The applicant detailed the interaction with the consular officer, a woman aged around 35-40, who he said showed minimal engagement throughout the process.
“She didn’t seem interested in FIFA at all, and it felt like that set the tone,” he noted in the post.
The interview included standard questions, purpose of travel, trip duration, employment details, and funding.
The applicant explained his freelance business, provided an estimate of $4,000 for the trip, and mentioned savings and mutual funds.
His wife was asked if she worked, to which she replied that she was currently in training for classical dance.
Then came the fingerprinting, usually a sign of progress. But what followed was the unexpected: “Unfortunately, your visa is not approved this time.”
The officer handed over a 214(b) refusal slip, a clause used when applicants are deemed not to have demonstrated strong enough ties to return to their home country.
“I didn’t use the word ‘freelancer’ anywhere in the DS-160 form to avoid raising red flags about remote work,” he admitted. But that may have backfired. “Maybe self-employment was the sticking point.”
“I should have mentioned I’ve funded all my past international trips from savings. Maybe that would’ve painted a better picture,” he wrote.
What especially struck him was the lack of questions about travel history. He had visited South Korea, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, and Thailand (Turkey, in 2019, was not mentioned on the DS-160).
His wife had also travelled to Dubai and Thailand. But none of that came up.
‘Budget is the issue’
Netizens pointed out what could have been the reason for rejection. A user noted, “Flight + FIFA Tickets + 10 day Stay in Seattle and LA for 2 surely can’t be within 4K USD. The budget is inaccurate.”
“Considering the VO response, could be bank balance is the issue. 4000 USD is almost 3.5L. It looks to them that you would be spending half your savings on the trip. Likely VO thought the 30L in mutual funds are your retirement account,” added another.
“Too much unnecessary info. Officer doesn’t care about your GST and how many years you’ve been working in this field. 4000 USD is peanuts for this trip. Keep answers straight to point,” claimed a user.
“Self-employed that can do his job everywhere + wife currently in arts, does not seem the best presentation. No ties to your country basically, as someone said, they know about the FIFA,” added another.
“Bro why did you overshare so much… looked so suspicious. Only answer what youre asked. The mutual fund stuff was so unnecessary,” stated a user.
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