A recent social media post is sparking discussion among international students and digital nomads after one user shared how their F1 student visa application was rejected, possibly due to extended past stays in the US on a tourist visa.
The applicant, who previously worked as an au pair in the US from 2021 to 2022, explained that they had visited the US twice more in 2023 and 2024, staying around four months each time as a tourist. During these trips, they worked remotely for an Argentine company, a detail they were advised not to mention during the visa interview.
How was the visa experience?
“I think that might have been the reason my visa got rejected,” the user speculated in their post. “I travel a lot, around four countries a year on average, but now I wonder if working while visiting the US triggered a red flag.”
During the F1 visa interview, the visa officer questioned the applicant about their past au pair experience, their 2023 tourist stay in the US, and how they planned to fund their Master’s in Business Analytics (MSBA). The applicant responded that their mother was a sponsor, they had personal funds, and had received a $24,600 scholarship.Despite these credentials, the visa officer returned after a brief break and stated, “Your visa is not approved this time.”
Netizens react…
A user commented, “You may believe in ‘digital nomad’ but working even for a remote company whilst on a tourist visa is illegal in most countries including the US. Sorry to say, you might potentially be barred for entering the US for 10 years for doing this.” “Biden’s people had no intention of following US law. It’s pretty obvious that coming from a country with significantly lower wages than the U.S., you very likely used your time to work. Don’t even try to apply against until 2028,” added another. A third wrote, “You can’t work in the us without a work visa even if it is for a foreign company.”