​​US visa nightmare: Indian family rejected despite Rs 50 lakh financial savings, global travel historical past, stable jobs; frustrating encounter goes viral

A seemingly routine US vacationer visa software by a financially safe Indian family has gone viral after their surprising rejection triggered a wider debate on Reddit about equity, bias, and transparency in American visa processes.In an in depth Reddit publish that has since gained traction, a 36-year-old IT skilled, posting underneath the deal with @Fun-Mind8782, shared his dismay after being denied a B-2 vacationer visa on the US consulate in New Delhi, despite what he described as a robust software backed by monetary stability, worldwide travel historical past, and a transparent travel plan.But what started as a private grievance has since developed right into a broader dialog about how US consular officers wield the little-understood, however immensely highly effective, Section 214(b) clause of the Immigration and Nationality Act.A ‘model’ software, denied in minutesAccording to the Redditor, he had utilized for a two-week vacationer visa for himself and his aged mother and father to trip within the US over Christmas. The family had already traveled to nations together with the UK, France, Switzerland, Dubai, and Singapore. Financially, they have been on stable floor, with over Rs 50 lakh (~$60,000) in financial savings between them, and confirmed lodge bookings throughout New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.“We wanted to go for a vacation,” he wrote. “I even had hotel reservations and an itinerary.”However, the visa interview, held on the New Delhi consulate, took a pointy flip. The man, whose mother and father are of their 70s and never fluent in English, supplied to translate. Instead, the visa officer referred to as in an official translator.After just a few fundamental questions, significantly round whether or not the family had kin within the US (they acknowledged having a grandniece, although said they’d not go to her), the officer abruptly denied the visas, citing Section 214(b). Their passports have been returned on the spot.When a “yes” turns into a pink flagThe incident has reignited scrutiny round Section 214(b), a provision that assumes each applicant for a non-immigrant visa intends to immigrate, except they will show robust ties to their house nation.Critics argue that this customary is imprecise and inconsistently utilized.The man, who shared his expertise on Reddit, described how the interview unfolded. “I greeted him nicely, with a smile and gave him our Passports. I communicated that my Parents first language wasn’t English, so I could translate if he would allow. He replied, no I will get the translator. A lady came and the interview started.”When requested the aim of their go to, the person replied, “We want to go for a vacation for 2 weeks around Christmas time. We would like to go to New York, LA, SF. I added we have made Hotel reservations and had an itinerary too if it was needed.”The officer then had the translator ask his mom in Hindi the place they supposed to travel. She answered, “We want to go to New York, LA, San Francisco.”When requested if they’d any kin within the US, she replied, “Yes we have grand niece, but we won’t be visiting her.”At this level, the officer interrupted, “You said your parents don’t know English, and your mother is speaking fine.”The man responded calmly, “Yes sir she is not fluent in English but she can say few words.”The translator then requested who would sponsor the journey, to which he replied, “We all will be sponsoring ourselves. We have stable jobs, sufficient savings and income from stocks etc too.”(*50*)After ready for additional questions, the person mentioned, “The officer asked no further questions and translator said your visas have been refused. 214b. Gave us the slip and passports back.”He added that, “No questions were asked about our jobs, about our ties back home, previous travel, nothing.”The man offered background about himself and his mother and father, “I am 36, single, I am the operations head of an IT company for 3.5 years. I earn 15 LPA. Sufficient savings of 20 lakh plus from savings, stocks. Have 10 year experience in running own business.”“My Parents are 70. Both ran our family business for 30 years. Business shut in covid. After a 1 year break, my Parents joined a Publishing company and worked as Client Managers… Earned salary/commissions of 8 and 7.5 lakh per annum respectively… Have savings in 30 lakhs plus which is sufficient for their age.”“I have travelled to UK, France, Switzerland, Spain, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and few more countries.”“Parents love to travel too. have travelled to Uk, France, Switzerland, Dubai, Singapore and recently to Vietnam, Indonesia, Bhutan, Azerbaijan too.”“I co own my apartment with my mother. We have a loan too. My father owns properties too so stable ties! Job, and family too.”On his private scenario, he wrote, “I am single as was focussed on work, and then things didn’t work in my long term relationship, but at this age I have no intention of immigrating illegally anywhere. Love my Country and just like to travel.”Concluding, he mentioned, “We weren’t even asked questions. Seems like officer had made mind to refuse from start. So, I would really like to know where we went wrong? Or is it even fair to just blame ourselves because of an unfair System?”Thousands of commenters on Reddit shared related tales—of being denied for touring with aged mother and father, of innocuous ties to US-based kin turning into pink flags, and of interviews that felt extra like foregone conclusions than honest assessments.Former visa officer speaks outBen, a former US consular officer who now runs a YouTube channel breaking down the visa course of, weighed in on the Reddit publish. He defined that whereas kin within the US aren’t robotically a detrimental, they are often “contextual risk factors.”“If the applicant has a sibling working in a Fortune 500 company, it can actually help,” Ben mentioned. “But if there are questions about whether the relative has maintained their visa status or overstayed, that can hurt, even if it’s not the applicant’s fault.”Ben additionally famous that officers have solely minutes, typically lower than 5, to evaluate candidates, resulting in a heavy reliance on “gut instincts” and stereotypes.Travel goals, bureaucratic nightmaresThe broader response to the publish has been one in all empathy but additionally frustration. Many questioned how candidates are speculated to show “sufficient ties” when employment, property, financial savings, and return travel plans aren’t sufficient.“This is why people feel hopeless,” wrote one consumer. “You do everything by the book and still get rejected without a chance to explain yourself.”Another commenter added, “It feels like the process is rigged to say no, especially if you’re from certain countries.”