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Indian Applicants Describe Seconds-Long U.S. Visa Denials Under 214(b)

The social-media accounts underscore consular discretion under Section 214(b) with no confirmed change in U.S. visa policy.

Overview

  • A Delhi-based senior tech lead seeking a B1/B2 visa to attend Kubecon + CloudNative Con in Atlanta said his interview ended in under a minute with a 214(b) refusal.
  • A Mumbai F-1 applicant recounted a 30–40 second interview that concluded with a 214(b) slip after noting applications to Temple University, Rowan University and Florida Atlantic University, with an I-20 from Temple.
  • A Delhi B1/B2 applicant who runs an eight-year-old marketing firm reported a 214(b) refusal despite 20-plus overseas trips and plans to attend a January 2026 conference in Las Vegas.
  • Applicants say they are seeking guidance from online communities or weighing reapplication after receiving the standard refusal notices.
  • Indian outlets report these cases as first-person Reddit posts and cite U.S. State Department guidance that visa issuance is discretionary and hinges on evidence of strong home ties.