An Indian man’s long-anticipated vacation to Florida came to an abrupt halt after his US tourist visa application was denied in a 40-second interview — a story that has now gone viral online. Sharing his experience on Reddit, the first-time traveler hoped to crowdsource answers and advice after being handed a Section 214(b) refusal slip by the US embassy.
The man had applied for a B1/B2 visa, commonly used for tourism or short business visits, and planned a two-week Florida trip packed with visits to Disney World, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center, and a long-awaited meeting with his girlfriend who resides in the US.
According to his Reddit post, the visa officer asked him just three questions:
- Why do you want to travel to the US?
- Have you traveled outside India before?
- Do you have any family or friends in the US?
Despite answering honestly — stating that he had no prior international travel experience and had a girlfriend in Florida — his visa was promptly rejected. The officer handed him a 214(b) refusal, which means the applicant failed to convince the consular officer that he would return to India after his visit.
Although the applicant holds a stable job in India, experts online pointed to two major red flags: his lack of international travel and the mention of a romantic partner in the US. These factors often signal a risk of potential overstay, making consular officers wary.
The man turned to Reddit to ask if he made a mistake by being too transparent and sought advice for future applications. Responses poured in, with many users calling his case a “textbook denial.” Some suggested he should focus on building a travel history — such as visiting Europe or Southeast Asia — and demonstrate stronger ties to India, such as property ownership or dependents, before reapplying.
While the setback was disappointing, the online discussion highlighted the often opaque and unpredictable nature of US tourist visa approvals — especially for first-time applicants.