A recent U.S. student visa rejection has sparked confusion after a student was denied despite having an admission offer from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, a well-regarded American university. The student, who attended their visa interview on May 27, shared that the consular officer asked just one question: “How many universities did you apply to and what all did you get?” The student replied that they had applied to four universities and received one acceptance, from the University of Minnesota.
That was it. No follow-up questions. Just a rejection.
The decision has left the student—and many others—surprised, especially considering the university’s solid reputation in academics and research. While the U.S. visa process can be unpredictable and officers are not required to explain rejections, the lack of further inquiry has raised eyebrows. Visa decisions can depend on a variety of factors beyond just university rankings, including an applicant’s ties to their home country, and financial stability.
The post is gaining traction just as the U.S. State Department confirmed it has temporarily halted the scheduling of new student visa interviews. The pause, officials say, is part of preparations to expand vetting procedures, particularly the screening of applicants’ social media activity. The timing of the policy shift has raised fresh concerns among prospective international students, many of whom already face uncertainty navigating the U.S. immigration system.
“They are rejecting all student applications”
The internet had some interesting reactions to the post. One user commented, “UMN-TC is a very good university. It’s totally normal to get into one out of four universities if the other three were places like MIT, Caltech, and Stanford.” The remark was echoed by others who emphasised that a single offer, especially from a reputed institution, shouldn’t be viewed as unusual or problematic.
Another user offered a more critical take: “Having multiple admissions can improve your credibility. The issue isn’t whether you have relatives in the U.S. or not — the red flag is that you didn’t have any other option but to go to the one university that accepted you. That can come across as desperation to move to the U.S.” The user also urged others not to assume rejections are tied to family connections in the U.S., calling it a “wrong assumption.”
Amid growing concerns, several users pointed to broader developments. “I guess the U.S. has temporarily stopped F-1 visas worldwide at every embassy,” one person speculated, while another wrote, “They’re rejecting all student applications. The U.S. has paused all student visas for now.”