3 Questions and Visa Rejected: Indian student in US says parents not allowed to attend her graduation
An Indian student in the US took to Reddit to express her grief as her parents were denied a tourist visa from the Mumbai Consulate. Recently, there have been several incidents of Indians, including entrepreneurs, being denied tourist visas to the US. Visa officers have the right to reject any individual’s visa application if they find during the applicant’s interview that they cannot return to their home country and continue to reside in the US. There are other reasons for visa denial, including past law enforcement cases. The Indian student said that her parents were asked only three questions and based on their answers they decided that her parents should not be granted a tourist visa to the US. “They were asked only three questions. Purpose of travel, what does your daughter study and where do you live? That’s all and they rejected the visa,” the student posted. “I don’t understand how these three questions could determine that my parents did not have a strong relationship at home,” he wrote.
Reactions to Reddit posts
Some provided insight on why the visa request was not granted, some suggested they should not reapply immediately, some simply trolled.
- “I think a lot of visa officers are confused as to why two parents would drop everything to go to an event that many students don’t even bother to attend. Is it perhaps a cultural difference?” One wrote.
- Some users said that saying ‘we are going to meet our daughter for her graduation’ is not enough. Parents must provide a detailed picture of degrees, colleges, and how they are supporting their child’s education. They will also have to explain that due to some work in India they will have to return to India by some specific dates.
- One was of the opinion that visa applicants are assessed on their merits. “If your parents cannot pay themselves, they will not qualify for a visa. Your parents must prove that they can not only pay for their airfare and incidental expenses, but also to cover any unexpected emergencies. What if your parents need to be hospitalized?” the Redditor wrote.