An Indian student planning to earn a master’s degree in biomedical engineering at the school michigan UST reported that his application for a U.S. student visa was rejected after a brief interview at the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai. This account has been shared in Reddit This article piqued the interest of international students.
However, HT.com was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the claims made in the Reddit post.
US Visa Interview at Mumbai Consulate
The applicant recounted what he said was a challenging day for the many students attending their visa interviews at the Mumbai location. He noted that the center was very crowded and interviews began only after the fingerprinting process of applicants was completed.
“I think the whole group was unlucky today,” the student said, noting that his interview started around 10:30 a.m., even though his appointment was earlier.
The student, who holds a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering from India and was accepted into a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Michigan Technological University, said the interview was brief, lasting only a few minutes with a limited number of questions, before receiving a Section 214(b) rejection notice. migrant and the Nationality Act.
Recounting the interaction, the applicant stated that the visa officer immediately asked for his passport.
“Voiceover: Hand me your passport[immediately],” the student recalled, adding, “I didn’t even get a chance to say hello to him.”
Raise issues of racism
The officer then asked him if he had encountered any victimization or racism in the United States and if he expected to face similar challenges upon his return, according to the post.
The student stated that he responded “No, sir” to both inquiries before being asked to produce his I-20 form.
When officials asked about his choice of Michigan Tech, the applicant began to elaborate on the institution’s academic strengths.
“Michigan Tech is an elite R1 research university that provides hands-on training in medical devices,” he said, noting that he was interrupted before he could finish his answer.
The official then turned the discussion to the student’s college applications. “How many colleges have you applied to?” the officer asked.
The student responded that he had submitted applications to five universities, namely “Johns Hopkins University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Maryland, Michigan Technological University and Yale University.”
Soon after, the interview ended.
Indian student visa rejected
“VO: I’m sorry, but I can’t provide you with a U.S. visa today,” the official said, as the student said
The denial was allegedly issued under Section 214(b), which is often cited in non-immigrant visa denials when the applicant fails to meet eligibility criteria or convince consular officials of his intention to return to his home country after completing his studies.
In a subsequent update to the post, the applicant stated that multiple students interviewed at the same desk received similar decisions that day.
“I also want to mention that the desk I interviewed at also turned away people in front of and behind me,” he said.
The student claims that one applicant who was admitted to Johns Hopkins University and received a scholarship was rejected, while another applicant who provided a thorough explanation was also rejected.
In addition, he claimed that a BITS Pilani graduate with seven years of professional experience, currently pursuing an MBA program at the University of Rochester and with a GMAT score of nearly 700, was also denied a visa.
Reddit post attracts attention
The post sparked discussion among other Reddit users, some of whom shared their thoughts on the situation.
“I think what pisses vo off is your choice of college. Going from Division I to III, it probably gives him the feeling that you just want to get into America at all costs. It’s amazing to me how hurtful and racist the issues are, so direct,” one user commented.
Another, narrating a unique experience at the same consulate, said, “I also had an interview at the Mumbai consulate on June 8. I am surprised that you told me that a Johns Hopkins student who was fully exempted was denied approval. I am a fully funded master’s student and was approved as soon as I answered questions related to sponsorship.”
