Hello everyone, I am writing this with a heavy heart as my parents recently faced a rejection for their B1/B2 visa application at the Delhi Consulate. They intended to visit the United States this coming May to attend my graduation ceremony.
We prepared everything carefully, ensuring all information was truthful. However, the interview did not yield the result we hoped for. Here is the transcript of the conversation:
Interviewer: Submit your passports.
Parent: Here it is.
Interviewer: Why do you want to visit the US?
Parent: My son is graduating, and we want to be a part of his commencement ceremony in May.
Interviewer: Where is your son studying?
Parent: My son is in [University Name].
Interviewer: How many children do you have?
Parent: Three.
Interviewer: Where are they and what are they doing?
Parent: My son is in the USA on an F1 visa studying for a Master’s degree, my one daughter is in Canada working as a nurse, and my second daughter is in India; she is a housewife.
Interviewer: How are you going to fund your trip?
Parent: Through our savings.
Interviewer: What do you do?
Parent: Government employee working as a teacher.
Interviewer: Do you have any relatives in the USA?
Parent: Yes, my sister is there in Chicago.
Interviewer: What is her status?
Parent: She is a Green Card holder.
Interviewer: Sorry, we are NOT going to approve your visa this time.
I suspect the rejection stems from my aunt being a permanent resident in the US, but we were advised to be absolutely honest. Since we followed that advice and still faced rejection, I am struggling to understand the specific cause. What potential reasons do you see in this profile? How can they improve their chances for the next attempt?
Realizing this is likely not about the honesty of the application but rather the assessment of ties, let us handle this analytically. The rejection is effectively a Section 214(b) decision, meaning the officer wasn’t convinced your parents would return to India.
The reason for the visa rejection is not your aunt. It’s likely because your parents’ family ties in India seem weak:
One child is studying in the USA.
Another is working in Canada.
The third is married and living in India.
To improve their chances next time, they should show stronger ties to India, like property, ongoing jobs, or community responsibilities, and prove they will return after the visit. Honesty is important, but evidence of returning home is key.