An Indian Chartered Accountant has shared her experience of being denied a US B1/B2 visa, triggering an online discussion about how uncertain and unpredictable the visa process can be.
The 31-year-old woman, who earns ₹1.25 lakh per month and works as a finance manager, had planned a two-week holiday in the United States.
Her travel plan included visits to New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. She shared the details in a Reddit post.
“I had my B1/B2 visa interview today. I love travelling and felt a US visa would also help me visit countries like Dubai, Singapore and several others where visa-on-arrival is possible. So I applied last year. I’m unmarried and earn ₹1.25 lakh a month. My interview was at 8 am in BKC. Around 100–150 applicants were present,” she wrote.
She explained that the visa officer asked her about the purpose of travel, to which she replied it was purely for tourism and that she would be travelling alone.
When asked about her job, she said she is a Chartered Accountant working as a finance manager in a company that is part of a large Indian group.
She also mentioned that the trip would last two weeks and listed the cities she planned to visit.
After the brief interaction, the officer informed her that she was not eligible for the visa. She thanked the officer and left.
The applicant said she answered confidently and did not hesitate at any point. Still, her visa was rejected under Section 214(b), which is usually cited when officials are not convinced that the applicant will return to their home country.
She also noted that two to three applicants before her were rejected as well, calling the entire process a matter of luck.
Her post drew several reactions online. One user commented, “It’s true, it’s a gamble. Even people with high salaries and clean profiles get rejected.”
Another user felt the issue was not salary-related.
“The salary is good. But the answers were vague. There was no mention of strong ties to India. Even if not directly asked, you can subtly mention things like your return date or resuming work, so the officer knows you will come back,” the comment read.
A third user wrote, “US visas have become random now. Someone with a much weaker profile might get approved. It’s just bad timing.”
Another suggested that the solo travel plan may have worked against her.
“A single and vague itinerary for this salary level could be the reason. More international travel history and a clearer plan can help. Try applying again later,” the user advised.
The incident has once again highlighted how unpredictable the US tourist visa process can be, even for well-qualified applicants.
