Applicant Background
The applicants were a married couple, both 31 years old, applying for B1/B2 visitor visas for the first time.
Purpose of Travel: Tourism and visiting the wife's sister in the United States.
Profile Summary:
- Visa Type: B1/B2
- Applicants: Married couple
- Age: 31 years (both)
- First-time US visa applicants
- Purpose: Tourism and visiting a close family member
- Relative in the US: Wife's sister
- Employment: One applicant had been with the same employer for 8 years
- Annual Income: Over ₹50 lakh
- International Travel History: Visited two countries previously
- Trip Funding: Self-funded
B1/B2 Visa Interview Experience
The applicants completed their biometrics at the Chennai Visa Application Center without any issues. The process included document verification, a photograph, fingerprint collection, and took approximately one hour.
The visa interview took place at the US Consulate in Hyderabad. The interview lasted only a few minutes before a decision was made.
Interview Conversation
Visa Officer: Give me your passport.
Applicant: Initially handed over the passports one at a time.
Visa Officer: Why are you giving them one by one? Take them back and give them together.
Visa Officer: Are you scared in India?
Applicant: No.
Visa Officer: Will you be scared to come back to India?
Applicant: No.
Visa Officer: What is the purpose of your travel?
Applicant: Tourism and meeting a relative.
Visa Officer: Do you have any siblings in the USA?
Applicant: No.
Visa Officer: Any cousins or uncles in the USA?
Applicant: No.
Applicant (clarifying): My wife's sister lives there.
Visa Officer: Who will pay for your trip?
Applicant: We will pay for the trip ourselves.
Visa Officer: How long have you been working with your current company?
Applicant: Eight years.
Visa Officer: What is your annual income?
Applicant: Shared the annual income.
Visa Officer: Show proof.
Applicant: Submitted the latest Income Tax Return (ITR) along with additional income documents.
Visa Officer: Just give me what I asked for. Show your previous years' ITRs. I need to see consistency.
Applicant: I had only carried the latest ITR.
Visa Officer: Which countries have you visited before?
Applicant: Mentioned the two countries previously visited.
The officer then directed questions to the spouse.
Visa Officer: Who lives in the USA?
Applicant's Spouse: My sister.
Visa Officer: What does she do?
Applicant's Spouse: Explained her education and current employment.
Visa Officer: Show her visa.
Applicant: We did not have a copy of her visa. We mentioned that it might already be available in the system.
The visa officer checked the computer briefly before responding:
Visa Officer: I need proof. My brother also studies in China.
Shortly afterward, the applicants were handed a 214(b) refusal letter, and no supporting documents were retained.
Outcome
Result: B1/B2 Visa Refused under Section 214(b).
No documents were retained by the consular officer.
Applicant's Key Takeaways
Based on the experience, the applicants shared several lessons for future applicants:
- Carry multiple years of Income Tax Returns (ITRs), not just the latest one.
- Bring copies of relatives' US visas or immigration status documents if visiting family members.
- Be prepared to answer detailed questions about relatives living in the United States.
- A strong income, stable employment, and previous travel history do not automatically guarantee visa approval.
Additional Observations
While waiting at the consulate, the applicants observed a few other interviews:
- A young applicant with comparatively modest income was approved after extensive questioning.
- Another couple was refused.
- A single applicant whose brother worked in the United States was also refused.
The applicants noted that these were personal observations only and should not be interpreted as any approval or refusal pattern.
Final Thoughts
Every US visa application is evaluated individually based on the applicant's overall profile and the interviewing officer's assessment. Although missing supporting documents such as previous years' ITRs and proof of a relative's US visa status may not always result in a refusal, carrying comprehensive documentation can help if the officer requests additional evidence during the interview.
Applicants should focus on presenting truthful, consistent answers and ensuring they have supporting documents readily available when requested.
If you need expert assistance, contact LeSo for guidance with your US visa application, documentation, and interview preparation.
