An Indian woman holding a US Green Card has shared how her mother’s B1/B2 visa application was rejected at the US Consulate in Mumbai, even though she was planning to visit only for a month to attend her daughter’s housewarming ceremony.
The woman posted the experience on Reddit, asking what might have gone wrong during the interview. The case drew attention because the visa officer reportedly did not ask to see any supporting documents before refusing the application.
According to the post, the applicant is a widow living in India with her son. Her daughter is a US Green Card holder and is married to a US citizen.
The mother had no previous international travel history, and this was supposed to be her first trip to the United States.
During the interview, the visa officer asked about the purpose of her visit. She explained that she wanted to attend her daughter’s housewarming ceremony and planned to stay in the US for about one month.
The officer then asked who would pay for the trip.
The mother reportedly said she would fund the visit herself using her savings.
She explained that she had enough savings to cover the one-month trip, lived with her son in India and depended partly on interest from fixed deposits and other investments. She also said that she occasionally earned some money through embroidery work.
According to her daughter, the mother owns property and investments in India.
However, the visa officer did not ask to see any of those documents.
The entire interaction reportedly lasted only a few minutes before the visa was refused. The officer also told her that she could apply again.
What Could Have Gone Wrong?
Several Reddit users suggested that the officer may not have been convinced that the applicant had strong enough reasons to return to India after the trip.
For B1/B2 visitor visas, applicants are generally expected to satisfy the consular officer that their visit is temporary and that they have sufficient ties to their home country.
Some users pointed out that being widowed, not having regular employment and having a daughter permanently settled in the US could have worked against the application in the eyes of the officer.
At the same time, such assessments are highly subjective. A similar profile could be approved by another officer depending on how the overall case is presented and evaluated.
The fact that no documents were requested does not necessarily mean that the officer ignored the applicant’s financial position or property.
US visitor visa decisions are often made primarily on the basis of the interview, the application form and the officer’s overall assessment of the applicant’s circumstances.
For the family, however, the main question remains the same: despite having savings, property and family ties in India, why was the visa rejected within minutes?
The case once again highlights how difficult B1/B2 visa interviews can be, especially when applicants have close family members settled in the United States.
