US Green Card holder’s mother denied B1/B2 visa, leaves her perplexed; internet warns, ‘Never say that you are funding…’

During the interview, the consular officer asked her about the purpose of her travel, how the trip would be sponsored, her previous international travel history.

A US visa applicant's account of having his B1/B2 visa rejected within minutes of an interview at the Mumbai consulate has triggered a discussion on Reddit, with users debating what factors may have influenced the decision despite the applicant's daughter having a US Green Card.

An Indian woman with a US Green Card shared on Reddit that her mother had applied for a B1/B2 visitor visa to travel to the United States to attend her housewarming ceremony.

During the interview, the consular officer asked her about the purpose of her travel, how the trip would be sponsored, her previous international travel history, and whether she feared returning to India.

The applicant claimed that she told the officer that she had enough savings from her fixed deposits and other investments and was planning to stay in the US at her daughter's home for a month.

"I have my savings good enough to cover my one-month trip. I live with my son, so he takes care of my expenses, and I also survive out of the interest from my FD and other investments. I also do some small embroidery work but it's seasonal and not often available," the mother said.

The widowed woman, who lives with her son, further stated that the consular officer did not ask her for any documents.

"They didn't ask for any documents. My mother has property and all the investments in her name. I don't know what went wrong here," the Redditor said.

B1/B2 visa denied

"Do you have any fear of returning to India? No, I don't have any fear; I will return back as I have my son, property here in India, and other community/religious duties."

Within five minutes of the conversation, the visa was denied. The visa officer also told her to apply again.

What went wrong?

The post has evoked a plethora of responses, with several users suggesting that the mother did not demonstrate strong enough ties to India.

A user wrote: "Widow with no job and not much ties to India. Dependent upon children and odds are you're the richer child."

Another wrote: "They don't care that you can afford it.

"They care that your mother has the profile of someone they think will return home.

"To the consular officer, she did not, and it's not hard to see why they made that determination. That's what a 214(b) denial means."

A third user said: "Her profile is very likely that of a person with immigration intent.

"Widow, daughter living in the US (LPR), purpose, stay duration, mismatch in DS-160 & interview. The bigger problem is the stable income missing; her son is taking care of her.

"Never say that you are funding the trip; it will just lead to another denial, making it more difficult next time.

"In her case, only time will help her and circumstances change (at least 1-2 years), reduce the duration of stay, keep a formal steady flow of income in some form i.e., filing ITR. Be very specific in itinerary."

A fourth user said: "Never say self.

"It doesn’t make you a true dependent, which raises questions.

"My mom is almost similar - except the fact that we mentioned as we sponsored it. She has property under her name."

(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content shared on social media. Livemint has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them)

About the Author

Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity. <br><br> With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture. <br><br> She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes. <br><br> Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.

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