F‑1 U.S. visa denied to a student after he helped an elderly; details inside

On May 30, 2025, an act of kindness by a young student took an unexpected turn. During a routine U.S. F‑1 visa interview at the Hyderabad Consulate, a student who was waiting for his own appointment, saw an elderly struggling with the visa process.

The boy, understanding their issue, stepped in to help the woman with understanding the B‑2 (tourist) visa.But the dynamics shifted, with the subsequent interview taking an unexpectedly technical turn and ultimately resulting in visa denial.The incidentThe student, pursuing a Master's in Data Science at Indiana University Bloomington, was there for his F‑1 interview. He then saw an older woman next to him struggling to understand the tourist visa process.

As per reports, the boy helped her by explaining her travel intent and making her understand the supporting documents. Not only that, he also accompanied her during the short queue. Though he did not speak for her during questioning, his support reportedly relaxed her.The visa officer then started the F‑1 interview with the student but the dynamic shifted quickly. What began as standard procedural questions about university choices and study plans, the officer started asking him about why he chose Data Science.

He also asked him how he intends to fund his education. He also started asking him some technical questions as well. Such is a rare concept during visa interviews focused on intent.

The student was left shocked but answered the questions competently. But his visa was denied under Section 214(b) — a common statute used when consular officers deem applicants insufficiently tied to their home country or suspect intent to immigrate.

The student later took to Reddit and shared his ordeal:“I was surprised by the level of technical questions asked… I tried to stay calm and answer everything honestly” Several Reddit users started sharing their experiences. One user remarked, “Wait whattt… why would he ask such questions.” Another told him to emphasise how his technical skills would benefit India after his studies.Well this is not the first time that such an incident is being reported. Several visa applicants across India have reported unexpected technical queries during their F‑1 interviews. The U.S. recently reinstated student visa interviews with added scrutiny—most notably requiring applicants to publicly open their social media accounts for review.