F-1 Visa Rejected Over Minor Mistake: Indian Student Shares Experience to Warn Others

An Indian student who had secured admission to the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) for a Master’s program in Computer and Information Sciences recently faced an unexpected setback when his F-1 visa application was denied during an interview at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.

The student shared his experience on Reddit, hoping to help future applicants avoid similar mistakes.

The visa interview took place on June 18, with the student scheduled for a 9:10 AM slot. After arriving on time and waiting for his turn, he approached the visa counter and greeted the consular officer with a polite “Good morning.” The officer, reportedly in his 30s, had just returned from a brief break.

The officer asked for the student’s I-20 form and passport, then confirmed his intended course and university. The student replied that he was enrolling in "Computer Science" at UTA. However, the I-20 listed the program as “Computer and Information Sciences.” The student chose not to clarify this slight discrepancy during the exchange, which may have contributed to confusion about his application.

When asked why he selected UTA, the student began explaining the university’s academic strengths and its alignment with his career goals. However, he was interrupted mid-sentence. The officer then asked why he chose computer science, to which the student responded by sharing his long-standing passion for the subject.

In the final part of the interview, the officer inquired—though somewhat unclearly—either about the number of universities the student had applied to or how many offers he had received. The student named a few institutions, including the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT), and SUNY Binghamton, but was unable to elaborate before the officer concluded the interview with a firm statement: “Sorry, I cannot approve your visa.”

The student’s candid account underscores how even minor errors or miscommunications during a visa interview can impact the outcome. By sharing his story, he hopes to prepare other applicants for the high-stakes process and the importance of clarity and accuracy in every response.

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