Indian student denied US F1 visa twice, rebuilds profile and lands job at Tesla

Mayank Vadaliya, an Indian student working at Tesla, shared his experience of being denied a U.S. F1 student visa on two separate occasions before eventually succeeding. He emphasized that visa rejections are not insurmountable obstacles and highlighted his strategy of focusing on personal development over trying to persuade visa officers.

Vadaliya's first attempt to study in the U.S. was in 2015 when he was 18. He applied to Montana State University for his bachelor's degree, but his visa was rejected after only three basic questions. He reapplied the following year to the same university but faced another rejection.

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My first attempt to secure admission in an American University was back in 2015. I was all of 18 years of age, fresh out of school, and all I wanted was to study in the U.S. I applied for an F-1 visa to do my bachelor’s, and I believed in it so much that I just applied to one university – Montana State University. My visa was promptly rejected after asking just three questions – my name, age and who would pay my fee.

After these setbacks, Vadaliya changed his approach. Instead of solely relying on university admissions to build his profile, he focused on strengthening his own qualifications and experiences. He pursued a degree at Gujarat Technological University. This shift in strategy proved effective when he reapplied for a master's program in the U.S.

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After my two refusals I stopped trying to win over the officer in the moment and started building a profile that speaks for itself. I finished my degree, got clarity on what I wanted to study and clearly stated my intent in the application.

By his third visa interview, Vadaliya felt more confident, partly due to having an offer from Australia in hand. He approached the interview with a calmer demeanor, stating he was no longer afraid of another refusal. This confidence, coupled with his improved profile, led to his successful application.

He arrived in the U.S. in 2020 to pursue a master's in computer science at Cleveland State University. Subsequently, he worked as an application support engineer, gaining practical experience in the tech industry. Vadaliya currently holds an F1 visa with work authorization until 2028 through Curricular Practical Training and is pursuing a PhD. He is considering future visa options like H-1B or O-1, contingent on his eligibility and company sponsorship, and continues to prioritize self-improvement.

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By my third interview, I already had an offer from Australia in hand, so I walked in calm instead of desperate. I genuinely wasn’t afraid of another ‘no’ and it showed.