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Indian student's F-1 visa denied after revealing Rs 1.24 crore education loan and low family income
🇮🇳 India /Culture & Society

Indian student's F-1 visa denied after revealing Rs 1.24 crore education loan and low family income

From Times of India · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • An Indian student seeking an MS in Computer Science at Columbia University had their F-1 visa denied at the Delhi consulate.
  • The denial, under section 214(b), followed a brief interview where the student revealed a large education loan and a parental income insufficient to cover it.
  • Social media users suggested the visa officer denied the application due to concerns about the student's financial stability and potential need to work illegally in the U.S.

An Indian student's pursuit of a Master of Science in Computer Science at Columbia University was halted after their F-1 student visa was denied at the U.S. consulate in Delhi. The interview, lasting a mere two to three minutes, resulted in a denial under section 214(b), indicating the applicant failed to demonstrate sufficient qualification for the nonimmigrant visa category.

Your visa was denied because an annual parental income of ₹12 LPA is completely inadequate to back a massive ₹1.25 Crore loan, signalling to the officer that you have zero financial cushion and will be forced to work illegally in the US to survive.

— Reddit UserA social media user explained why they believed the student's visa was denied, focusing on the financial disparity.

The student, a 2025 graduate, shared details of the interview on Reddit, revealing that when asked about sponsorship, they disclosed a student loan of Rs 1.25 crore from an Indian bank, supplemented by parental support. However, when questioned about parental income, the student stated it was Rs 12 lakh per annum. The applicant also confirmed an intention to return to India after completing their studies, yet the visa was still denied.

To fix this, you must secure that ₹62 lakh scholarship and request an updated I-20 from Columbia reflecting the new lower cost, as a new I-20 is absolutely mandatory whenever your funding structure changes.

— Reddit UserThe same user offered advice on how the student could improve their chances for a future visa application.

Online discussions highlighted potential red flags in the student's responses. Many pointed out that a Rs 1.24 crore education loan presents a significant financial burden, and the stated parental income appeared inadequate to support such a loan. Some users felt the answer regarding Columbia University sounded rehearsed. In response to the student's query about reapplying, citing additional financial resources like parents' savings of Rs 98 lakh and a potential Rs 62 lakh Rajasthan government scholarship, users suggested the visa officer may have acted to prevent the student from facing financial hardship or working illegally in the U.S. One commenter noted that the parental income was insufficient to back the loan, signaling a lack of financial cushion and a potential need for illegal work to survive.

There was no chance it was getting approved.

— Reddit UserA social media user expressed a strong opinion on the initial visa application's low probability of success.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Times of India in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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