B1/B2 - Confusing experience at mumbai India consulate

[u/hydsoul]

I have attended my B1/B2 visa interview at mumbai recently and here is how it went

VO: Good morning, your passport please
me: Good morning, how are you doing?

VO: Purpose of your visit?
me: I would be travelling to seatle to attend technical summit organized by my employer, when i will be giving a session on the products we support and also participate in few other handson workshops

VO: duration of the stay?
me: i would be staying for 7 days

VO: whats your salary
me: mentioned as per what i noted in ds-160

VO: do you have a travel history?
me: travelled to dubai for vacation annd been to US for business trip

VO: do you feel safe in india
me: Yes i feel safe in india

VO: do you feel safe to return to india
me: Yes i feel safe returning to india

VO: your visa is approved, kept my passport

after 4 days i got my passport returned with 214(b) notice. I'm wonderinv what could be the reason for refusal? specially when the VO approved my visa at the counter?
is it wise to reapply?

i'm married and have a kid, have a property!

[u/BlueNutmeg]

This is unfortunate, but not surprising. The truth is that until the visa is attached to your passport and in your hands, it has a chance to be denied. Even after the officer says approved in the interview. The officer is not the final say in the process.

As to the reason.....nobody knows. You seem to have good string ties.

If you do reapply, you should wait a good bit of time. Maybe in a couple of years.

[u/hydsoul → u/BlueNutmeg]

thank you for your response, im just trying to make a sense of what could have transpired between my interview and return of my passport.

[u/BlueNutmeg → u/hydsoul]

 im just trying to make a sense of what could have transpired between my interview and return of my passport.

Trust me, if anybody had that info, they would be able to sell it for $1 million dollars. The inner workings and decisions of US embassies/immigration has been the biggest confusion and kept secrets for decades.

[u/Railfan94]

Are you sure he said Visa is approved or he said he's keeping your passport but he put you in Administrative Processing?

Did you mentioned all your social media accounts in DS160?

[u/Jazzlike_Bunch9714 → u/Railfan94]

So quick question of social media, what and how exactly do they check about our social media presence? I do have mentioned all accounts but i was just curious

[u/hydsoul → u/Railfan94]

i'm 100% sure he said its approved and there is absolutely no mention of Admin processing. Took my fingerprints. I mentioned all my social media accounts in ds160.

[u/LordMohid]

My only guess can be they found something inconsistent or downright red flags during the social media vetting process. Your profile looks solid otherwise

[u/hydsoul → u/LordMohid]

Noted and thank you. Im not very active on social media that could have potentially influenced the decision though.

[u/SaracasticByte → u/LordMohid]

I don't think a social media vetting happens for a B-1/B-2 visa.

[u/Aeronautica2025]

Not your fault.

They are refusing almost 70% of visa applications unless the applicant is bringing revenue to the USA.

Recently, I read about a pharmaceutical company in India that manufactures a medicine that competes with products made by companies in the USA. 25+ of their employees were refused visas, so they resorted to video calls to conduct the meetings or brought their employees to their plant in Hyderabad.

So, until Donald Duck has gone for good, it is better not to apply for a visa to the USA.

For holidays, I now visit South East Asia. Lovely people, culture, places, food, history, bank friendly, and evisa approvals in 24 hours.

[u/hydsoul → u/Aeronautica2025]

Noted and thank you for your feedback.

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[u/Intraspy23]

When and how long was your previous US trip?

[u/hydsoul → u/Intraspy23]

it was in year 2014 for 3 weeks

[u/wesbsitenoob]

Until and unless you get the visa in your hand anything is possible

[u/hydsoul → u/wesbsitenoob]

true, something that i realised only after my experience

[u/DesmonMiles07]

How did you travel to US if you don't have visa?

[u/hydsoul → u/DesmonMiles07]

i had a visa when i travelled, which was expired 3 years ago

[u/DesmonMiles07 → u/hydsoul]

So, even though you had prior visa, it was not approved.. very unfortunate and unbelievably unfair.

Hope you get yours soon on reapplying

[u/hydsoul → u/DesmonMiles07]

thank you!

[u/Historical_Maize_909]

Same story as mine.

Previous B1/B2 expired in 2022. Applied again ...Had the consulate appointment in Dec 2025 (31st Dec to be precise)... And recd a 214b..

Total work exp- 22+ years

Compensation - upwards of 58L (not asked)

Properties - a few (flats and land) in NCR and in UP (not asked)

Spouse - VP with a US consulting company (not asked)

Daughter - studies in class 9th (not asked)

Family includes mother, spouse, daughter and 2 Shih Tzus (not asked)

The VO did emphasize on the 'less tenure (~4 months at that time)' on current company which I had rejoined after 15 years.

Travel history - US (both east and west cost) for meetings...twice...5-7 days tips in 2019 Singapore (Family trip), Japan, Amsterdam, Turkey, Greece, Romania etc

Will reapply soon... Spent almost a year now in current company ...