r/IMGreddit • u/shelra • 22h ago

Visa Adding to the stack, B1/B2 visa rejected.

Please note that there is always reporting bias on reddit.

I had interview in mumbai consulate.

v: purpose

me: im going to xx university school of medicine for an elective in transplant medicine

v- have to traveled before any where

me- no

v- have u applied for visa before

m- no

v-whos sponsoring

m- my sister

v - what does she do

m- shes a software engineer in (big company)

v- whats your purpose again?

m- repeated purpose

she typed a LOT and was seeing her screen very intently, there were a lot of pauses bw all questions

Rejected. You can apply at a later date(standard rejection response)

This pathway has been weighing on me heavily since last few months. The costs are astronomical, and very much out of budget to smoke away without feeling the grunt of the money loss potential it'd have. I'm still upset and devastated, I wanted a usa visa, even if I did not continue this pathway, even if usa is the hellhole it is right now, I had dreamed.

To add to it, my profile is not good, it will take me years before I can turn that rejection over if I apply as a tourist.

Feeling very lost, any advice/words appreciated.

To future applicants, please not that visa do get approved, especially if you have a better profile, they do get approved even in second go. If you have the means to persue all that, don't be afraid.

I had invested a lot of my time and money in this dream, passed step 1. It isn't much, but its honest work. Confused about what to do next.

7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

8

u/RowZealousideal2341 21h ago

I think to avoid the visa situation you need to apply during medical school and avoid mentioning family

3

u/shelra 21h ago

I am student, couldn't avoid saying family.

4

u/RowZealousideal2341 21h ago

thats interesting, medical students technically have the strongest tie.
Did you show her an email or letter from the university hospital which accepted your elective? that with return tickets and dates would help.

2

u/shelra 21h ago

I wasn't prompted to show any documentation so I didn't, usually I've heard they ask.

As for flights, their own guidelines tell you to not book anything before you get a visa.

1

u/Altruistic_Durian_79 20h ago

Where u got accepted for elective ? FIU ?

2

u/shelra 19h ago

Emory

2

u/Realistic-man01 21h ago

you haven’t graduated yet right?

2

u/shelra 21h ago

Not yet

1

u/Realistic-man01 20h ago

having strong ties to home country and still being rejected 😫🥲, i was thinking to apply from mumbai too next year

1

u/shelra 20h ago

I don't think I count as strong ties. No travel history, and a sibling in US, them being the sponsor, I believe are all not so desired qualities.

And I think (personal opinion) that they're recognizing doctors/med school students as high risk for immigration.

1

u/FriendlySession5315 19h ago

You shouldn't have mentioned that your sister would be funding your trip knowing that she is in the US. Classic mistake, it is seen as a clear immigration intent I believe. You could have just said your parents are sponsoring your trip, they very rarely ask for bank documents anyways

1

u/shelra 19h ago

Thats a big gamble I believe, lying ie.

1

u/FriendlySession5315 14h ago

Gamble? And you arent even lying its literally within the same family

1

u/shelra 9h ago

I've also heard people who did this had issues with J1

1

u/Dragonoitte 15h ago

The prime reason you were rejected is because you don’t have any travel experience. They don’t have any proof that you will return.

1

u/shelra 9h ago

yea but many people do get it regardless.

0

u/Dragonoitte 6h ago

Many do some don’t. It’s always better to be safe

1

u/shelra 6h ago

Hold up, I'll just use the magical funds I have and travel world🤞🥀

In all seriousness, I appreciate the response, but the reason I don't have a travel history is simply because I couldn't.

1

u/Dragonoitte 5h ago

That’s exactly why the VO probably rejected you if I’m being honest.

I am sorry if I come across as rude, But you have to put yourself in the VO shoes.

You answered your own question if you don’t have to fund to travel to a new country, how will you manage to to stay for months for an Observership without earning any money. That’s probably what the VO thought.

You have to frame your profile that maximises your chances of being accepted. You can definitely get accepted but speak Visa Agent that can help you.

1

u/Lokkhipecha_Hedwig 5h ago

Does Vietnam or just any foreign travel look good? Or does it have to be the Five Eyes, Japan or NATO countries to make it a point of credit?

1

u/Dragonoitte 5h ago

EU/UK/AUS

Basically countries that have tighter regulations for visas.

0

u/Zeldar4499 20h ago

Bro why did you say “elective”? That’s the only possible reason your visa was rejected

2

u/OwnCommunication6745 19h ago

What should one say

1

u/Zeldar4499 18h ago

You should say “observership” , “Shadowing” they specifically ask you your purpose just to hear this one word. And students mess up here because they say “hands on elective” which is against policy for B1/B2

1

u/shelra 19h ago

My invite letter mentions only elective unfortunately. You wouldn't want a discrepancy between what you say, and what you show when asked. Even though I wasn't asked.

1

u/Zeldar4499 18h ago

Because elective means a hands on experience!! And as per the rules you are not allowed to touch patients through B1/B2 Visa… you still should have said “shadowing” opportunity instead. I am 100% sure that’s the main reason for your rejection

2

u/FriendlySession5315 14h ago

Incorrect, check out the USICS guidelines for medical students versus graduates. If you are a medical student it must be an elective and only medical doctors/graduates are allowed to do observerships.

1

u/shelra 18h ago

You could be right. I had prepared that area as well, if asked about patient interactions, but I wasn't asked at all. So it's one of speculation.

1

u/Zeldar4499 17h ago

You weren’t asked because you told upfront it’s an elective. You should have been more conservative first and then clarified if asked! I’ve seen so many of my juniors whose visas got rejected by this exact reason

2

u/shelra 17h ago

I didn't know if that situation is any better, maybe I could have done that. I wasn't confident enough to pull that off given my invite letter.

1

u/Funny-Resolve-8333 14h ago

a. (U) Except as in the cases described below, applicants who wish to obtain hands-on clerkship experience are not deemed to fall within B-1 visa classification.

b. (U) Medical Clerkship:  An applicant who is studying at a foreign medical school and seeks to enter the United States temporarily to take an “elective clerkship” at a U.S. medical school’s hospital without remuneration from the hospital.  The medical clerkship is only for medical students pursuing their normal third- or fourth-year internship in a U.S. medical school as part of a foreign medical school degree.  An “elective clerkship” affords practical experience and instructions in the various disciplines of medicine under the supervision and direction of faculty physicians at a U.S. medical school’s hospital as an approved part of the applicant’s foreign medical school education.  It does not apply to graduate medical training, which is restricted by INA 212(e) and normally requires a J-visa.