A U.S. visa rejection at the Kolkata consulate has sparked discussion online after a Reddit user, a final-year medical student, shared his experience. The student said he was denied a B1/B2 visa despite having secured a medical observership opportunity in the United States.
The B1/B2 visa, commonly granted for short-term business visits and tourism, is often used by international students seeking exposure through observerships or academic programs. His post highlights growing scrutiny over non-immigrant visa applicants, especially students and early-career professionals, as U.S. consulates weigh intent and eligibility more closely amid rising demand for travel and training opportunities.
During the interview, the consular officer asked standard questions about the student’s travel plans — including the purpose of the visit, details of the host hospital, current academic status, and intended duration of stay. The applicant explained that they had been accepted for a four-week medical observership program in the U.S. and also provided information about their parents’ professions.
“They own an IT solutions company that provides software and hardware support for other tech companies,” he said.
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However, the interview took an unexpected turn when the officer, without reviewing any supporting documents, informed the applicant that the visa could not be approved. After sharing the experience online, fellow Reddit users weighed in, offering possible explanations, from insufficient demonstration of home-country ties to the officer’s discretion in determining travel intent, highlighting the unpredictability of U.S. visa outcomes even for seemingly well-qualified applicants.
“Officer knows there’s a 100% chance you’ll be looking for a job in the U.S. during this observership. Zero reason why you can’t do an observership in India,” one of them posted.
“I am a current U.S. medical residency applicant this year, and USCE is absolutely necessary for a doctor to match into residency in the United States; it demonstrates that the individual understands and has worked in the U.S. healthcare system,” commented another user.
Another commenter noted that medical observerships are often viewed by foreign medical graduates as a stepping stone toward pursuing residency in the United States. While such ambitions are legitimate, the user pointed out that U.S. consular officers are well aware of this trajectory, which may make them more cautious when evaluating B1/B2 applications from students seeking short-term medical training.
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“In the current political climate, visas get denied for that exact reason… The fact that you have a visa denial on your record now will also make it considerably harder to overcome the hurdle to get a visa,” the user added.
“I don’t think you answered anything incorrectly at the interview. You answered concisely and specifically… A lot of times, it’s the officer’s ‘gut feeling’ and not something explicitly articulable,” another user wrote.
In recent months, several Indian applicants, even those with solid travel records and professional credentials have reported abrupt denials and tougher scrutiny at U.S. consulates.
Earlier in November, an Indian tech professional earning an annual package of ₹1 crore ($120,000) shared that his visa request was turned down in less than a minute after being asked only a few brief questions. The incident adds to growing concerns among applicants that visa decisions have become increasingly stringent, reflecting a broader tightening of U.S. travel vetting procedures.
The U.S. State Department has tightened its rules, requiring applicants to attend visa interviews only in their country of citizenship or legal residence. For Indian travelers, this effectively ends the earlier practice of seeking faster appointments in third countries, reinforcing Washington’s push for more consistent and locally verified visa processing.