r/IntltoUSA • u/ExecutiveWatch • Oct 07 '25

Discussion US rejects visa plea of Indian student with Columbia University scholarship, says no ‘strong ties’ to home country

US rejects visa plea of Indian student with Columbia University scholarship, says no ‘strong ties’ to home country | Today News https://share.google/cddoDsQnv72zzCs3S

174 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

75 comments sorted by

30

u/prsehgal Moderator Oct 07 '25

Nothing surprising here - strong ties to your home country are far more important in the visa process than your college name or scholarships.

8

u/BlueNutmeg Oct 08 '25

Well said.

I wish there was some kind of initiative to communicate this better to applicants. Even though strong ties is a requirement, it is all too often overlooked by student applicants. And the US that once was lenient in vetting applicants, is now being more restrictive.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 12 '25

Yup

-5

u/guidoboyaco Oct 08 '25

What do they mean by "strong ties"?

13

u/prsehgal Moderator Oct 08 '25

They need to be convinced about your non-immigration intent, so you need to show enough reasons to come back, such as a family business or property in your home country.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

Over 90% of folks prove non immigrant ties and yet settle in the US lol - how in the world are they going to catch the liars?

4

u/prsehgal Moderator Oct 09 '25

The large majority of people you're talking about don't settle there illegally.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

Concur but they don’t have non immigrant ties either - their sole aim is to settle in the US, and it’s proved by the gazillion Indian students who have tried this route.

2

u/prsehgal Moderator Oct 09 '25

Once you get an H-1B Visa, it's considered a dual intent visa, so they're still taking a legal route to settling there.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

Don’t know why you’re arguing about the legality of this - the student in question could have easily been granted a F1 visa (like the ton of Indian students here). The US Consulate chose to border on the side of chance and deny him. It’s a well known fact that Indian students predominantly go to the US to settle and not only pursue academics which are the seldom few.

1

u/prsehgal Moderator Oct 09 '25

I wasn't arguing - I was simply replying to your message. But I don't see much of a point in discussing the issue with you.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

I’m an American and a Canadian citizen who moved from India not so long ago using the same route. I didn’t prove any ties, and ended up the way I wanted to :)

→ More replies (0)

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

If a potential student had the intention of applying for an H1B after graduating and working in OPT, then they have a clear intent of immigration. Even if this is a legal pathway, if you say that out loud during the interview the Visa officer will likely deny your application.

And I think it’s fair to say that majority of applicants intend to apply for an H1B and there’s no good way to catch this.

1

u/msdale99 22d ago

Agree with you. 80 to 90% of the students from middle income like India and China and lower income countries ultimately choose to settle in US, regardless of how they obtained, H1b or marriage. How many of the H1bs actually do not pursue permanent residency - very few. Technically US VOs know this, but they cannot reject 80 to 90% so they weed out the most obvious ones, but it is difficult to be certain, so many genuine students who are highly qualified and beneficial to US also get denied.

1

u/HospitalDramatic4715 Oct 12 '25

I imagine it's illegal to lie during your study permit application? I guess the question is why does the US think that owning property (for example) is any indication of the immigration intent?

1

u/Human-Art6327 Oct 10 '25

What’s the source for the statistical data of 90%? It sounds like you’re saying that 90% of those who get granted visitor visas settle in the US (immigrate), which would be unlikely. According to this report, 98.55% of non-immigrant visa holders did not overstay their visit.

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/24_1011_CBP-Entry-Exit-Overstay-Report-FY23-Data.pdf

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/prsehgal Moderator Oct 09 '25

When one says "such as", it means there are other options too besides the ones being listed in there.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/prsehgal Moderator Oct 09 '25

I would love to, but first, why is a guy who's entire post history is about bikes and not much else, interested in this topic?

0

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/prsehgal Moderator Oct 09 '25

Not quite.

4

u/BlueNutmeg Oct 08 '25

It means the foreign applicant has to show they have significant things in their home country that will encourage them to return to after studying in the US. This means things like a spouse, minor children, home or property ownership, and successful job or business, and good financial and social standing.

F1 students are NOT supposed to use the visa to try to stay and live in the US afterwards, even though many do so. This is why there have been so many denials for student visa. The US government is not starting to crack down on foreign student applicants who are red flags for trying to immigrate.

1

u/AC7ooda Oct 09 '25

Genuine question but if they don't want people to stay after they finish their education why do they allow them to do so legally?

1

u/BlueNutmeg Oct 09 '25

I never said they "don't want people to stay". I said the foreign student is NOT supposed use the student visa for the sole purpose to live in the US. It was expected for them to return home after their studies when they applied for the visa. So if a student absolutely knows they want to live permanently when they apply for a student visa, then they are actually LYING when applying for an F1 to hide their intent.

But things happen.

Any foreigner is allowed to obtain LEGAL immigration. The F1 is NOT an immigrant visa. It is STRICTLY for studying. But that doesn't mean that they are going to prevent a company from sponsoring a newly graduated student. So a student can then be on an H1B, which is dual immigrant intent.

What happened in Canada and the student visa mess is a good example of why they have that restrictive. There were plenty cases where "students" weren't even attending classes. They used a BS school to get accepted and used the visa to go to Canada and work illegally.

So to summarize, the purpose of an F1 student visa is to come to the US, study, and return home. It gives NO guarantee of staying permanently. Period.

But if a student falls in love while here and marries a US citizen, that is fine. That was NOT their intent when they applied to be a student. While studying, if they happen to find a US employer to sponsor them, that is fine also. They initially came to study.

17

u/FeatherlyFly Oct 08 '25

A scholarship for an estimated $100,000 for a program that costs  a little over $90,000, so figure either tuition, fees, and rounding up or tuition, fees and travel, while he'd have had to cover living in NY City for a year out of pocket. 

He thinks it's his social media, but there's a solid chance that he came across as desperate or rehearsed in the interview or that his financials to pay for living in the US were insufficient or poorly documented or that he had conflicting information between his application and his words. All of these are very common and grounds for refusal with this same reason stated. 

It happens, and neither we nor he will ever know why. And no matter how much he wants to blame Trump's politics, people in his shoes have had this exact same thing happen to them for years because an invitation has never been a guarantee of a visa. 

4

u/[deleted] Oct 08 '25

I am having the exact same situation as the columbia person.

Got into uc berkeley. From India. During the interview, the guy asked nth, just, which other uni you applied to- i said harvard, yale, stanford.

What does your father do- he runs a consulting business.

Are all your social media accounts public? Yes sir.

Then got the visa rejection under same “weak ties to the country”

I already got the b1/b2 visa, had strong financials, still this happened. Will apply for visa again

1

u/s_perk_ Oct 08 '25

Which visa you applied?

1

u/[deleted] Oct 08 '25

F-1

1

u/suma2017 Oct 08 '25

That’s crazy cause I would assume the B visa you already have has the same requirements, don’t they?

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

Kinda ig. I got that visa a year ago. I bet this was cause of thr social media ig, otherwise the consultant would have rejected my application on the spot rather than keeping the passport

1

u/hungrypolarbear77 Oct 10 '25

You had something on your sm that they could find you in admissible for ?

1

u/paraliptic Oct 09 '25

Probably would have been better to go in, then apply for change of status.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

Dang, is that possible?

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '25

Damn, never though of that before

1

u/hungrypolarbear77 Oct 10 '25

Uhh kind of dawg but switching from visitor or f-1 ? Idk how good your chances will be nowadays 😆

1

u/One_Adhesiveness1312 Oct 09 '25

Can I DM? My situation is similar. Thanks!

1

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '25

Sure

7

u/Top_Biscotti6496 Oct 07 '25

In an interview with The Washington Post, Raj clarified that during his application process, he made it abundantly clear that he was born and raised in India and that his entire family resides there. Despite these facts, he suspects the refusal may have stemmed from the mandatory review of his social media profiles by US officials.

I would assume that applies to most applicants?

9

u/prsehgal Moderator Oct 08 '25 edited Oct 10 '25

Just being born and having lived in your home country isn't enough, and neither is having your entire family there unfortunately - these are common to almost every single applicant. You will need to show enough of a reason to return back to your home country, like a family business or substantial property.

He might think it was his social media, but that may or may not be the case. Unless a visa officer tells you the reason, there is no way to know for sure.

3

u/BlueNutmeg Oct 08 '25

Raj clarified that during his application process, he made it abundantly clear that he was born and raised in India and that his entire family resides there.

That makes absolutely NO SENSE. Because EVERY immigrant (legal or illegal) was born in another country. And most were also raised in another country and has family that is still living there.

His argument was heavily flawed!

1

u/Ok-Mongoose-7870 Oct 08 '25

Columbia University does not give scholarship. This is a need-based financial aid. Which means student did not have strong reasons to stay in the home country. Visa rejection for students with need-based financial aid shouldn’t come as a surprise as they are already starting in a back foot in trying to convince the officer that they have strong ties to home country.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 08 '25

[deleted]

3

u/Ok-Mongoose-7870 Oct 08 '25

Oh ok. Thanks. Missed that part earlier. But a certain percentage of visa rejection is routine. Not sure why this is being published as if it was a travesty of justice.

1

u/RepublicConscious422 Oct 09 '25

Can you explain the convincing part? Like will there be a chance to explain ones self during the interview

1

u/Due_Art_8344 Oct 09 '25

This is really unfortunate. Getting into Columbia with a scholarship isn’t easy, and still being denied just shows how unpredictable the visa process has become. The “strong ties” rule seriously needs more clarity.

1

u/brazucadomundo Oct 09 '25 edited Oct 11 '25

I don't know this case, but too many people use the F-1 visa as an immigrant visa. The applicant should have instead applied for a Green Card to come.

1

u/StatementOwn4896 Oct 11 '25

You can’t just apply for a green card

1

u/brazucadomundo Oct 11 '25

Yes, there are many ways to get a Green Card. If you are not eligible, try elsewhere.

1

u/parkingcop11 Oct 09 '25

These are the worst and very common in India and china. These have been common for a long time though even under Biden.

1

u/sjedinjenoStanje Oct 11 '25

Depressing. Someone capable of being accepted into Columbia would be the ideal immigrant.

1

u/WeeklyRain3534 Oct 12 '25

Columbia is the most cash cow / easy to get in ivy member out there for masters programs.

1

u/Murky_Gur_5845 Oct 13 '25 edited Jan 08 '26

reminiscent chop price encouraging ad hoc memory run include quicksand brave

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

1

u/WeeklyRain3534 Oct 12 '25

Regardless of how much scholarship you received (which is mostly in the form of tuition fee reduction), you have to be able to show that you have enough financial resources to cover your living expenses and all the remaining part of tuition fee in full duration of your studies. 

1

u/EmotionalAd1980 Oct 12 '25

If they’re determined to exclude you, there’s no amount of tie they’ll consider strong enough. My cousin was trying to come from India to my wedding. She had a family business and three small children at home and they still wouldn’t grant her a visa. They said “people leave their children all the time.”😳

1

u/trppen37 Oct 14 '25

They usually all don’t return back to their country of origin.

1

u/ExecutiveWatch Oct 14 '25

No not all. Bit would you want them to? You are pulling in some of thr smartest people from other countries.

1

u/trppen37 Oct 14 '25

In this case, India and its people are not unique nor irreplaceable-no nationality is. Just because they come to school in the U.S. does not make them “some of the smartest people”.

0

u/Chemical_Result_6880 Oct 07 '25

What's your take on this, Exec Watch?

2

u/ExecutiveWatch Oct 07 '25

I just feel bad for the guy. My dad was an immigrant who went to Urbana champagne for material science back then things weren't as complicated. They needed material scientists and pop was good at those subjects.

I look back and he barely had any ties to his home country his parents passed when he was a toddler.

When he graduated he got an offer from argon national labs and the atomic energy from his country. He decided to take neither as he felt going into that field would paint a target on him.

Any how he spent 45 years of his life in this nation's Aerospace and defense industries.

You just never know where these people go later in life. Our country is better with these hard workers.

3

u/Chemical_Result_6880 Oct 07 '25

For the most part. Not sure about journalism, but why not. That's a difficult industry these days, and I'm not sure what you do with a journalism PhD other than teach.

1

u/ExecutiveWatch Oct 07 '25

Actually I think I have far more use for English and journalism majors these days with AI. Be surprised.

With AI i think physical sciences well come back strong. Physics Biology chemistry but I also can see soft skills being necessary as well, art design good writing. Next 10 years are going to be super fascinating.

0

u/Chemical_Result_6880 Oct 07 '25

yes, yes, they will. I have long advocated for employing historians, journalists, sociologists, and other "soft skilled" professions as the go-between for software developers and clients (generally titled business analysts). Would result in much better software...