‘I voluntarily returned to India’: Indian professional seeks answers after B1/B2 visa refusal

An Indian senior product manager has sought advice on Reddit after a U.S. business visa application was refused under Section 214(b), with the applicant wondering whether a misunderstanding over an unfinished PhD program may have influenced the decision.

The applicant, who previously studied and worked in the United States before returning to India in 2024, said the B1/B2 visa was sought for a company-sponsored trip to attend the AI4 Conference in Las Vegas, where they were scheduled to speak about the technical aspects of one of the company’s products.

Sharing their background, the Reddit user said they moved to the U.S. in 2018 to pursue a master’s degree and later worked on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT. They then enrolled in a PhD program at the University of the Cumberlands but decided not to complete it.

According to the post, the visa interview was brief. The officer asked about the purpose of the trip, the AI4 Conference, the applicant’s role at the event, previous international travel, and their academic history in the United States. The conversation turned to the applicant’s doctoral studies, with the officer referencing the institution’s Day 1 CPT program. The applicant said they responded that they had enrolled because of the coursework flexibility rather than Day 1 CPT.

After reviewing the applicant’s previous U.S. visa, taking fingerprints, and typing into the system, the officer concluded the interview. The application was subsequently refused under Section 214(b).