US Tourist Visa Refused for Indian Family After China Travel Query

An Indian couple planning a US holiday with their infant had their B1/B2 tourist visa application refused after an interview in which the officer questioned the husband about his travel to China. The family described the interview on Reddit and asked for help understanding the decision, adding their account to a series of similar B1/B2 refusals for Indian travellers reported this year.

Key facts

• Who applied: an Indian husband and wife travelling with their infant, for a US vacation
• Visa type: US B1/B2 tourist visa
• Budget stated at interview: Rs 15 lakh, with the trip planned through a travel agent
• Travel history given: Australia, Thailand, Maldives and Bali
• Outcome: visa refused; no reason was given

What happened at the interview?

The couple said they were asked the routine question about whether they feared returning to India, which the account describes as a standard check on whether an applicant might claim asylum after entering the US. They told the officer their trip budget was Rs 15 lakh, that a travel agent was arranging the trip, and details of their jobs, positions and experience.

They also disclosed travel to Australia, Thailand, Maldives and Bali. The officer then asked the husband: "Why have you traveled to China?" — which we paraphrase here as a question about the purpose of his China travel. He replied that it had been a work visit and that his office is headquartered in China.

Two further questions followed, on whether the couple had only one child and whether they had anyone living in the US. They answered that they had one child, knew nobody in the US and planned to stay in hotels. The interview then ended and the visa was refused.

Why was the application refused?

The source does not state any official reason for the refusal, and no US authority is quoted explaining the decision. People responding online suggested several possible factors, including answers they considered too vague, the absence of a detailed itinerary such as hotel names and dates, the use of a travel agent, and the husband's employment with a company based in China. These are opinions from commenters, not stated grounds for refusal.

What this means for travellers

The account shows that US visa interviews for Indian applicants can cover past travel, employment, budget and family ties in some detail. Commenters argued that being ready with specific plans — named hotels, dates and places to visit — makes an application easier to assess than general statements about a holiday.

Travellers applying for a US B1/B2 visa should be prepared to explain the purpose of previous trips abroad and their employment, and to give concrete details of the planned US trip. No further steps, appeal deadlines or new rules were announced in this case.