F-1 Rejected 4 Times: Indian Student’s Huge Win

F1 visa rejections can break you, especially when it happens four times across four cities. That’s what happened to an Indian applicant who got approved for a student visa in his fifth attempt.

Back in 2012, this person faced four straight rejections for an MS in CS from a tier-2 university. Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi all said no under 214b. But in 2015, a new course, a new mindset, and one honest conversation later, his F1 visa was approved in Chennai.

So, what changed? Not much on paper, but everything in attitude.

He didn’t fake answers anymore. He stopped memorizing scripts written by others. And he applied to only one university, but this time, it aligned with his profile and goals. An MS in MIS, after two years of work experience, made sense.

He didn’t pretend to be someone desperate to stay in the US forever. He said he wanted the degree, some work experience, and to return.

And the biggest shift was the boost in confidence. In 2012, he wore a suit, memorized answers, and was visibly nervous. In 2015, he showed up in jeans, a polo tee, and sneakers—calm, conversational, and carefree.

While the incident is 10 years old, it was only recently shared by the F-1 student as an inspirational story for all those getting rejected today. As Indians are witnessing more visa rejections with stricter curbs, this story reminds them how to conduct themselves in the face of adversity.