Former Us Visa Officer Reveals Why Honest Indians Get Rejected

Speaking on a podcast, Bansal said many Indian applicants approach the visa interview like an exam, memorising answers instead of speaking naturally.

According to her, even truthful answers can sound dishonest if they appear rehearsed.

“Indian students are taught to memorise everything. They treat the visa interview as a test to crack,” she said.

Bansal explained that US visa officers are trained to observe not just what applicants say, but how they say it. If an applicant suddenly changes their tone or sounds like they are reciting prepared answers or reading from AI-generated text, it raises suspicion.

She said there are several psychological factors at play during the short visa interview.

According to Bansal, many Indian students place visa officers on a pedestal and often agree with their assumptions, even when those assumptions are incorrect.

She attributed this partly to cultural differences. While Indian culture values humility and harmony, American interviewers generally expect direct and confident responses.

“The visa interview is not the place to be overly humble,” she said, adding that applicants should politely correct the officer if they have misunderstood something.

Bansal also pointed out that if a husband answers a question directed at his wife during a visa interview, it is considered a red flag by visa officers.

She said many students claim they want to study in the US to work with a particular professor because they have memorised that answer during mock interviews.

“People prepare as if it’s another IIT entrance exam. But the US interview doesn’t work that way,” she said.

Bansal also highlighted two common mistakes. Giving only one- or two-word answers can make an applicant appear evasive, while providing too much information can also hurt the interview.

She added that many applicants become anxious about carrying unnecessary documents, even though visa officers often do not ask to see them.

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