Indian-origin parents were denied U.S. tourist visas four times. The family said nine years of struggle was not enough: “Is there still hope?”

A post on Reddit detailing an Indian family’s repeated U.S. visa denials sparked discussion online about how difficult it is to obtain a visitor visa, even after multiple attempts and better documentation.“Indian parents denied US tourist visa 4 times in 9 years – what are we doing wrong? Is there hope?” the Reddit user wrote, describing their long struggle to bring their parents to the US for a short visit.The post said the parents had applied for U.S. B1/B2 tourist visas four times in the past decade, but were denied each time under Section 214(b), which is typically used when officials do not believe an applicant will return to their home country. The user said they were “honestly at a loss at this time and looking for real, unfiltered advice.”The first two applications were made in 2017 when the parents planned to attend a wedding and visit family. Both were rejected. In 2018, a third attempt planned around the time the user graduated was also rejected. After that, the family waited nearly eight years before trying to travel and visit relatives again in 2026, but the result was the same.The user said the gap was intentional, explaining that the parents were simultaneously trying to make their case more convincing by establishing a travel history that included trips to Canada, Singapore and Malaysia. “They took their time, improved their image, and tried to address underlying issues, but the result remains the same,” they wrote.In a recent interview, the user said the process was extremely short. The officer asked only two questions and declined. “That’s it. The officer typed for a few seconds, looked at the screen, and then submitted a 214(b) denial,” the post said, adding that there were no questions about finances, employment or ties to India.The parents’ backgrounds are also outlined in detail. The father ran a construction company that worked on government-related projects, while the mother was a housewife. The family also has good connections in India, including an elderly dependent grandfather and another son who lives and works there. According to the user, his parents are financially stable and plan to fund the trip themselves. “They really just wanted to come visit me and take a short trip,” the user wrote.However, the user was concerned that family ties in the United States might affect the results. They have lived in the United States since 2016 and are now married and settled in the United States. My father also has a sibling who holds a US green card.“It’s frustrating,” the user wrote, “that we waited 8 years to reapply, and objectively their profile is now stronger, but the decision seems to be made in seconds without even discussing their relationship.”