Rs 49 LPA job at Big Four, father has diamond business in Gujarat: Redditor claims F-1 visa denied despite Harvard MBA admission, paid Rs 5 lakh for appointment to the agent

A Reddit user has shared an account claiming that she was refused a US F-1 student visa despite securing admission to Harvard for an MBA. The post has drawn attention online because of several details, particularly the amount the Redditor claimed to have paid an agent to secure a visa appointment.

Redditor Claims She Paid Rs 5 Lakh To Agent For Appointment

According to the Reddit post, the applicant said she used an agent to book her visa appointment and paid around Rs 5 lakh for the service.

"I booked my visa slot through an agent and paid an absolutely ridiculous amount (~5Lakhs). He managed to get me the appointment," the person said.


The interview reportedly took place at the US Embassy in New Delhi. The Redditor said there had already been several visa rejections before her interview, including that of an applicant heading to NYU Stern for an MBA.

Visa Officer Questioned Why She Wanted To Leave High-Paying Job

The Redditor claimed that the visa officer asked her routine questions and congratulated her on being selected for Harvard.

She said she works as a consultant at a Big Four firm in India and earns Rs 49 lakh per annum. The visa officer then questioned why she would leave a well-paying job to pursue an MBA.

Explaining her decision, the Redditor said: "I don’t see the MBA as leaving my career behind. It’s more of an investment in the next stage of it. My current role has given me strong analytical and consulting experience, but I want to build the management and leadership side of my skill set as well. I think the MBA will help me make that transition,"

Family Business Plans Also Discussed

The Redditor said she told the visa officer that her father is a diamond businessman in Gujarat, while her mother runs an NGO in Jamnagar.

She reportedly explained that she eventually wanted to join the family business and had no plans to settle in the US.

The applicant also said she was questioned about her travel history. According to her account, she had travelled to 18 countries and already held a valid B1/B2 visa for the US.

Existing US Tourist Visa Also Cancelled

Despite the discussion, the Redditor claimed that the visa officer ultimately refused her F-1 application.

"Unfortunately, you do not qualify for a US visa," the visa officer reportedly told her.

She also claimed that her existing B1/B2 visa was cancelled, with a stamp stating: "Cancelled without prejudice".

Reddit Users Question Rs 5 Lakh Agent Payment

The post triggered a discussion on Reddit, with several users focusing on the claim that the applicant had paid around Rs 5 lakh to an agent to secure the appointment.

Some users described the payment as a major red flag, while others questioned whether the incident had actually taken place or whether the post was fabricated.

Some commenters also questioned why a consultant earning Rs 49 lakh annually would need a Harvard MBA if she eventually planned to join her family's business.

Redditor Responds To Questions About Harvard MBA

Responding to speculation about whether she actually needed an MBA, the Redditor defended her decision to pursue the degree.

"If I need Harvard or not, that’s honestly my problem. If I get into Harvard and i’m able to get in, I’ll go, simple as that. I don’t really see the point in speculating about whether i “need” an MBA or whether the family business needs it. that’s a personal decision and it doesn’t really have anything to do with the visa," the Redditor said.

The claims remain based on an unverified Reddit post, and the details of the alleged visa interview have not been independently confirmed.

[With TOI inputs]

Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Reddit. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.