**Jasveer Singh, the Delhi-based co-founder and CEO of Knot Dating, recently revealed that his U.S. visa application was denied under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires applicants to prove intent to return to their home country. Singh claimed the denial was due to “weak ties” with India.
In a post on X, he expressed frustration: “I run a company in India, employ people in India, pay taxes in India, and have built everything here over the last 13 years. Apparently, that is not enough proof that I’ll return to India.” He also shared a copy of the denial letter and questioned the U.S. consulate’s evaluation process, tagging the U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor: “If this is your bar, either your definition of intent is broken or your evaluation process needs serious review. Train your New Delhi consulate teams better.”
Singh further noted that visa officers now reportedly check applicants’ social media activity. He added, “A friend said next time just delete your tweets on the U.S. and NRIs before the interview and your visa gets approved.”
In recent years, social media has become part of U.S. visa screening. Applicants must disclose social media handles used over the past five years on the DS-160 non-immigrant visa application form. Public social media activity is reviewed for background checks and identity verification. Incomplete or inconsistent information can raise concerns during the assessment process, making digital presence an additional factor in visa scrutiny.
Netizens reacted with mixed responses. One wrote, “It probably has to do with the region of India you are applying from. Punjab/Haryana, Gujarat, and Telangana are reportedly under stricter scrutiny for visas in some Anglosphere countries.” Another cautioned, “Posting this on X may decrease your chances in the future, as the decision cannot be appealed.” Others shared personal experiences, noting that a visa denial can sometimes be a blessing in disguise or simply a common hurdle for returning Indian nationals.
