Is social media to blame? US visa rejection triggers sharp response from Delhi startup founder
Jasveer Singh, co-founder and CEO of Knot Dating, said he was denied a US visa under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a provision that requires applicants to demonstrate strong intent to return to their home country
A Delhi-based startup founder has criticised the US consulate after his visa application was rejected, questioning the assessment standards used by visa officers and urging better training of consulate staff.
Jasveer Singh, co-founder and CEO of Knot Dating, said he was denied a US visa under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a provision that requires applicants to demonstrate strong intent to return to their home country.
Sharing the rejection on social media platform X, Singh said the reason cited was “weak ties to India”, a justification he described as contradictory given his professional and financial commitments in the country.
“I run a company in India, provide employment, pay taxes here and have built my career over the last 13 years,” Singh wrote, questioning how this could still be seen as insufficient proof of his intent to return.
The entrepreneur raised concerns over the visa evaluation process, suggesting that either the interpretation of “non-immigrant intent” is flawed or that applications are not being assessed properly.
Tagging US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, Singh called for a review of procedures at the New Delhi consulate, stating that visa officials require improved training to ensure fair evaluations.
Singh also referred to reports that US visa officers examine applicants’ social media presence, remarking sarcastically that deleting critical posts might improve approval chances.
Rising concerns among Indian entrepreneurs
Singh’s case adds to a growing number of Indian entrepreneurs who have publicly spoken about US visa denials in recent months, amid tighter immigration enforcement policies under the Donald Trump administration.
Recently, Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Dhananjay Yadav also said his visa application was rejected despite having previously studied in the United States and asserting that he had no intention of remaining there.
The incidents have fueled debate within India’s startup ecosystem about transparency and consistency in US visa decisions.
