Indian founder’s US visa denied due to ‘insufficient ties to home country’
Indian Entrepreneur's US Visa Denied Over 'Weak Ties to Home Country'
Indian founder s US visa denied - Swapnil Srivastav, the founder of the kidswear brand Kidbea, shared his frustration after being denied a US visa. The rejection, according to the consulate, stemmed from concerns about his "insufficient ties" to India, despite his notable achievements in the country.
The 32-year-old entrepreneur, based in Delhi NCR, applied for a visitor visa but was told his connection to India wasn’t strong enough. “Got denied a US visa today,” he wrote in an X post, adding that his business accomplishments and personal commitments were overlooked.
“I built a Series A company from scratch, employ 100+ people, have backing from top VCs and investors, and serve millions of Indian families through our brand,” Srivastav stated. “Apparently, that’s not enough ties,” he added with a touch of sarcasm.
Kidbea, founded in 2021, is valued at ₹137 crore by Tracxn. The company’s leadership includes Srivastav, Mohammad Hussain, Aman Kumar Mahto, and Ankita Rani, who together established the brand in Noida. Srivastav hinted at reapplying for a visa, acknowledging the common challenge for founders.
“Founders are used to hearing ‘no’. Will reapply after some time,” he said. He also sought advice from others who had faced similar rejections, hoping to refine his approach.
Online discussions highlighted the visa process’s focus on return intent. One user suggested booking an event ticket as a clear purpose for the visit, arguing it streamlines the process. “This trick works in most cases,” the commenter noted, implying a strategy to demonstrate strong ties.
“Have seen this trick working in most of the cases. Book any Event ticket happening in USA, that should be your purpose of visit. This eliminates the number of questions and makes the process smooth,” X user Reeya wrote.
Others shared personal experiences with visa denials. A user recounted their own struggle, having been rejected five times before securing approval. “They don’t care what you have worked on. They only want fixed and cash assets reasonable enough for you to return,” the individual explained.
“Building a company that employs 100+ people sounds like a strong tie to India. But visa officers aren’t judging success. They’re judging the probability of you returning,” one commenter noted.
Srivastav responded to this critique, emphasizing his dedication to India. “I have a company to run here in India that I’ve been giving pretty much 24 hours a day for the last 5 years. On top of that, I have my parents and family, with whom I love spending time,” he explained, underscoring his motivation to return.
About the Author
Sanya Jain is an Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, where she specializes in covering trending stories that reflect everyday experiences. Her work spans business, pop culture, social media trends, entertainment, and global affairs.
Before joining Hindustan Times, Jain spent two years at Moneycontrol and five years at NDTV. She earned an undergraduate degree in English literature from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and a master’s in journalism from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai.
Jain is known for identifying emerging trends and crafting narratives that turn viral content into impactful stories. She was the first to report on Narayana Murthy’s comments about 70-hour work weeks, sparking a national debate. Whether writing about business leaders or everyday people, she focuses on stories that resonate with a broad audience.
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