Indian man’s US visa denied for not travelling beyond Delhi: ‘See your own country first’

The viral clip captures an exchange between an American YouTuber and an Indian who narrated the incident involving his friend.

The man recounts how his friend’s US visa application was refused after he revealed he had never travelled outside Delhi

Across Instagram and YouTube, more Indian families and professionals are venting about the growing number of US tourist visa rejections. Despite steady jobs and strong finances, many say they are being turned down without much explanation.

One clip that has gone viral captures an exchange between an American YouTuber and an Indian man. The man recounts how his friend’s US visa application was refused after he revealed he had never travelled outside Delhi. According to him, the visa officer bluntly advised his friend to “see your own country first” before applying to visit the United States. The speaker in the video adds that he himself has already explored 29 Indian states, implying that travel history may quietly play a role in these interviews.

The post, shared by Instagram vlogger Jay under the caption “Told to See His Own Country First,” has triggered a wave of debate over how visa decisions are made.

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Some commenters backed the officer, while others called the reasoning unfair.

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“I agree with restricting immigration to those who show they have the skills required to fill the void. I don’t agree with the (see your country before you see mine) ideal,” wrote one user, calling the practice “cringey.” Another countered, “Well I think officer is right, how come that u can go other countries if ur own country u didn’t visit a famous place in ur own country?”

Others chimed in with a patriotic spin, pointing to India’s own travel gems, from Uttarakhand and Himachal to Kerala, Ladakh, Jaipur and Jaisalmer, while one commenter joked, “Bro just directed revenue to Indian tourism… Appreciate the officer’s effort to make India great again.”

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