Copyright newskarnataka
A man who claimed to have travelled across all 29 states of India shared a unique experience involving a friend’s visa interview at the US Embassy. According to him, the visa officer advised his friend to first explore India before applying to visit the United States. The story has sparked a wide debate on social media about travel priorities, national pride, and visa policies. ‘I’ve seen the whole of India’ The man, speaking to an American YouTuber, said proudly, “I’ve seen the whole of India. I’ve been to 29 states.” His remarks came while narrating his friend’s unsuccessful US visa interview. The YouTuber responded by noting, “Someone like you, you’ve seen everything in India, and you love India so much. Maybe, just maybe, just see another country. You don’t have to go to the USA. The USA’s not that great.” The traveller clarified that while he wishes to visit the United States someday, he has no intention of settling there permanently. The visa officer’s advice Recounting his friend’s story, he explained: “One of my friends went to the US Embassy for an interview for a visa. He was asked by the officer, ‘Why are you visiting the USA?’ My friend said he wanted to see New York. The officer asked him, ‘Have you seen your own country?’ He said he had only lived in Delhi and hadn’t travelled elsewhere in India.” The officer then reportedly told him, “Go and see your country first. Then come to me, I’ll give you the visa.” The man said this moment inspired him to explore India extensively before seeking international travel. Social media divided over remark The incident has drawn mixed reactions online. Some users criticised the officer, calling the remark dismissive and unfair. “That’s really bad,” one comment read. Others, however, defended the advice, citing concerns about illegal immigration and overstaying. “We’ve had decades of illegal immigrants never leaving. It’s about time officers are strict,” one person wrote. A third category of users supported the sentiment behind the advice. “The officer is right. How can you visit other countries if you haven’t even seen the famous places in your own country?” Travel before visas The story comes at a time when US visa rules and wait times remain a major concern for Indians. While lakhs of Indians aspire to travel abroad, many travellers and vloggers have increasingly emphasised the richness of India’s diverse landscapes, cultures, and heritage. For this man, at least, the lesson was clear: before chasing dreams of America, he wanted to discover every corner of his homeland.
