While applying for an international visa, certain factors such as fluency in English are often believed to play an important role. Recently, a Reddit post about a US tourist visa rejection went viral, sparking a debate online. The discussion mainly revolved around whether English fluency and having relatives in America actually influence visa approvals. Scroll down to know more. 

US Tourist Visa Rejection 

B2 Visa Delhi: Rejected, 214b
byu/Fun-Mind8782 inusvisascheduling

A Reddit user (@Fun-Mind8782) took this account to highlight an important matter. He shared that the US Consulate in New Delhi had denied his and his family’s B2 visa applications. The 36-year-old man, who works as the operations head of an IT company, said he applied for a US tourist visa together with his parents, who are both 70 years old.

The family was planning to travel to the US and had prepared for it beforehand. They had planned a two-week vacation around Christmas,  with stops in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. To avoid last-minute problems, they had already booked hotels and created an itinerary.

Talking about their US visa rejection the the user also mentioned his savings, that is ₹20 lakh in bank deposits and stocks. His parents also had savings of over ₹30 lakh. The post also mentioned that the family had previously travelled to many international locations like the UK, France, Switzerland, Dubai, and Singapore. According to the Redittor, he had all the necessary documents required for the visa approval. 

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Why Was The Visa Rejected?

During the visa process, the officer asked the applicant about the places they were planning to visit, to which the Reddit user gave a fluent answer. Next, the officer asked the applicant’s mother through a translator where they wanted to go in the US. She repeated the names of the cities as well. When asked if they had any relatives in the US, she mentioned a grand-niece but clarified that they would not visit her. 

The officer pointed out that the Redditor had said that his parents didn’t speak English, yet the mother spoke reasonably well. The applicant explained she was not fluent but could manage a few words. Lastly, the translator asked about trip sponsorship, and the applicant said they would fund the trip themselves, citing stable jobs, savings, and income from stocks. The user mentioned that the officer didn’t ask any questions related to jobs or previous travel and rejected their visa application. 

The visa rejection has stirred a debate online, with many users trying to understand the grounds for the rejection. What is your thoughts on this? Tell us in the comment section!

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Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/maybefals (Representative Image)

First Published: September 05, 2025 7:30 PM

Travel Now, Pay Later (TNPL) is gaining momentum in India’s travel sector, with platforms reporting a sharp growth in usage among younger consumers and first-time international flyers. The model lets travellers secure bookings without paying upfront, instead spreading costs across structured instalments.

Industry players say festive and long-weekend demand could accelerate adoption further, even as they flag the need for responsible usage.

How TNPL works?

Anil Goteti, Founder & CEO of Scapia, described TNPL as “short-term credit tailored for travel expenses, enabling users to enjoy their trips upfront while managing repayments responsibly within agreed timelines.”

Ankur Sharmaa, Chief Business Officer, Via.com (Ebix Travel), said the option is extending beyond traditional credit facilities.

“Historically, credit in travel was largely reserved for corporate clients. With TNPL, the same flexibility is now available to individual customers, widening access to high-value bookings like international flights and holiday packages,” he said.

Karan Agarwal, Director at Cox and Kings, added that the model reflects a shift in consumer behaviour. “It allows people to plan holidays without immediate financial stress, and this flexibility is increasingly valued by travellers looking for smarter ways to manage expenses,” he noted.

Who is using it?

At Scapia, about 20% of bookings use TNPL, with international flights showing nearly 90% higher demand compared to domestic travel. Goteti said Gen Z is driving this growth, using the product to plan first trips abroad and enhance overall experiences.

Sharmaa confirmed that the strongest uptake is among aspirational first-time international travellers. “The upfront cost of an overseas trip can be prohibitive. TNPL helps them cross that barrier and access travel opportunities earlier,” he explained.

According to Agarwal, the 26-45 age group in metros is adopting the model quickly. He cited Singapore, the Maldives, and Mauritius as key international destinations, while Goa and Kerala remain strong on the domestic side.

Festive travel impact

With fares typically higher during festivals and long weekends, TNPL is seen as easing the pressure of peak bookings. Goteti said it “fits the lifestyle of travellers who want affordability without delaying their plans.”

Sharmaa pointed out that it enables travellers to secure availability in advance. “This is particularly valuable during high-demand periods, though, like any credit instrument, it should be used with discipline,” he said.

Agarwal added that shorter festive getaways are becoming more viable. “The option is making peak-season travel accessible for families and young professionals who otherwise may have deferred their plans,” he said.

Outlook ahead

Goteti believes TNPL is moving beyond niche usage, supported by the broader Buy Now, Pay Later market, which is expanding in India at over 13% annually.

“As adoption rises in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, TNPL will become a mainstream travel financing option,” he said.

Agarwal said demand for flexible payments will continue to grow as travellers prioritise experiences. “It has the potential to become an integral part of how India travels, provided transparency is maintained,” he added.

Sharmaa, however, called it a “transitioning phase.”

He noted that while TNPL is expanding in high-value segments, “mainstream adoption will take longer, as cash-based payments still dominate large parts of the market.”

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Indian budget airline SpiceJet SPICEJET posted its second consecutive loss in the June quarter, as leisure travel demand on some routes slumped during the worst India-Pakistan fighting in decades.

The troubled airline reported a loss of 2.35 billion rupees ($26.6 million) in the April-June period, compared to a profit of 1.5 billion rupees a year before.

Ties between India and Pakistan worsened after an April attack in Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad, prompting airport closures in northwest India and a shutdown of Pakistani airspace to Indian carriers. Pakistan has denied any involvement.

Quarterly revenue fell about 35% to 11.06 billion rupees.

SpiceJet also said a delay in returning its grounded aircraft to service added to its woes.

The carrier has signed multiple settlement agreements in recent years to resolve disputes with lessors and others but has still struggled to expand capacity.

As of March-end, it had only 25 operational aircraft, fewer than half of its 61-jet fleet.

The limited scale has allowed Akasa, one of India’s youngest airlines, to overtake SpiceJet as the country’s No. 3 carrier by market share, with 5.5% versus SpiceJet’s 2% in the world’s third-largest aviation market.

SpiceJet’s net worth improved to positive 4.46 billion rupees in the first-quarter, compared to negative 23.98 billion rupees in the year-ago period, it said.

($1 = 88.2591 Indian rupees)