You are right in that the interviewer probably got pushed into this post. But of course since (s)he is in India, (s)he thinks (s)he is better than anyone who comes for a visa. No matter how accomplished the applicant is. Cut them some slack? Bah. If they cant be courteous they better be doing something else. I know several friends of mine who have written complaints to embassies based on how their parents/siblings were treated, and they are all not just from India. The common thread here is that all of them were in “third world countries”.

This also has nothing to do with rejecting the visas—believe me, fewer people care about the denial than you would like to imagine. It is the demeaning manner in which it is done. Even if Prof. Mehta took offense at some dolt questioning his research, I would think it is justified. Since when did being a US consular employee give you competance to question scientific work—even veteren professors are very careful when commenting on the work of a colleague.

On a lighter note, most Indians at least have one consolation—no matter how badly you are treated by consulates, you can rest assured the Indian consulate anywhere is avenging you .

Your perspective simply differs from mine. I am not an “Indian in the U.S.” I am an American in the U.S. I didn’t become what you describe as “neutral.” I was born that way.

and never try to contradict or critisize Americans

Perhaps you missed the point of the post then? It was a post that was critical of the U.S. consulate.

As an Indian I do feel offended and why shouldnt I? Am not that broad minded that would take up cudgles for the world but yes if it concerns India will do what ever is possible (in this case not much though ). Indians in the US become neutral and never try to contradict or critisize Americans for there double standards. If we dont stand behind Indians who would?

They are indulging in word play in the article. The only procedure to ask for more information from visa applicants (for most visa types, afaik) is to reject them THAT time and ask to reapply with those additional docs/ info (they will however CLEARLY state what was missing this time and it is upto you to make sure u got that for next time); no concept of deferring application exists. This is true even for visas which you apply by drop-box (ie not in person). All this is stated in no uncertain terms on web sites of US conslates in India.

What they mean is that it is rejected this time but he can try again – they do not defer decision based on ‘not enough information’; they HAVE to decide on the spot whether to accept or reject, hence stress is placed on having ALL kinds of related documents on hand for visa applicants. That is the general procedure. But this is a special case and the professor couldnt have anticipated these complications. The statement in the news item doesnt make all this clear, though.

Secondly, you are sadly mistaken about the visa handling issue despite the authority present in your post. Being a FOB (although i’ve studied and worked in the U.S. on and off for the last 15 years and hence might not fit the “Fresh” component of your acronym) i can assure you that Visa applications for the past few years have desis screening applications in only the first stage, where they make sure that your papers are in order. The interview conducted is always by an American, a whitie or (using your descriptive tendencies) an ABCB, CBCD, PBCD or all the other variants you would find in an American embassy overseas. The desi who has not yet boarded the boat is never in charge of the interview process — which is essentially where the decision making component of the whole process happens.