Background:

• Previous B1/B2 refused under 214(b) on April 6th
• Since then I've now completed almost 11 months at <US Startup> India Subsidiary
• I've been promoted to Senior Software Engineer. Was hired last year, Sep'25 - Feb '26 Contractor (but still FTE) and then transitioned to Indian subsidiary March '26 to present
• I'm invited for a two-week business trip to <US Startup> HQ in San Francisco.
• Purpose is an internal customer support automation project before a planned scale-up.

I'd appreciate feedback specifically on these new answers I have prepared.

1. What has changed since your previous refusal?

>"Quite a bit has changed. I've now completed almost a year with <US Startup> India, I've been promoted to Senior Software Engineer, and I'm now leading the customer support automation work from our Delhi office. This trip is for a specific two-week internal project."

2. Why do you need to go to the U.S.? Why can't this be done remotely?

>"We've already been working remotely, but this project is a two-week sprint involving engineers and leadership based in the U.S. Working across the time difference slows down reviews and approvals. Being together for those two weeks lets us finalize the product before launch, after which I'll return to Delhi to deploy it."

3. Why were you selected?

>"Only two engineers are traveling—my colleague <XYZ> and I. We built the first version of this customer support platform for the India operations, so we have the most context and were selected for this project."

4. What makes you confident you'll return to India?

>"My role is based in the Delhi office, and after the two-week trip I'll return there to deploy the software with the India team and continue my responsibilities as a Senior Software Engineer."

Previous Interview Summary:

Officer: What is the purpose of your visit to the United States?
Me: Hey, I will be visiting my Company <US Startup>'s HQ in San Francisco for 2 weeks from 3 May to 16 May

Officer: Do you have any prior travel history ?
Me: Yes I visited Thailand for a week in Dec '25

Officer: What work does your company do?
Me: My company is an AI Hiring Platform, where companies can hire talent via ai interviews

Officer: So, are you an HR?
Me: No, I'm the engineer, I have built and manage the technology behind the AI Interview

Officer: What's your purpose of visit, what will you be doing there? (She didn't seem to be convinced much here)
Me: I will be meeting my manager & founders there who are all based out of the US. I will be going there to attend some key stakeholder meetings

Officer: How long have you been working with this company?
Me: I have been working with this company for past 8 months, first 6 months as a contractor for the US entity remotely and now as an Indian employee in the Indian entity

Officer: (Kind of gasp/corrective face) Ohh so that whole full 8 months is not *gibberish*
Me: Yes, (repeated) first 6 months as a contractor for the US entity remotely and now as an Indian employee in the Indian entity

Officer: Isn't it too early for them to invite you to the US within 6 months?
Me: (Confidently) I guess I am good at my work

Officer: Do you have any previous work history before this ?
Me: No, before this I completed my MBA from Delhi, India itself.