India, July 5 -- Indian students applying for F-1 visas are facing a new and confusing hurdle: a sudden 'Refused' status on the CEAC (Consular Electronic Application Center) portal, even when the visa officer keeps the passport and no formal rejection notice is given.

One applicant at the U.S. consulate in Mumbai recently shared their experience on Reddit. "F1 Visa Interview - 'Refused' Status [Mumbai] Had my F1 visa interview on July 1 at the Mumbai consulate. The officer kept my passport and said they need to do social media screening. CEAC status now shows 'Refused,' but I wasn't given a 221(g) slip. Anyone faced this before? What should I expect next? Do I still have a chance?" the Redditor wrote.

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