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An Indian student was stopped from flying to the US after authorities in Amsterdam learnt that his F-1 visa had been revoked months earlier.
Indian student barred from boarding a flight to US from Amsterdam (AI-generated image, News18)
An Indian student from Hyderabad was reportedly prevented from boarding a flight to New York after authorities at the Amsterdam airport discovered that his US visa had been revoked months earlier, according to a report by The Times of India.
As the student arrived in Amsterdam to catch a connecting flight to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), he was informed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials that he could not proceed because his F-1 visa was no longer valid.
According to the report, officials advised him to contact the local US consulate for further guidance.
In the immediate term, however, he was required to return to India.
The student said he was unaware that his visa had been revoked.
He claimed he had not been involved in any drunk-driving incident, traffic offence or other law-and-order issue that could have alerted him to a potential problem.
The report mentioned that the Indian student had travelled to the United States in January 2025 on an F-1 visa. However, after being denied onward travel from Amsterdam, he discovered that his visa had reportedly been revoked in July 2025.
WHAT IS AN F-1 VISA?
The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued to international students pursuing academic studies at approved educational institutions in the United States.
The visa allows a student to travel to a US port of entry and seek admission into the country for educational purposes.
However, possession of a visa does not automatically guarantee entry.
US authorities can determine whether a traveller is eligible to enter the country at the time of travel.
I-20 AND SEVIS RECORDS REMAINED ACTIVE
Following the incident, the student contacted his university to understand his status.
According to the report, the institution informed him that both his Form I-20 and SEVIS records remained active and were in good standing.
Form I-20, officially known as the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, is issued by a US educational institution authorised to enrol international students.
It confirms that a student has been admitted to a programme and is eligible to study in the country.
SEVIS, or the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is a US government database used to monitor international students and exchange visitors.
Educational institutions are required to update students’ records throughout their academic stay.
WHY THE RECORDS MAY REMAIN VALID
As explained in the report, a visa and a student’s immigration status are not the same thing.
A visa primarily serves as a travel document for entering the United States, while a student’s legal status is tied to compliance with F-1 regulations and the maintenance of valid school records, including the I-20 and SEVIS status.
As a result, it is possible for a student’s visa to be revoked while their academic and immigration records remain active.
The report noted that students who find themselves in a similar situation should first determine the reason behind the visa revocation and seek guidance from the relevant US consulate or embassy.
They may also need to apply for a new F-1 visa before returning to the United States.
During any future visa interview, applicants are expected to disclose previous visa revocations and answer questions related to them, the report added.
About the Author
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
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