It’s definitely not just you—consistency is all over the place. Here’s what I’ve seen:
- Some national banks (think Chase, Wells Fargo) tend to have clearer, more established guidelines for H1-B borrowers. They usually want at least a year or two left on your visa and solid employment history.
- Credit unions and smaller lenders can be more flexible, but it’s hit or miss. Sometimes you’ll get someone who’s never dealt with an H1-B before and they’ll just say no out of confusion.
- Underwriting often comes down to the individual loan officer’s comfort level, which is why two people with the same profile can get different answers.
If you want less randomness, stick with the big guys, but even then, double-check with multiple branches. I’ve had clients approved at one branch and denied at another, same bank... go figure.
Had a friend go through this exact headache last year.
That’s spot on. One branch flat-out told him “no” because they didn’t know the visa rules, but another branch of the same bank approved him after a quick call to their legal team. If you’re on H1-B, keep your documents super organized and be ready to explain your situation multiple times. It’s a pain, but persistence really does help.“Underwriting often comes down to the individual loan officer’s comfort level, which is why two people with the same profile can get different answers.”
Interesting that you mention the different answers from the same bank—I've seen that happen more than once. Sometimes it really does come down to how comfortable the underwriter feels with your visa documentation and employment history. Out of curiosity, did your friend run into any issues with the length of time left on their H1-B? I’ve had clients get pushback if their visa had less than a year before renewal, even if they had a solid extension history.
Also, was there any mention of needing a bigger down payment because of the visa status? Some lenders seem to quietly require 20% or more, while others are fine with less if everything else checks out. Just wondering if this was consistent for your friend or if it was all over the place...
Yeah, I’ve seen that too—one underwriter says yes, another says nope, even at the same bank. It’s wild. I had a buddy who was on H1-B and the bank got real picky when his visa had less than 9 months left, even though he’d renewed twice before. They wanted a 25% down payment, which was way higher than what I’ve seen for others. Another lender didn’t care as long as his employer letter looked solid. It really does seem to depend on who’s looking at your file that day... kind of a crapshoot, honestly.
Yeah, it’s honestly nuts how much it can hinge on the individual underwriter or even the mood they’re in that day. I’ve seen files get approved at one branch and denied at another. The 9-month visa thing is a common sticking point, but not all lenders treat it the same. I always tell people, don’t get discouraged by one “no”—there’s usually another lender out there who’ll see things differently. The system isn’t perfect, but persistence really can pay off.
