Immigration & Residency

If despite all your efforts, a mountain of documents, and read forums, an American officer returned your passport and said that a visa could not be issued, do not despair and commit rash acts. Do not argue with the visa officer, putting forward any arguments: the decision on your case has already been made and entered into the electronic database. Your behavior will negatively affect the situation: the American can put a mark on conflicting behavior, which will lead to rejection the next time.

If you were denied a visa to the United States, you should not rush to pay the consular fee and fill out the application form on the same day. Your persistence may be misunderstood by the Americans – they will decide that you need to get to the United States by all means and will regard you as a potential immigrant. The experience of travelers speaks for itself: almost no one received an American visa after refusal if the time interval between submission of documents was less than six months. Therefore, we recommend not to rush things and, if possible, change your vacation plans if you still want to get to America one day in the future.

Refusing a US tourist visa is not a lifelong sentence. Visa officers in the future may make a positive decision on your case, but for this, it is necessary that time has passed and something has changed in your life circumstances. If you refuse, you will only be told a common standard reason – “ties with your homeland are limited,” and what lies behind this formula in your particular case will remain a mystery. You should not ask what exactly influenced the negative decision, you still cannot get an answer – this is the internal instruction of the employees of the US Embassy. So what should you do if you are denied an American visa?

First, it is necessary to analyze the course of the conversation with the visa officer. Remember what questions he asked, what you answered them. Which aspects have attracted the most attention – seniority and industry, income and savings, travel plans, or something else? Secondly, pay attention to what documents the officer was interested in, whether you had the documents that he asked for. After considering your interview, you will most likely be able to understand why you were denied an American visa, and what you need to “work on” before the next application.

For what reason can a visa to America be refused?

In 2021, the main reason for denying a nonimmigrant visa in the United States is Section 214 (b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. At the same time, the burden of seeking evidence of the lack of immigration intent by US law is placed on those who apply for nonimmigrant visas. Applicants for the US B1 / B2 visa category must show that their visit to the country is temporary and for business or travel purposes. Applicants for F-1 student visas have to tackle a more difficult task: they will have to prove that they have the necessary qualities to complete a full course of study.

The most popular reasons for refusing a US visa

Those who are on the list of “rejected” for issuing a nonimmigrant visa are issued a standard refusal notice, which indicates the reason: inadequacy of visa requirements and lack of strong ties with their home country. But in fact, the real reasons are much more varied. The visa officer does not provide any detailed explanation of his decision, referencing section 214 (b). Most often, the real reason for the refusal of the applicant remains unknown. Years of research into this issue allowed us to compile a list of the most common reasons used by Embassy officials to justify a refusal under Article 214 (b).

1. Ties with the home country are limited.
2. There were problems during the interview.
3. Previously made long trips to the United States.
4. Long travel times are indicated in the application.
5. Few travels to Europe (bad visa history).
6. Relatives who previously immigrated to the United States.
7. A suspicious-looking guest invitation.
8. The purpose of the trip is to meet your partner.
9. Insufficient financial means for travel.
10. During your stay in the United States, the status was changed.
11. Problems in the process of obtaining student visas.
12. The applicant is suspected of fraud.
13. The applicant is charged with complicity.
14. Research of the “consular market”.
15. Submission of documents for a visa in another country.
16. The practice of being held, hostage.
17. A possible purpose of travel to the United States – the birth of a child.
18. The applicant has already given birth to a child in the United States.
19. At the same time, an application for immigration to another country is considered.
20. Previous denials were received and there have been no significant changes in circumstances since then.