A foreign citizen who wishes to enter the United States must obtain a U.S. visa, except for individual international travellers who are the citizens of visa-free countries. U.S. visa allows you to request authorization of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector for entering the United States.
Types and Categories of U.S. Visa
Generally, the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) clearly defines two types of visas offered to immigrants who seek to visit the United States. Both of these types of visa consist of numerous categories.
- Non-immigrant visa, for those who travel to the United States temporarily under categories such as B-1, H-1B1, A, J and many more.
- Immigrant Visa, for those who wish to live permanently in the United States under categories such as IR1, K-1, E1, E2 and many more.
Reasons Behind Visa Rejections
As per the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), when you apply for a visa, a consular officer determines whether you qualify for the desired visa or not. If the consular officer finds you ineligible, he will reject your visa application.
You might be found ineligible for many reasons such as –
- When you leave your visa application incomplete or do not provide all required supporting documentation.
- If you are unable to establish eligibility for the applied visa category, your application might get rejected.
- You were either convicted of moral turpitude as well as drug-addiction or for two or more criminal offences for which the total sentence of imprisonment was five years or more.
- A consular officer under public charge might deny you if you didn’t reaffirm proof of appropriate financial support in the United States.
- If you commit fraud or misrepresent any fact to the visa officer, then the visa rejection is bound to happen.
Tips to Avoid Visa Rejections
- Never submit your visa application at the last moment as it may create chaos and result in a visa denial.
- To ensure that you depart after your short visit, a visa consulate would ask about your travel itinerary or plan, financial condition and resources, and your ties that you have outside the USA. Be sure that you can show a complete itinerary as well as these details of your trip.
- Don’t leave any Information column empty on your application form as it might become the reason for your visa rejection.
- Always check in advance that the Passport you are owing should have a minimum of 6 months expiring validity as well as at least two blank pages.
- Never leave insufficient balance in your bank account as the visa consulate will go through your bank details while checking other documents.
- Hiring a travel agent for your visa application will not always significantly work unless you choose the right one. Beware of fake and non-established travel agents who can leave you high and dry in a critical situation.
- While you are being interviewed, communicate appropriately with your visa officer. Be cautious that your answers don’t sound rude to the consular or interviewer.
The Takeaway
During the visa application process, taking precautionary steps and checking every detail meticulously can always help you save your time, effort, and money. Please note that the fee that you pay in your application process is non-refundable.