Visa Services

Visa Refusals

What if I am refused a Visa?

There are numerous grounds of ineligibility that can prevent or significantly delay issuance of an individual’s visa.

The most common ground of ineligibility is that an applicant failed to demonstrate that his/her visit to the United States would be only temporary in nature. Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act requires consular officers to view every visa applicant as an intending immigrant until the applicant proves otherwise. To qualify for a visitor or student (nonimmigrant) visa under Section 214(b), applicants have to show that they have a permanent residence and other ties abroad that would compel them to leave the United States at the end of a temporary stay. U.S. law places this burden of proof on the applicant.

Permanent residence and strong ties differ from country to country, city to city and individual to individual. Some examples of ties can be a job, a house, a family, and a bank account. "Ties" are the various aspects of your life that bind you to your country of residence: your possessions, employment, social and family relationships.

During the visa interview, consular officers look at each applicant individually and consider professional, social, cultural and other factors. In cases of younger applicants who may not have had an opportunity to form many ties, consular officers may look at the applicant’s specific intentions, family situations, and long range plans and prospects within his or her country of residence. Each case is examined individually and is accorded every consideration under the law.

For more information on visa denials under 214(b), including suggestions on ways to overcome them, please refer to the Department of State's fact sheet.

For a list of other ineligibilities, please refer to the Department of State's information.

For information about seeking redress and to resolve possible Department of Homeland Securit watch list misidentification please use DHS's new Traveler Redress Inquiry Program's web site.