(CNN Spanish) — Although the United States approves a vast majority of applications for a nonimmigrant visa—for foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States on a temporary basis—there is a chance of being denied.
For example, of the 3,148,323 applications made to obtain a visa in 2021, 56,240 (11.32%) were rejected, according to data from the United States Office of Consular Affairs (CA). But what are the reasons for rejection and what should you do if your application is denied?
The US government states that an application can be denied for multiple reasons, such as the consular officer does not have all the information necessary to determine the applicant’s eligibility, the applicant does not qualify for the visa category applied for or because the Applicant is ineligible under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Here you can check the Main Reasons a US Visa Application May Be Rejected.
What to do if my visa application was denied?
According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, for its acronym in English), the main reason for denying a nonimmigrant visa is because the applicant “failed to establish his right to nonimmigrant status”, a reason stated in section 214(b). This means that the applicant did not demonstrate that he has strong ties in her country of origin, such as a job, a home and family or friends. However, a visa application can also be denied. for other reasons.
In the event that an application for a US visa is denied, “in most cases the applicant is notified of the section of the law that applies” and the applicant will be told if they can apply for a waiver of ineligibility.
For example, if the application was denied under section 221(g)—meaning that the consular officer did not have all the information required to determine the applicant’s eligibility to receive a visa—the applicant will receive a letter with the next steps. . In this case, there are two possible ways:
- The application was incomplete and/or additional documentation is required: The applicant will receive a letter stating that their application was denied under section 221(g) and will list the documents they will need to provide.
- An additional administrative process is required: The applicant will receive a letter indicating that additional administrative processing is required and the instructions to follow once the administrative process is complete. Processing time varies depending on the individual circumstances of each case.
The good news is that if your visa application was denied under section 221(g), you will be able to provide the additional information required within a year for your application to be processed. In the case of not providing the additional information in the indicated period of time, you must return to apply for a visa and pay the corresponding fee.
If the application was denied under sections 214(b) and 221(g), which were mentioned above, it is possible to reapply for a US visa in the future. However, a new application will need to be submitted and the fee paid once more.
However, in the event that an application has been denied under section 212(a)(9)(B)(i)—for having remained in the United States following the expiration date of the authorized period of stay or for entering the country illegally—the applicant will not be eligible for a visa for 3 or 10 years, as the case may be, following leaving the country.
What are waivers of ineligibility?
There are certain conditions and activities identified by the US Government that can make a person ineligible to receive a visa. For example, overstaying a visa, committing certain crimes, or submitting false documents during the visa application.
However, there are some waivers of ineligibility that might help you get a visa, depending on the particular section of the law under which the applicant was not eligible in the first place.
But how do I know if I am eligible for an exemption? The consular officer at the embassy or consulate where the visa application was made will tell you how to apply. And while there is no guarantee that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will approve the waiver, if it does, you may be able to get a visa issued.
However, to apply for a waiver of ineligibility you must submit form I-601 which has a cost of US$ 930.
