Thousands of people obtain what’s called as a tourist visa each year — through many also appeal who are denied. This visa is also known as a visitor visa, in category B-2. The U.S. tourist/visitor visa allows visits to the U.S. for pleasure purposes, or for medical treatment, for a maximum period of up to six months.
The actual duration of the stay will be considered when you enter the country. Once you get the entry in the US, you can appeal for an extension of your visa for few additional months, but if you stay beyond this permitted period you will begin officially overstaying and you may have to face serious immigration consequences.
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The U.S. government is very stern about ensuring that people don’t exploit their visa and do not stay beyond the expiration of the visa. In addition due to security reasons, U.S government ensure that people who may bring any sort of risk and trouble to the U.S. must not be given the permit regardless of the type of visa they appeal for. In keeping with these objectives, the most usual reasons for refusing a visa are as discussed below.
Visa Denials Based on Nonimmigrant Intent
Although the application procedure for a US tourist visa is quite simple since tourist visa is an easy means of entry for aspirants who actually want to work in the U.S. (which is forbidden for B-2 visa holders) or stay and live there for longer period. Due to that reason, every applicant must provide the documents which may prove their “nonimmigrant intent” — the State Department demands evidence that:
- The purpose of your visit is to relish vacations or else medical treatment.
- You are planning to stay in the U.S. for a certain period
- You have enough funds to bear your expenses during your stay in the U.S. (it is specifically important because the authorities assume that if you run out of money, you might exploit your visa by working in the U.S.)
- You have strong social and economic bindings in your home country, such as a job or schooling and family etc.
- You have a house, property, apartment outside the U.S. as well as other ties that will ensure your return when your permitted stay is over.
You will be anticipated to provide documents proving all these things. For example, you should bring all the relevant documents to the interview and the copies of your travel itinerary (including hotel reservations), plane tickets (including a return ticket), home and apartment leases, bank statements, and so on. If you flunk to provide convincing proofs then it may bring a visa refusal.
Your answer to each and every question at the visa interview should be given aptly.
Visa Denials Based on Fraud
The documents you have to provide for a U.S. tourist visa, some applicants try to conceal certain facts. For example, they deny a past criminal conviction, or they don’t reveal about the relatives they have in the US. This is, however, visa fraud, and once uncovered, will lead to a visa refusal. If you try to conceal your past visits to the U.S will also be considered as fraud.
Visa Denials Based on Criminal Record
If you have a criminal history or history of cyber espionage or any ties with terrorist groups, there is a higher chance that your visa will be denied. Not every offense is grounds for a refusal, but numerous are, and the list can be hard to elucidate.
Visa Denials Based on Past Immigration Violations
If you have overstayed in the US or any other country in past without valid authorization, you may have to face difficulty convincing the visa officer reviewing your visa application that you would not exploit this visa as well. In fact, if your illegal presence goes beyond 180 days or more, you will be barred to enter for three years. That number goes up to ten years if your period of illicit stay was one year or more.
Visa Denials Based on Other Grounds of Inadmissibility
The US immigration laws hold a lengthy list of grounds that people may be found “impermissible” for obtaining the visa. For example, if you have an illness which is communicable (most likely tuberculosis — HIV is no longer on the list), or you have been deported from the U.S. in the past or is a drug addict, you can expect a visa refusal.
