Visitor B1/B2 declined. Visitor Visa declined; Reapplying, better prepared. Advice would be appreciated

[Hopeful_2015 0]

Department of State publishes the approve/denial rates on B1, B2, and B1/B2 visa types by embassy and by nationality.

Have a look at your respective embassy/consulate.

2014 THAILAND B1/B2 REFUSAL RATE: 10.2% (with around 50k total non-immigrant per year) --- much lower than in prior years. among the low risk country approval rates.

GAMBIA is 69% REFUSAL, PHILLIPINES 24.6% REFUSAL, MEXICO 15.6% REFUSAL

SOUTH AFRICA 2.6% REFUSAL RATE on B1/B2 = 97.4% Approved. You might have been the CO only B1/B2 refusal of the day !!!

2013 WORLDWIDE NON IMMIGRANT VISA DATA - FROM US DEPARTMENT OF STATE:

Issued / Refused / Workload / Waived

B1 41,956 14,113 56,069 7,934

B1/B2 5,645,580 1,484,912 7,130,492 377,224 ( 79% APPROVAL RATE WORLDWIDE BLENDED COMBO B1/B2)

B2 114,526 107,226 221,752 26,572

Good information to know! Thank you for this.

[Confusedtinybird 41]

Hopeful,

Where in South Africa was your interview?

[Hopeful_2015 0]

I was denied 3 times even when I explained I would be leaving my 9 year old daughter behind. Job doesn't help because people change jobs all the time.

I hope you do get the visa of course & it is possible but chances are slim.

Wow... But at least you were afforded the opportunity to explain. What evidence did you produce to support the child staying behind?

I have an affidavit from my daughter's father stating we have a Parenting Plan (have the official document drawn up by lawyer) and I also have a 19 year old son. My daughters father has her this holidays and my return is when schools open and I have to be back by then.

[Boiler 45,837]

Before coming on VJ I wouldnhave said the same. But I have seen too many cases to count where children have been left behind so seemingly not that much a tie in all cases.

[Hopeful_2015 0]

Hopeful,

Where in South Africa was your interview?

In Cape Town

[Ian H. 207]

Personally I think the entire process is completely arbitrary and unfair. What really irritates me is that people still manage to get visas and come here and immigrate. They should get rid of the adjustment of status from nonimmigrant visas other than specific ones such as the K visa. That will reduce the chances of people coming here with the hopes of adjusting, you overstayed no GC for you.

They also need to crack down on overstayers as well. It honestly should be that way. I'm tired of people abusing the system and then getting rewarded for it when so many people want to come here to visit their friends and families. I have family members in the DR that have been dying to come here to visit and only a very few select of them have visas, the others don't qualify.

It's completely unfair and you can thank the ones who have abused their privileges for that. To me it looks like you were denied "just because." You traveled to the UK previously, are leaving a child behind, have a steady job and the fact that you weren't even given the chance to present that info shows that this is just a business to them.

These people make millions of dollars off of these denials because they are nonrefundable. They're also not stupid because they require the payments cash and not with credit/debit cards, because if they did I for one would file a chargeback with my credit card company if I were denied.

In all honesty if I were you I wouldn't give them anymore of my money, you don't really lose anything by reapplying though other than the cash. I wish you luck and apologize for my little rant there, but I truly am fed up with how neglectful the system is to those play by the rules and rewarding for those who break them.

[Boiler 45,837]

Perhaps you need to contact Obama and explain your position. Not his view.

[asisflyer 47]

Personally I think the entire process is completely arbitrary and unfair. What really irritates me is that people still manage to get visas and come here and immigrate. They should get rid of the adjustment of status from nonimmigrant visas other than specific ones such as the K visa. That will reduce the chances of people coming here with the hopes of adjusting, you overstayed no GC for you.

They also need to crack down on overstayers as well. It honestly should be that way. I'm tired of people abusing the system and then getting rewarded for it when so many people want to come here to visit their friends and families. I have family members in the DR that have been dying to come here to visit and only a very few select of them have visas, the others don't qualify.

It's completely unfair and you can thank the ones who have abused their privileges for that. To me it looks like you were denied "just because." You traveled to the UK previously, are leaving a child behind, have a steady job and the fact that you weren't even given the chance to present that info shows that this is just a business to them.

These people make millions of dollars off of these denials because they are nonrefundable. They're also not stupid because they require the payments cash and not with credit/debit cards, because if they did I for one would file a chargeback with my credit card company if I were denied.

In all honesty if I were you I wouldn't give them anymore of my money, you don't really lose anything by reapplying though other than the cash. I wish you luck and apologize for my little rant there, but I truly am fed up with how neglectful the system is to those play by the rules and rewarding for those who break them.

Dominican Republic had a 35.9% Refusal Rate last year on B2 visa application for 2014. Certainly on the high end of the spectrum. With more than 1 in 3 B2 being rejected in DR.

Ironically Columbia is 12% Denied and Mexico 15% denied. in 2014. far far far lower and still quite close. (B2) ...

Another sad fact is that the morality in this day and age is such that the "child behind" is no longer a marker of "ties" but a small piece of undeveloped land is.

The OP country is an EXTREMELY LOW % of Denial country: 2.6% --- 38 YES to 1 NO.... so she should just re-apply and try again with another CO and more details.

One is able to have legal counsel send correspondence within the U.S. to apply pressure for the B2 approval. Plenty of stories. If someone really wants it, they'll get it.

[Torete 121]

Hi Hopeful,

Seems like this thread post dovetails with your earlier one.

To answer your question, yes, it could be seen that way...or not.

I hope it works out for you.

Regards

[Torete 121]

Dominican Republic had a 35.9% Refusal Rate last year on B2 visa application for 2014. Certainly on the high end of the spectrum. With more than 1 in 3 B2 being rejected in DR.

Ironically Columbia is 12% Denied and Mexico 15% denied. in 2014. far far far lower and still quite close. (B2) ...

Another sad fact is that the morality in this day and age is such that the "child behind" is no longer a marker of "ties" but a small piece of undeveloped land is.

The OP country is an EXTREMELY LOW % of Denial country: 2.6% --- 38 YES to 1 NO.... so she should just re-apply and try again with another CO and more details.

One is able to have legal counsel send correspondence within the U.S. to apply pressure for the B2 approval. Plenty of stories. If someone really wants it, they'll get it.

...apply pressure to whom or what? Just curious...

[Ning 619]

Wow... But at least you were afforded the opportunity to explain. What evidence did you produce to support the child staying behind?

I have an affidavit from my daughter's father stating we have a Parenting Plan (have the official document drawn up by lawyer) and I also have a 19 year old son. My daughters father has her this holidays and my return is when schools open and I have to be back by then.

At the time my husband was allowed inside the embassy so he spoke to the officers more than I did. However they did really spend too much time discussing the circumstances. I was denied before I got to the window.

[Ryan H 3,819]

***Similar topics merged; please do not start multiple threads on the same issue.***

[Confusedtinybird 41]

Ok I know quite a few people that obtained tourist visas from Cape Town. I think you should try again.

I would bring your bank statements showing that you have money and you can also afford the trip. So it doesn't look like the friend is paying everything. I think they might of been worried that your friend is actually your boyfriend or fiance and you plan to stay in the USA.

[Hypnos 6,577]

Much of the time the decision has been made before you walk into the embassy, you are just going to hear what the decision is.

[asisflyer 47]

At the time my husband was allowed inside the embassy so he spoke to the officers more than I did. However they did really spend too much time discussing the circumstances. I was denied before I got to the window.

If you married the USC and then apply B2 ... Intent is heavily presumed until proven otherwise:

Also bear in mind that there are government workers, academics, and professionals who require B1 travel for Biz, Conferences, Lectures, Training, etc.

DID:

1. USC had Work Permit for 1+ year.

2. USC at same job there 1+ year.

3. USC 1-year or more Extension(s) of Stay - not the 30/90 day games.

4. Proof of Property ownership spouse

5. Proof of Employment of Alien Spouse with minimum 6 months at same job (even if salary is low) or proof of business ownership.

6. USC had no US land, house, job, bank accounts, car, etc. - he's disconnected

7. USC spent less than 30 days per year in USA. - he's disconnected.

8. USC has property, licenses, banking, etc. in Domicile country or multiple non-US countries.

9. Does USC file foreign exclusion, report NRA spouse, and show income on the returns.

I have heard of a 20+ Year Expat who hadn't been to the U.S. for 6 years have the spouse get a B2 denial because he was a Retirement visa and not working

and his assets were no deemed as important as his lack of work... and this does seem to be the case that a job producing income overrides assets in bank.

I have also heard of the unemployed USC long-term expat with long-term visa having alien wife approved B2 from her income and property alone.

SEPARATELY relating to OP. If your husband is USC ( I must have missed that ) -- then you need proof of his Domicile in your country (not his residence)

1. Does he hold PR in your country? if not, does he have a long-term work visa and long term job?

2. Has he divested of properties/assets/life in USA?

3. Has he invested in properties/assets/life in your country?

Along those lines.

Hope it helps.