B1/B2 visa denied to attend professional conference

[Lydia Jegede 0]

I was told I'm not eligible for the B1/B2 visa to attend a 4-day professional conference in the US. I went to the interview with suitable documents but sadly none of it was view before decision was made. The consular asked me few questions, check them out: where are you going? Me: NYC,

Purpose? I have been invited by ********** association to attend a conference.

 Have you married? I said No

Have you traveled before? I said No

Where do you work? I gave him a full details about my job (private school). 

Who will sponsor the trip? I said the agency, He said which agency? and I restate the name of the organization again. 

Then, almost immediately, he said I'm not eligible for the visa. 

 

I want to reapply again because this conference means alot to me. Please advise me. I'm also a master student at National Open University, Nigeria, I'm working and studying so my friends are advising me to apply as a student this time and not as a worker. The association in US tried calling them but couldn't reach them. They told the association to give me a formal letter to come for visa interview. 

 

Please advise me. 

[Crazy Cat 42,215]

You are free to apply again......but don't expect a different result unless something changes.......I suspect all non-immigrant visas from banned countries will be heavily scrutinized for a while.

[Boiler 46,034]

Are there other Countries this conference is held? 

[Crazy Cat 42,215]

Perhaps a video attendance......

[Lydia Jegede 0]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Are there other Countries this conference is held? 

Many thanks for your response. No, just in US only. 

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

36 minutes ago, Lydia Jegede said:

They told the association to give me a formal letter to come for visa interview. 

Who told the association to give you a letter, the consulate?

[Lydia Jegede 0]

4 minutes ago, missileman said:

Perhaps a video attendance......

Thank you for your time, and I do appreciate this. Because I must attend the conference to receive some benefits most especially, I the mentorship aspect....i can't stand to lose that. I will further ask if I can do a video attendance. 

[Lydia Jegede 0]

4 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Who told the association to give you a letter, the consulate?

 

No, the embassy did in their general email response to enquiries made by a member of the association. 

[Boiler 46,034]

Is this a well known International Event? Do they usually have attendees from Nigeria?

[arken 4,197]

The letter is expected when one is planning to attend seminars but the main question is why is this organization in NYC sponsoring you for the conference? I think that matters.

[SalishSea 18,125]

Applying again shortly after a denial "as a student" will not fix the reason for your denial - which was suspicion of immigrant intent.  The CO is required by law to filter all interviews through the possibility of immigrant intent.  The info on the previous denial and reasons for it will be available to the new CO at a subsequent interview.  Your life circumstances have not changed, so trying to apply from a new "angle" will not make your overall situation look any different to COs.

 

And with Nigeria on the list of banned countries for IVs, it will probably see an uptick in NIV applications, as people try other means to come to the US.  

 

It is your $160 to lose, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

14 minutes ago, Lydia Jegede said:

 

No, the embassy did in their general email response to enquiries made by a member of the association. 

Well then, is the association providing you with the letter so you can reapply?

 

Bu the way I think you have less chance of getting a visa as a “student” than as an employee, and it will look suspicious to the embassy if you suddenly change category. They do refer to the previous applications.

Edited March 2, 2020 by SusieQQQ

[Lydia Jegede 0]

Very!!! It's well known. I'm not sure of awardees from Nigeria in particular. 

[Lydia Jegede 0]

5 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Well then, is the association providing you with the letter so you can reapply?

 

Bu the way I think you have less chance of getting a visa as a “student” than as an employee, and it will look suspicious to the embassy if you suddenly change category. They do refer to the previous applications.

Thank you, I never thought of it that the previous history is referred to. I will just retain the former status then. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lydia Jegede 0]

16 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Applying again shortly after a denial "as a student" will not fix the reason for your denial - which was suspicion of immigrant intent.  The CO is required by law to filter all interviews through the possibility of immigrant intent.  The info on the previous denial and reasons for it will be available to the new CO at a subsequent interview.  Your life circumstances have not changed, so trying to apply from a new "angle" will not make your overall situation look any different to COs.

 

And with Nigeria on the list of banned countries for IVs, it will probably see an uptick in NIV applications, as people try other means to come to the US.  

 

It is your $160 to lose, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Thanks for your time and the information.