B1/B2 visa denied to attend professional conference

[arken 4,197]

If you are attending this conference for your personal interest/benefit, i’d say chances of getting visa is zero. What they’ll look at is is there a reason for you to attend.

[Lydia Jegede 0]

11 minutes ago, arken said:

If you are attending this conference for your personal interest/benefit, i’d say chances of getting visa is zero. What they’ll look at is is there a reason for you to attend.

Thank you dearie, the chances are greater than what you can imagine. I'm an humanitarian and in the helping profession. 

 

Alright people, many thanks for all your responses. They were all wonderful and I've learnt a lot today. Thanks for the information.

 

I will appreciate more comments. 

[emekus94 1,125]

29 minutes ago, Lydia Jegede said:

Thank you dearie, the chances are greater than what you can imagine. I'm an humanitarian and in the helping profession. 

 

Alright people, many thanks for all your responses. They were all wonderful and I've learnt a lot today. Thanks for the information.

 

I will appreciate more comments. 

I second many of what the above said.
If nothing changes in your position, simple reapplying gets you nowhere.

 

Also, too many Nigerians come to America for these so-called conferences and then stay.

That's the unfortunate reality and that's why even if your conference is legit and intentions good, you have an upward hill to climb to convince the officer otherwise.

Best of luck!

[arken 4,197]

 

42 minutes ago, Lydia Jegede said:

Thank you dearie, the chances are greater than what you can imagine. I'm an humanitarian and in the helping profession. 

Wish you all the best. May the CO see your humanitarian aspect during the next interview. Your reasoning of the conference sounded more like for your own development not humanitarian, that was the reason i asked.
 

1 hour ago, Lydia Jegede said:

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. 

 

[Sm1smom 255]

I’m not surprised the CO didn’t bother to look at anything you might have been hoping to present and that you were subsequently denied. Attending a “4 - 5 Day conference for networking/mentoring” seems to be the latest reason a lot of B1/B2 applicant’s in Nigeria seem to be putting down as purpose of visit. The embassy of course is no longer falling for that. 

[Pinkrlion 2,724]

No offense - 1st flag - NO association in the US invites you to attend their conference. You register and pay the fees, it is voluntary to attend. 2nd flag - regardless of your professional needs, it can be accomplished online, or in various other media outlets. 3rd flag - You are from a travel ban country. So it was denied. 

 

 

[African Zealot 1,455]

3 hours ago, Lydia Jegede said:

. 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. 

 

Omo Naija, forget it. For someone fitting your profile (unmarried, student, from developing nation) applying for a USA visitor visa is akin to playing the lottery (regardless of what others will claim) with associated low success rate.

 

Applying as student or pastor or astronaut or fisherman won’t change anything for you. You are the same person who was denied just recently and they have info on you, your circumstance have not changed unless in the past few days you became Dangote or Buharis son or something similarly drastic changed.

 

Of course you could be lucky during the reapplication and get a sympathetic consular officer, the chances are slim although it did happen for a friend of mine when we were in undergrad 25 years ago. He was approved on his fourth application within one month.

 

Save your $160.

[African Zealot 1,455]

30 minutes ago, Pinkrlion said:

No offense - 1st flag - NO association in the US invites you to attend their conference. You register and pay the fees, it is voluntary to attend. 2nd flag - regardless of your professional needs, it can be accomplished online, or in various other media outlets. 3rd flag - You are from a travel ban country. So it was denied. 

 

 

There’s no travel ban for visitor visa applicants from Nigeria. Yes associations do invite people to attend and present at their conference, and three not all professional development activities including conferences can be accomplished online.

[Boiler 45,912]

Seems OP is attending an online Uni.

[Illiria 980]

2 hours ago, Ray.Bonaquist said:

There’s no travel ban for visitor visa applicants from Nigeria. Yes associations do invite people tattend and present at their conference, and three not all professional development activities including conferences can be accomplished online.

Yah but I doubt the OP is a keynote speaker or something like that. I mean why would a prestigious conference invite a (presumably) unknown masters (part-time?) student.

 

2 hours ago, Boiler said:

Seems OP is attending an online Uni.

Easily completed whilst working in the US.

 

4 hours ago, Lydia Jegede said:

 

I will appreciate more comments. 

You say you aren’t married but do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend or someone you are talking to in America? 

[Pinkrlion 2,724]

7 hours ago, Ray.Bonaquist said:

There’s no travel ban for visitor visa applicants from Nigeria. Yes associations do invite people to attend and present at their conference, and three not all professional development activities including conferences can be accomplished online.

He did not say he was presenting, also, you can go to any association’s website that is planning a conference, there is NO personal invite.  I guess he is calling a blast email or FB ad as a personal invite.  Furthermore, any association or professional org in the US provides training opportunities online.  

Edited March 3, 2020 by Pinkrlion

[Boiler 45,912]

I assume a she, not that it probably matters.

 

I saw the reference that the organisation will sponsor the trip which might mean pay, the perhaps normal meaning but I appreciate that may not always be the case. Quite a few options. I am going to assume the Consulate knew what the deal was.

[user555 196]

For a tourist visa, they look at 1 thing, and that is what will make you return to Nigeria? There are not a lot of strong ties that will make you return to your country. In the CO's mind, there is a high probability for you to stay in the US. Instant denial. 

[TamMhmd 210]

Hi,

 

Sorry you go rejected. My husband had a similar situation during our Immigration process. Our lawyer said although he can keep applying it would be unlikely he'd get a visa while waiting for his embassy interview. 

 

Best Regards,