The success rate of visa approval depends on many factors. It also depends on the country you are applying for and what proof of documentation you have. But sometimes, simple mistakes can get your visa application denied.
I have applied for a lot of visas in the last 4 years. I have made a ton of mistakes myself. But over the time I have learned to avoid these mistakes. Now, I have no more visa rejections.
Being smart and avoiding these mistakes will spare you time, money and visa denials. So, without further due, let’s look at these 11 mistakes that can get your visa application denied. And the ways to avoid them.
Also Read: 14 ways to get a travel itinerary for visa application
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01. Not following the visa rules strictly
The visa rules are there for a reason. You are supposed to follow them strictly. If not, you are taking chances.
Consulates reject applications that do not follow the visa rules strictly. Even if they accept, they may ask for additional documentation or eventually deny the visa.
Example: If a visa is usually granted for 30 days, don’t try to show a 45-day itinerary and ask for a 45-day visa.
Personal Experience: Thailand Visa on Arrival is only for 15 days for India passport holders. I have heard stories that some were given a 30 day Visa on Arrival on request. So, I decided to take my chances and ask for a 30 day visa. I booked a return ticket in 30 days and hopped on a flight to Thailand.
At the Visa on Arrival in Bangkok, I have requested the visa officer for a 30 day Visa. I told the visa officer that I have heard stories that some were given a 30 day Visa on Arrival. The visa officer told me that the visa rules are strict and they cannot accommodate such requests. He asked me to book a new flight ticket within 15 days of arrival and come back in line.
I had to pay a premium to use the internet at the airport and book a new ticket. This not only wasted my time and money but it was an unnecessary risk. Lesson learned.
Also Read: How to travel 30+ countries VISA-FREE with US visa
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02. Showing return/onward travel by bus/train/boat
Never show your proof of return/onward travel by bus/train/boat. Always show that you will be in and out of the country by AIR.
Visa officers cannot really verify bus/train/boat tickets but they can verify flight tickets if they need to. A flight ticket is a more acceptable form of return/onward travel.
You do not have to actually purchase your return/onward flight tickets for visa applications. You can hold or reserve them. Check out this article for more details on how to get a travel itinerary for your visa application.
For visa EXEMPTION and visa ON ARRIVAL, you must show a confirmed and purchased return/onward flight ticket. You can take advantage of United, Expedia or Orbitz 24-hour cancellation policy if you need to.
Also Read: How to travel 20+ countries VISA-FREE with Canada visa
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03. Showing an incomplete itinerary
Consulates would like to see a complete itinerary. They would like to see the itinerary beginning and ending in your home country or country of residence.
A complete itinerary should be something like Home-Destination-Home or Home-Destination1-Destination2-Home. Example: India–Vietnam–Malaysia–India.
If you are going on a multi-country trip, it would be a hassle to hold/reserve the tickets for the entire trip. In that case, just hold/reserve flight tickets from your home country or country of residence for each destination.
Example: If your trip is India–Brazil-Argentina-Chile–India and you are applying for Chile visa. It would be easier to just show an itinerary India–Chile–India for your Chile visa. You can do the same thing for your Brazil visa by showing an itinerary India–Brazil–India.
Personal Experience: For my Malaysia eVisa, I have uploaded the flight tickets for in and out of Malaysia. My flight tickets were Vietnam–Malaysia–India. The consulate did not approve my visa instead asked me to upload the flight tickets for the complete Itinerary, that is India–Vietnam–Malaysia–India. I have uploaded the complete itinerary after. My visa was eventually approved. I could have saved time by uploading the complete itinerary upfront.
Similarly, a friend of mine has a residence permit in Australia. For his Malaysia eVisa, he showed his India–Malaysia-Australia itinerary. He was asked to upload the full itinerary, that is India–Malaysia-Australia-India.
He had to convince the consulate that he will be staying permanently in Australia as he has a residence permit. He could have avoided the unnecessary back and forth communication and a trip to the consulate by just uploading a complete itinerary upfront.
Also Read: What is Visa on Arrival and how to get it successfully every time
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04. Showing a long itinerary
Always show a short itinerary. An itinerary of 15 days or less is more realistic. Anything longer than 15 days may raise questions such as why you would need that many days.
If you show a long itinerary, you may be asked for additional proofs such as leave approval letter, no objection letter from your employer or proof of additional funds in your bank.
The visas are always issued as per the guidelines. It doesn’t matter how long or short your itinerary is, your visa will be granted for the stipulated amount of days. Showing a short itinerary avoids unnecessary questions and additional documentation.
Example: Say, as per the visa guidelines, a visa is valid for 3 months that grants a 30-day entry. And say, your itinerary for the visa is 15 days. You will still be granted a visa valid for 3 months with a 30-day entry.
Exception: There are some countries that issue visas just for the days you have asked for. Make sure to read the visa requirements. Example: Chile tourist visa.
Also Read: What to pack for international travel
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05. Mentioning about friends/relatives in the foreign country
Never mention that you know someone in the foreign country. If you do, then you may be asked how you actually know this person. You may also be asked to provide with the ID proofs, employment letters or even bank statements of the person you know.
Consulates would like to make sure that you don’t have any contacts in their country that are involved in suspicious or illegal activities.
If asked, just say that you don’t know anyone in that country. You are going there as a tourist to see and explore the country.
Personal Experience: A friend of mine was asked if he knows anyone in Brazil while applying for his Brazil visa from India. He casually mentioned that he has a friend there that he met through Couchsurfing. Visa officer asked him to contact his friend and bring his friend’s ID proof, etc. Even after providing the additional documents, his visa was eventually denied.
Exception: When you are using a sponsor for your visa application, you will, of course, mention that you know your sponsor. Example: United States B1/B2 visa using a sponsor.
Also Read: 15 ways to research visa requirements for any country
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06. Mentioning about Couchsurfing, hitchhiking, etc.
Never mention about Couchsurfing, hitchhiking, backpacking, budget travel, etc. They are all red flags. The visa officers may not be familiar with these concepts and might consider that you do not have enough funds to support yourself.
If asked, simply mention that you would like to go to that country for tourism purposes. If you would need to show proof of hotel reservations for your visa application, just make a few refundable hotel reservations.
Do not mention about Airbnb as well. Visa officers may not be familiar with Airbnb. Airbnb is still in a gray area as not all governments are in favor of it.
FREE eBook: How to travel 56 countries VISA-FREE with a visa from US, Canada, UK, Schengen, Australia, etc.
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07. Mentioning about volunteering, remote work, digital nomad, etc.
Never mention about volunteering, woofing, workaway, house sitting, remote work, location independent, digital nomad, etc. These are all red flags.
A tourist visa is strictly for tourism purposes. Engaging in any kind of remuneration activity without a proper work visa is considered illegal.
If found during your visa application, you might be subjected to visa denial and blacklist.
If found at the port of entry (immigration at the airport), you might be subjected to arrest, fine, deportation or even permanent ban from entering the country again.
Volunteering, woofing and workaway are technically considered as work. You may not be paid for your service, but you are compensated by other means such as free accommodation, free food, etc. Receiving anything in exchange of work and time, it is considered remuneration.
There are countless incidents where travelers were questioned, fined or deported for mentioning at the immigration that they are entering the country to volunteer.
Even if your intention is to volunteer, if asked, just say that you are going there to explore and see the country.
Visa and immigration officers may not know about remote work, location independent and digital nomad lifestyles. These are still in the gray area and have serious tax obligations. Even if you are a digital nomad, if asked, just say that you are there to explore and see the country.
Personal Experience: Someone I know was detained for several hours at London’s Heathrow airport for saying that he will be working remotely during his stay. On his second trip, he was detained again as the immigration officials already had him blacklisted from his earlier trip. He was asked not to open his laptop at all during his stay.
Also Read: 10 tips for happy and successful Airbnb stay
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08. Using a sponsor for your visa application
If you are using a sponsor, the weight of the application is on the sponsor. The success of your visa approval is completely dependent on your sponsor.
Factors such as your sponsor’s track record, legal status, tax obligations, prior visa denials, etc. come into play. If you don’t know your sponsor well, you may be taking the risk.
In my option, you are better off applying for the visa on your own. As long as you have employment proof and sufficient funds in the bank, you don’t really need a sponsor.
Personal Experience: My Singapore visa was denied 3 times. I was never told the reason for the denial. Singapore visa can be applied via VFS Global offices or through a local Singapore citizen. Singapore citizens have access to a system called SAVE, through which they can request visas for their friends and family.
My friend who is a Singapore citizen has requested a visa for me through the SAVE system. It was denied twice and he even made an appeal, which was also denied.
I didn’t have to provide any documentation. No flight tickets, no hotel reservations, and nothing else were necessary for a sponsored visa. The approval success was completely dependent on the sponsor.
If I had applied through the VFS Global office, I have had a high success rate as I would have provided my flight bookings, hotel reservations, bank statements, etc.
Exception: You can use a close family member that you know very well for sponsored visas. Example: Siblings, spouse, parents, kids, etc
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09. Using a travel agent for your visa application
There is nothing wrong with using a travel agent for your visa application. But, most travel agents have never applied for a visa for themselves or never traveled abroad. All their experience is only from applying visas for others. When things do not go as planned, they just give up. They will take your money but will not guarantee that they will get your visa successfully.
In my opinion, you are better off asking help from those who have actually applied for the visas themselves and have actually traveled to that country. They can guide you well through the procedure and help you with the intricate details that you or the travel agents may not be familiar with.
Look up for frequent and long-term travelers from your country on social media and follow their blogs. Seek help from them for your visas. They will help you for free but also educate you on visas and travel.
Personal Experience: A reader of my blog from India has used a travel agent for his Chile visa. Chile is not a country that’s on the radar of many Indian tourists. It’s typically Europe, Dubai or United States that most Indian tourists are keen on visiting. Travel agents have somewhat experience in visas for these countries but not Chile. So, this travel agent took my reader’s money but couldn’t help when Chile consulate asked him for additional documentation. He found my blog and approached me with his situation. Since I have been to Chile before and have applied for my Chile visa myself, I was able to guide him through the process. Finally, his visa was approved and had a great trip to Chile.
Exception: There are a few countries whose visas can only be applied through authorized travel agents. Example: UAE.
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10. Involving in illegal or criminal activities
Do not involve yourself in any illegal activities in your home country or while traveling. This can seriously hurt your chances of visa approvals in the future.
Having any kind of police record can affect your future visa approvals. You might be subjected to deportation and a permanent ban on entering the country.
Personal Experience: This was an incident that was reported on the Thailand visa Facebook group. Someone was arrested in Thailand for possession of drugs. They put a large and clear stamp in his passport saying that he is permanently banned from entering Thailand. This will definitely affect his future visas and travels to Thailand. Since the stamp is huge and clear in his passport, he will have trouble with visas and travel to any country in the future.
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11. Booking non-refundable flight tickets or hotels
This is technically not a mistake that would directly affect your visa result. But it’s a good practice to not book any non-refundable flight tickets or hotels prior to your visa approval.
Never purchase flight tickets before your visa is approved. Always, hold a flight reservation or book refundable hotels.
Personal Experience: A friend of mine booked a non-refundable ticket from India to Brazil. His Brazil visa was denied which he wasn’t expecting. Since his flight ticket was non-refundable, he couldn’t get a refund for his ticket from the airline.
Exception: You would need confirmed return/onward tickets for Visa EXEMPTION and Visa ON ARRIVAL.
***
There you have it! 11 mistakes that can get your visa application denied. And the ways to avoid them.
Have you ever made any mistakes that affected your visa result? If so, let me know in the comments below.
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Great tips! 🙂 #gltlove
Thank you!
I scheduled for US B1 visa interview next week. I received an invitation letter from a big company to attend a conference in the US. I work for a company which is a big customer to the one which invited me and the conference will discuss important technologies that will help me develop my profession. Plus I got more certificates from the company which sends me the invitation letter. But my company doesn’t sponsor me and I do have quite small money in my account, even though I am highly paid skilled professional who can pay for all my expenses for the travel. Should I show more money to the visa consul or will I get the visa with what I have? What other things can I use to convince them during the interview, maybe my strong interest in sharing knowledge experience?
Hi Elshaday! US Visa officers usually do not ask for any documentation. Instead, they want you to convince them why you should be given a visa. You can only do this with your DS-160 and interview answers.
You should definitely emphasize your strong interest/knowledge in your field, the benefits/skills you can gain from the conference, how those can be useful to you and your company, etc. Any past conferences you have attended and the countries you have traveled.
You should not manipulate anything for the visa. It can work against you. If asked, show/tell them how much you have in your bank. If need, explain to them how you will fund your travels.
Hi Mr. Thirumal!
I’m a housewife. I’m applying US visa for my next April schedule. Is it possible for approval since I don’t have any income but I have savings which are enough for me to travel? Before this, I’ve traveled all Europe and now I plan to travel to the US as well.
Hi Siti! US visa result depends on many factors, not just on your financial situation. But having employment and a steady income helps. As long as you can convince the visa officer that you have strong ties with your country, you have chances.
Hi,
goodnight, I went for a nonimmigrant visa interview today and was denied because I travel to Canada for two months, didnt get an opportunity to explain why I was in canada so long , as I had apply for school in canada and had to do couple test and interview before leaving, what can I do about being denied the us visa on that basis
Hi Kemesha! Are you sure the reason for your US visa denial was due to your 2-month travel in Canada? I don’t think that’s the real reason for your US visa denial unless you have OVERSTAYED your Canada visa or involved in activities against the Canada visa rules. Did the visa officer tell you that this was the basis for your visa denial?
That being said, visas are becoming much strict these days, especially now that countries/airlines are sharing visas/travel information. All information is now easily verifiable.
This is something that every tourist should know. Good that you specified them clearly.
This eliminates any grey area in this space.
Thanks.
Thanks! Yep, I have made these mistakes myself and several of my readers. That’s why I put this list together so our fellow travelers will be aware of.
Hello,
I am planning to travel to Ireland in the month of June for 17 days (2 days for flight + 15 days in Ireland).
1. Is it required to show flight tickets for visa application, it’s not mentioned in their website under visa requirements?
2 If yes, How can we just book the tickets and not actually purchase it?
3. Booking flight tickets through travel agent or own, which is better?
4. All the letters i.e. application letter, itinerary plan, etc. Should be handwritten or typed?
Hi Garima, here is what you would need to do –
1. If they didn’t ask for flight tickets, do not provide/submit any.
2. If at all they ask you to provide/submit flight tickets, just book/hold the flight reservation. DO NOT PURCHASE your flight tickets before visa approval.
3. Yes, travel agents can book/hold tickets for up to a week. You can ask any local travel agent to book tickets and give you a print of the reservation. If you would like to book/hold them by yourself, refer to this article for more options.
4. Typed. Type all letters, itinerary plans, etc using MS Word or similar program. For application forms, you can type/fill them using Adobe Reader. The only forms that you cannot type are the scanned images for the application forms. Such forms can be handwritten.
Thanks for prompt response. :). It’s really helpful. Few more questions
1. I am traveling with a friend and my daughter ( her father is not coming). Does traveling with a child alone makes it difficult to get visa approved?
2. If embassy asks for flight tickets after my documents and visa submissions, what has to be done? I mean do we need to book/purchase ticket then and upload it online or send it through VFS office?
Thanks in advance. 🙂
1. No, traveling with a child will not have any impact on the visa approval. Some visa applications and consulates ask for a NOC document from the parent if one of them is not traveling with the child. If Ireland consulate did not ask for it, then don’t worry about it.
2. If they need flight tickets, they would let you know how to send them. If they need to be uploaded online, they will send the instructions to you.
Note: If they ask flight tickets as part of the visa application process (not after approval), just hold/reserve the tickets and send them. DO NOT purchase them before visa approval. If they ask for flight tickets after visa approval, you can purchase them.
Hi
My Canadian visa refused 2 times though i have a US valid visa now i am going to apply it again and this time i have an invitation letter from my friend and all the relevant documents
Can you suggest me is it fine to apply a tourist visa for 45 days with PR holder invitation letter
Thanks in advance
Hi Shahzad! Do you know the reason why your visa was refused? Do you remember if you were missing some documentation, employment proofs, not enough funds, unreliable sponsor, etc? Knowing the reason will help you fixed it and thereby have a higher success rate next time. Just trying a different approach may not help you. Email me if you want me to look into your previous rejections and identify the issues.
Please send me your email id
Hello Shahzad,
May I know the reason/mistake that u think u did last time. Because I’m also applying for Canada visa, and it would be really helpful.
Hi Sheela! I will, of course, let Shahzad respond to your query. But, I just wanted to let you know that Shahzad’s visa is now approved. We had back and forth emails and I figured a few reasons that might have lead to his previous visa rejection.
(1) Using an inexperienced travel agent to apply for the visa (My suggestion: Don’t use a travel agent. Apply on your own)
(2) Longer itinerary (My suggestion: Show an itinerary of 15 days or less)
(3) Insufficient funds (My suggestion: Have enough funds in your bank equivalent to at least 200 CAD per day of your itinerary)
Hi sir.
I have applied for schengen visa.
I have submitted the documents.
But in invitation letter I did a mistake in specifying the date. Instead of feb 2019 I have written Feb 2018 will it create a problem?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Rutuja! Is that “invitation letter” or “cover letter”? Here is what I think –
Invitation Letter
=================
Is that the only date in the entire letter? If yes, the visa officer may assume that the letter is old, from 2018. If not, then I’m sure visa officer will understand that it’s a mistake as all other dates are pointing to 2019.
Cover Letter
============
This letter is something you have written, so I’m sure visa officers will understand that it’s a mistake. You don’t need to worry too much about this.
I emailed you please check and do the needful
Thanks
Yes, Shahzad. I received your email. Will respond shortly.
Hello
Sir how are you doing, ihave never travelled before do you think ican get UK visa iwant to apply
Hi Shakirah! Yes, of course! Make sure you have all the required documentation including (1) employment proof and (2) sufficient funds in your bank. The key to getting a visa approved is by making sure you meet the requirements 100%.
Hello, Great job you doing here.
I have never traveled before and i want to apply for UK visa for visit.
I have my aunt-in-law in the UK who is a British citizen, do you think I should state i am visiting her or i should just apply as a tourist?
Also, is there any implication if am applying alone and not with my wife or kids?
I am gainfully employed and am currently building up funds in my account towards the trip.
Hi Temitope! Thanks! You have 2 options – (1) get sponsorship from your aunt-in-law or (2) apply as a tourist with an intention to visit your aunt-in-law.
If you seek sponsorship from your aunt-in-law, you may need to provide the following documentation from her side –
– A letter from your aunt-in-law that she would arrange your accommodation, transportation and other expenses while you are in the UK
– Your aunt-in-law’s bank statements for at least the last 3 months. Make sure the employer pay deposits are in the statements and no large undocumented deposits.
– Your aunt-in-law’s British passport copy
– Your aunt-in-law’s British postal poll card
– Your aunt-in-law’s utility bill
If you plan to apply as a tourist, you may need to provide the following documentation –
– A covering letter detailing your purpose, your itinerary, your employment information, financial situation and intention to return back
– Employment letter with details such as the period of employment, current salary, conduct, etc
– Leave/vacation approval letter from your employer
– Payslips from your employer
– Bank statements (make sure the employer pay deposits are in the statements and no large undocumented deposits).
There will not be any implications for you applying without your wife or kids. It actually works in your favor as a strong tie to your home country.
Thanks a lot. I really appreciate this!.
It was really helpful. Great tips for travelers. Thanks for these.😊
You’re welcome, Minette! I’m glad the article was helpful.
Hi I’m planning to go to Berlin in the month of August for 28 days as a tourist. I’ll be travelling in and around Berlin. I’m worried about the visa as I’ll be travelling alone.
As long as you have all the documentation, you should be fine. The two main things are (1) your employment proof and (2) the funds in your bank. Since 28 days to a bit long, you should show enough funds in your bank. Make sure you show a detailed itinerary. Add another 1 or 2 countries to your itinerary if necessary, to make it seem long.
Hi
I am working as a freelancer for last few years. Self employed but no firm to prove the source of income. I have been filing my return for last 8 years and have good savings and investments. I am applying for a schengen visa. What is the best approach for freelancers?
Hi Divya! Self-employed, freelancing and digital nomadism are all in a gray area right now. Visa officers are not fully aware of these methods of income generation. Since you have been filling your tax returns, it is much easier for you. You just have to mention that you are “self-employed” and show your tax returns plus bank statements. Also provide your client invoices, payment statements, etc.
Employment proof is to determine your strong ties with your home country. Same goes for business ownership. But, self-employment is tricky unless it is location-based.
Hi,
I have a plan to visit US this year and like to apply for Canadian visa. My US visa is valid and I have used it before. My plan is to go to US by air and from US to Canada by road. I have booked my return flight ticket from my home country to US. Is it okay to apply like this?
Hi Ali! Usually, consulates ask for roundtrip (inward and return) flight tickets for visa application. They do not accept other options such as drive, bus, boat, etc. My suggestion is to use a roundtrip fight reservation for you Canada visa. You can check out my article on how to get a flight reservation for your visa application. This flight reservation is only for your visa application. Once you receive your Canada visa, you are free to travel as you like. You can visit Canada by road, there won’t be a problem.
Too late now 😭
I have applied already
Well, it should still be fine as you have a planned US trip.
Fingers crossed!!! I update you soon I receive my passport.
Hi
I applied for a visa to France for summer (tourist reasons) and also have a detailed itinerary (my to-do list in France)..unfortunately I applied for this visa less than 15 working days before travel and the instruction says one must apply for visa to France from my country (Nigeria) at least 1 month before travel date. Can this result to a rejection? Although, the visa is still in processing and my scheduled date of travel has passed. What do you think might be the outcome of the decision?? Can I file an appeal if there is visa denial or should I re-apply??
Hi Saheed! Though your actual travel date has passed, the visa process will continue. That’s why consulates ask the applicants to not purchase the flight tickets before visa approval. In your case, I assume you haven’t purchased your tickets. Either way, when your visa is approved, you can still travel within the visa validity dates. If at all the consulate needs new travel dates and itinerary, they will ask you. But, they will not deny the visa on the fact that your original travel dates have passed.
Hello
I applied for an Italian study visa , on the visa application form field 19: I filled my occupation : Utility manager, then, in field 20 I am supposed to fill in the address and name of my employer, but I filled in my proposed school address and name, am seriously disturbed. Don’t know if this will lead to Visa denial.
I do not think that’s a huge problem. If at all the consulate figures the information is not correct, they will simply ask you for the correct information. They will not deny your application on such a small mistake.
Do US consular ask for itinerary flights ticket for US visa interview,please I need urgent reply because my interview date is fast approaching.thanks
No. US consulates do not ask for any flight tickets. You don’t need to book any flight tickets or hotels for the US visa.
Please, I was thinking of getting a tourist visa to give birth in Brazil. However, I don’t know if I will get the visa if I happen to appear ‘obviously ‘ pregnant. I really need an advice
If the consulate notices that you are pregnant, they might ask for a certificate from your doctor that you are OK to travel. Other than that, I don’t see much problem.
Hi
I filed an application for a visa going to Romania for 23 days visiting a friend in october have the invitation letter my host will be sponsoring with accommodation and day to day expenses already bought the ticket as it was required (valid flight ticket )i have supporting documents my bank statement,return ticket ,travel insurance, and invitation letter from my friend I’m worried as my online application there’s missing information however I have filed all documents requested and the date Is approved for an appointment wil that be one of the reason my visa will be denied (missing information on my online application )i filed for a new application with complete and full information should I reschedule for another appointment or cancel and wait for the second application to go through and be scheduled for another appointment ..
In my opinion, it’s better for you to just go for the first appointment. A couple things to keep in mind –
(1) If they figure that you have a second application pending, then they may ask you about it during your appointment. Just explain the reason why you filed a new application.
(2) If they ask you what information was missing, mention clearly what information was missing. Have the new information on a paper and hand it over to the visa officer to verify.
(3) During the appointment, if the visa officer says that your application is being denied due to missing information, you should immediately interject and explain the situation, your missing information, your new information and the reason for new application.
If your visa is granted, withdraw/cancel your second application.
If for whatever reason, the visa officer denies your first application, keep the second application. In your second appointment, you can explain the facts to the visa officer.
Thank you Thirumal
Hi Thirumal
Thank you for the advise you provided 🙂
I did get my Visa approved …going to Romania Yippie
Congratulations! Have a great time in Romania!
Hey,
I am a student completed my graduation and still pursuing my law currently and working as an intern and from a middle class family (as you mentioned about giving fund details).
I want to apply for US visas (for a personal tour and a solo trip just to meet my girlfriend who is studying in US), have never visited any country before.
I am planning to apply for visas through travel agents (a reputed one) will it help?
If not then please tell me how to go on with the visas.
I really want to go there and surprise her.
Thank you.
Hey Prerak! In my opinion, being a student can work in your favor. Visa officers would like to see whether you intend to return back after your visit. Since you are currently studying, you will have to come back to continue your studies. This is a strong indicator of your ties with your home country.
Since you are a student, you can use your parent’s income and investments as your financial proofs. Make sure you get a letter from your parents that they currently support you financially and an undertaking that they will bear all your US travel expenses.
Regarding the purpose of your visit, you can be honest and say that you want to go see your girlfriend who is currently studying in the US. Since you do not have any prior travel history, mentioning that you want to go to the US as a tourist can sound suspicious.
Using a travel agent is fine in your case. But, make sure the agent is reputable, knows the procedure very well and has processed many applications successfully.
Good day Sir
What would you consider sufficient funds when applying for a UK visa?
Thanks in advance.
I would say around 100-150 GBP per day per person is good enough. That being said, having sufficient funds itself is not enough for the UK visa application. A few things to keep in mind –
– Your source of income per month must be higher than your total UK trip expenses. Example: If you are staying for 10 days, then showing about 1000 GBP in your bank is good. But if your monthly income is, say around 500 GBP, then it may raise questions on how you can afford to spend twice your salary on the UK trip.
– Your bank statements should clearly indicate your source of income (ex: salary). If there are inconsistent deposits, it may raise questions.
– Your bank statements should not have any large undocumented deposits. If you deposit large amounts just to show a higher balance in your account, it may raise questions. But, if you had large deposits due to the selling of an asset, etc., you must include relevant documentation (ex: sale deed) and explain in the cover letter.
Hi , Sir
I need your help to get my family visa for USA. m living in Dubai – UAE ( Pakistan National, M civil engineer now handling duties of General Manager in company), since from 2012 & my family is living with me here from last 2 years . i visited , Malaysia,Thailand,Turkey,Germany,Spain,France,Italy, Switzerland,UK, & USA, I have USA valid visa & before i been there once in USA, but this august 2018 i applied for my family (wife+3 children’s )USA visa for 10 days because m going for trade show in Chicago,i attached all required documents what they required & my employer supporting letter also, who will pay all cost of my trip, but unfortunately my family get denial of USA visa , as my family the counselor telling them about last travel & how many countries they are visited before. actually i think that denial is coming due to weak travel history. or what you think about my family denial , please help me out, give me suggestion to how i re-apply again for my family USA visa.
Thanks
Hi Shahbaz! There could be many reasons for the visa denial for your family. It’s really hard to tell. I can only speculate a few –
Reason: Lack of travel history for your family
Solution: Make sure you travel with your family to a few countries that are not too strict with visas. Then try to get them a Schengen visa before re-applying for the US visa.
Reason: Your employer paying expenses for your family as well
Solution: This is can be a negative thing in my opinion. Even if your employer is ready to bear all expenses for your family, I suggest you make it clear in DS-160 and also at the interview that you are taking your family with you on your own expenses and your employer is only bearing your expenses.
Reason: Mixing work and family
Solution: Taking your family with you while you are going on a business trip can sometimes be looked as negative. Especially, when you have small children or infants. The visa officer might think that your family will be much safer at home than in the US, as only one parent will be available to take care of them during the trip (since you will be away at the conference).
Hi! My name is Shabbir from Pakistan. I have applied for the visa for UK 10 days ago with my all business documents, bank statements and sponsor letter from my cousin. He’s a British citizen. I was visiting about 15 countries but not visit Shengen, USA, Australia and UK. It’s my first time applying so please tell me how much chances I have for my visa approval. After 5 days my passport has come back. Please, any idea on my visa is approved or not?
Hi Shabbir! 15 countries is a good travel history, but if you haven’t had any visas, then I suggest to get some visas as well. If you have submitted all required documents, documentation proof from your cousin, a detailed cover letter, then you have very good chances of visa approval.
I have a sponsor letter from my friend.i have applied for two times the two times also denied my Schengen tourist visa . I want to apply once again so what should I do please let me know because I’m the student right now
Hi Aravind! Using friends as sponsors usually don’t work. Immediate family (brother, sister, parents) or educational institutions is a better option. So, in my opinion, do not apply again with your friend’s sponsor letter. Your application will likely get denied again.
Since you are a student, your best bet would be to apply along with your parents. That way, most of the weight will be on your parent’s applications. Once you travel with your parents, applying on your own will have much better odds.
Hi! I am feeling very helpless. Can you please guide me? I have applied for Schengen visa thru France embassy from VFS center Jeddah Saudi Arabia. I’m an Indian passport holder, living in Saudi Arabia with my husband. He applied for Schengen visa before me as I was in India at that time. He got the visa in 3 days. After I came to Saudi we applied for my visa thru the same agent providing all necessary documents, sponsor letter, cover letter 2nd time as they denied 1st time for the reason 8 and 9. I explained in detail in the cover letter that I will be coming back as I have a daughter who is in India with her grandparents right now. What could be the reason for my visa refusal? Do u think I would have got the visa if applied together?
Hi Neelima! I need more information in order to figure the reason for your visa denial. Can you answer these below questions?
– Who provided the sponsor letter?
– What is the purpose of your travel?
– Did you apply directly at VFS or a travel agent applied on your behalf at the VFS center?
– Did you mention your husband details (name, visa number, etc) in your cover letter?
Hi Thirumal, I applied for the UK visit Visa for a meeting. How do I start counting fifteen working days? (1) From the mail received from Sheffield or (2) when the biometric capture was done and submitted or (3) when I submitted online before going for the biometric capture?
Besides, I did not build my the funds in my account as expected, though I have sufficient funds twice as that of my sponsor. I have covering letter of introduction from my sponsor and a letter of invitation from them saying that I will be meeting in the UK on behalf of my sponsor. I had large amounts of deposits into my account twice from my building society (which I am a member of). The building society gave me an introduction letter too.
It is already past fifteen working days from the day I submitted online. No mail or response. What is your view base on your wealth of experience concerning all I narrated?
Hi Chukwu! You should consider your 15 working days from the day your biometrics was captured and the physical application was submitted (option 2 in your question).
Regarding funds in your bank, if your sponsor is paying for your expenses, then you don’t have to worry too much about your own funds in the bank. If your sponsor is not paying for your expenses, then you must make sure that there are no large deposits in your bank account. If you do, then you must provide relevant documentation explaining the deposits. Since your building society has provided you with a letter explaining the deposits, you should be fine.
One of the biggest challenges with UK visa application is the lack of application status tracking. You either have to wait till you hear from them or pay their customer service to check on the status. I have explained how to contact their customer service in the UK visa guide.
Hi Thirumal, I’m a student and I have decided to attend some conferences, seminars and workshops in the US and many Schengen countries in December. I also have some interviews for my internships and college applications. I’m going to be working for about 1 week in Europe too with the ESO if my interview is successful, though I’m going to travel some with my friends during Christmas and new year.
So how should I apply for the visas? Should I apply for a US visa first and then a Schengen visa? Or should I file them together? I also have invitation letters from the conference and seminar organizers, and also 3 invitation letters from my friends in Europe and US.
My father is sponsoring my expenses as I’m a student. So how should I apply for the visas? And which visa should I apply first? I know all about the requirements, travel, accommodation, itineraries, travel insurance, passport, cover letter, letter of intent, bank statements, sponsor letter. The trip will be nearly 15 days in the US and 15 days nearby in Europe. So total about 30 days. I have an Indian passport.
Hi Vedant! Here are my opinion and suggestions –
Invitation letters
(1) Do not use invitation or sponsor letters from friends. If those friends are not citizens and can’t provide every documentation that the consulate wants, your visa will be denied.
(2) Invitation letters from conferences, seminars and companies are fine.
US visa
(1) You have high chances of US visa approval since you have a genuine purpose to visit.
(2) Pay careful attention to your form DS-160. Clearly indicate that your father will pay for your expenses in DS-160. Specify your US contact person as your conference organizer.
Schengen visa
(1) Do not use invitation letters from your friends.
(2) You cannot work on a tourist visa. You can, of course, attend the interview on a tourist visa but you have to come back and apply for a relevant visa with work authorization in order to work.
(3) Your best bet is to have the company send you relevant documentation inviting you to go in person for the interview. They should make it clear in the documentation that a work visa and authorization will be applied on your behalf if you are successful in the interview.
Hello Mr. Thirumal, Greetings! My name is Hassan, I’m a Lebanese man. I have a girlfriend from Indonesia and she has applied for the visa to come to Lebanon. But unfortunately, it was denied for unknown reasons. I love her so much and we are both suffering because we don’t know what to do! Can you please help us and tell us a good way to get the visa?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Hassan! No consulate will deny a visa without a proper reason. There has to be some reason why your girlfriend’s visa was denied. Let me ask a few questions to see if I can figure the reason –
1. Did you sponsor her visa or she applied as a tourist?
2. What was her purpose of travel in the Visa application? To see Lebanon as a tourist or meet you?
3. What documentation does the Lebanese consulate ask for?
4. Does she have a continuous source of income?
5. Does she have a considerable travel history?
Hello sir! I have recently applied for Schengen visa and the date of arrival in the Schengen Area is 10th December 2018 to 30 December 2018. Stay for 20 days. On my travel insurance, it’s still the same date. I have the same dates on my flight bookings. Will there be any problem with the date I have used to fill the form from 10th to 30th? My flight date is on the 30th as the date of returning back. Should I have booked my flight on the 27 or 28? Please respond to my reply. Thank you and will my visa be approved?
Hi Williams! There shouldn’t be any problem as you are leaving on the 30th. Your intended number of days will be 21 days (10th Dec to 30th Dec) Usually, you will get a few extra days on the visa, so if you want to leave early or a couple days later, it can still work. Just wait till you get the visa so you will know your visa dates. You can then get your flight tickets accordingly.
Good day Thirumal, I want to apply for a visitor visa to Canada. And I don’t know anybody in Canada. Also I have applied four months ago through my agent but was denied.
Hi Raymond! You don’t need to know anyone in Canada in order to apply for a Canada tourist visa. You can just apply on your own as a tourist. You have betters odds applying on your own as a tourist.
If your Canada tourist visa was denied 4 months ago, I suggest to not apply again. It will be denied again and you could probably be blacklisted for trying repeatedly. Without knowing any details, it could be hard to tell what exactly was the reason for your visa denial.
Hi
I wish to apply for US visa, but am quite confused. I am 24 years and a graduate of mechanical engineering. Am a Nigerian, but on an Automobile training presently in Rwanda which could last one year, I want to visit US, but I don’t know how to go about my documentation. I have a registered business in Nigeria ( mechanical engineering firm) and in Rwanda am just only a student, though I have a Rwanda bank account, with my age and having only school tier here in Rwanda, would it be enough to apply for visa ?… I have two years study resident permit. Please guide me … I anticipate your feedback… Thank you .
Hi Solace! Age and being a student are not at all problems. What’s very important for US visa are (a) a genuine purpose of travel and (b) strong ties with your home country. If you have the 2 below, you have higher chances –
(1) Considerable travel history including travel to visa required countries
(2) Fulltime employment in your home country or country of residence (or) established business with business registration and tax payments
Do you have travel history? How long have you been running your business in Nigeria? Can you provide business registration documents and tax returns?
I have only visited 3 countries in Africa, that required Visa. I have business registration certificate and tax return. My business is a year old . Do I need to present Nigeria statement of account or Rwanda ??…. Quite confused, and I really want to visit USA .
I am an Indian citizen and I want to apply for an education visa for Thailand from UK. It requires me to show a 3 month bank statement but I only have a 15-day bank statement because I opened my bank account here 15 days ago. Can I get a visa or not?
Hi Jasmin! You must follow the requirements strictly otherwise you are taking chances. I suggest providing 3-month bank statements from India (if you have any) along with your 15-day statement from the UK. And then, explain your situation clearly in your cover letter.
i have applied for my US Visa on my own without agent & my interview is scheduled for last week of Dec my question is i have not booked any hotel in Us as i am traveler & my tour schedule will depend on my visa approval,
Is’t compulsory to book hotels
Hi Rajan! No, flight and hotel bookings are not required for US visa. In DS-160, for the question “Have you made specific travel plans?”, you can select “No” and then just mention your intended dates of travel.
If you are asked in the interview whether you have booked your tickets, you can say that you will book your flight and hotel once you know your visa status.
I want to travel to Germany on the 30th of November. I just got my visa refused. I went to make an inquiry and I was told I was sent a mail to bring an additional document. I never received such an e-mail so I quickly went to check the application online form I submitted and I noticed a wrong spelling in the e-mail I submitted. Please, how do I go about this appeal?
Hi Ifeyinwa! I’m not familiar with the Schengen visa appeal procedure. But, I suggest mentioning that you made a mistake and would like to appeal.
My father in Brazil is applying for me. He has sent me all documents he has to. So what must I attach before I can go to the embassy myself?
Hi Opoku! Sorry, I don’t understand your situation fully. Is your father a Brazil citizen? Is he sponsoring you a Brazil visa?
Hi Thirumal,
I got a rejection for my US visa on November 14. The letter given doesn’t make any sense as I was going for tourism only. Can I email you the letter to check and give some few advise and also how soon can I apply again as a friend told me I should wait at least 60 days. I applied on my own and made it pretty clear the purpose of my trip. I am in South Africa with a permanent residence. I am from Congo.
Hi Chichi! There is no time limit on when you can apply again. But applying again will not help unless there is a considerable change in your situation. Sure, you can email me the details and the letter. I can check and see what could be the problem.
Good morning,
I have been denied US visa twice under 214b section but I really do not know what am not doing right. Please can you help me because am planning on applying again for a holiday.
Thank you.
Hi Chi! Applying for US visa repeatedly will only make the situation worse. First of all, try to figure the reason why your visa was denied. Second, apply again only if there is a considerable change in your situation. Send me your visa refusal letter to my email. I can take a look.
Sir,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the public. I was issued B1/B2 USA Visa on two occasions the Visa were cancelled at the point of entry twice from two different point of entries on the ground of presumption of immigrant intent. the second Visa cancellation was occured in Atlanta coming from Germany. I was banned for 5years. This banned has affected my Visa applications even though I was formerly a frequent traveler to other Schengen states . Please does it mean I have been blacklisted and if yes what must I do to resolve this problem. Thanks
Hi Franklin! I believe some countries run the applicants through a complex database to asses the background and authenticity of the application. So, it would be really difficult to comment if your US visa ban would affect your future Schengen visa applications.
My US VISA appointment letter has 1 letter missing in my last name, and when I contacted the US global help desk, they said that I need to talk to the officials during the biometrics interview. Myy DS-160 & Passport have correct names.
Will this be an issue?
Hi Reena! As far as I know, the staff at the consulate check the names on your passport and visa appointment letter. If they are too strict about it, they may deny your appointment. Since you were told to talk to the officials during the biometrics appointment, I suggest doing that.
One other option you can try is to cancel and reschedule your appointment. I’m not sure since I haven’t tried this myself, but I assume the application will let you edit the details. This time make sure you fix your name in the “personal data” section and reschedule your appointment. I will do more research on this and will let you know if I figure a better option.
Update: Further research suggests that you don’t need to worry about small spelling mistakes in your appointment letter. As long as your name and other details in your DS-160 are correct, you should be ok. Appointment letter is only to get into the consulate and will not affect your visa decision. Good luck!
Hi Sir,
Thanks for your response. I did cancel the appointment once, but the backend team later informed me that I should go ahead scheduling the appointment and talk to the biometrics team, as they are not able to make changes to my appointment letter.
Another observation that I had in my appointment letter is that :
The Applicant name has my full name ( Last name, First name Middle name) but across Appointment Made By , I only have ( First name Last name)
Kindly advice on this please.
Regards,
Varina
Hi Varina! Go ahead with your interview, it shouldn’t be a problem. My research suggested that it’s nothing to worry about.
Regarding the name difference in your appointment letter, that is how it is for everyone. So, no need to worry about that either. It was like that in my appointment letter too a few months ago. Good luck!
Hi ,
I have come across another problem. The travel dates on my DS-160 and my invitation letters don’t match. This is because when I submitted the DS-160 in November, I had given tentative dates for January, but when I actually scheduled the appointment, I realized that there is no appointment available for December at all, and now my appointment is scheduled for January around the same date that my DS-160 travel date is.
My company invitation letter and covering letter are both now showing re-scheduled travel dates for February. What do you think should be done here?
When filling the DS-160, I didn’t have any idea, that I will not get any appointment for another 1 and a half month. Is it alright if I explain to the interviewer this situation and show him/her proof of arrival and return dates of February through invitation/covering letters?
Thanks.
sorry typing the same answer again as the previous answer missed some of the lines while submitting due to some error:
January 12, 2019 at 7:44 am
Hi,
Just wanted to inform you that my visa was not approved. This was my experience during the interview:
Me: Hello, ma’m. Good morning.
Officer: * Ignores the greeting completely and doesn’t respond>
After 10 seconds:
Officer: Your passport
I hand it over.
Officer : Purpose of visit?
Me: * Briefly explains as advised by company*
Officer: What is your current job ?
Me: * Briefly explains as advised by company*
Officer: How many years of experience do you have at xyz company?
Me: 2 years 6 months
Officer: Have you traveled abroad anytime or would this be the first time?
Me: I haven’t traveled abroad before and this would be the first time
* after 30 seconds*
Officer: Please try again next time and the reason for the rejection is mentioned in this document
* The officer slams the rejection letter on the table in front of me *
I politely thank her and walk away.
I don’t know how I could have made this interview better.
Hi Varina! Sorry to hear that! Dates and documents do not matter for US visa. What matters is how you present yourself and convince the officer.
That being said, I don’t see anything wrong with your interview except that you lack travel history. Travel history indicates that you do not have illegal immigration intent.
A couple of things to look into –
(1) Go through your DS-160 to spot any incorrect or incomplete information
(2) Build some travel history before you apply again
Hi Thirumal,
I have quite a complicated situation and I have been in a continuous state of panic for months now.
I am an Egyptian and my fiance works in the Netherlands, we are getting married in June but I won’t be joining him permanently in the Netherlands because I am currently doing my MBA in Egypt so I need to finish it first. On that basis, I am planning to apply for a family visa to stay with him from June till the end of August before I return back to my fall semester.
Now the problem is that I work in a company in Egypt and it’s not mandatory to be in the office (I can work from home) but when I saw your point on not mentioning anything on remote working I panicked even more because I plan to provide an HR letter as proof that I will be back to Egypt for work.
Is there a probability that I might get asked about how is it possible that I am away from work for 2 months? And if yes how should I answer it? And is it better if I don’t provide proof of employment at all and maybe a letter from the university only that I am enrolled in a study program?
My apologies for being so talkative but I just wanted to deliver to you the whole picture. Thank you
Hi Eng! Since your fiance works in the Netherlands, I assume he is on a “work visa”. If he is, then he can sponsor a “dependent or family visa” for you. If you apply for a dependent/family visa, you don’t need to provide any employment proofs or ties to return back to your home country.
But either way, I suggest showing a shorter itinerary such as 15-20 days. In most cases, a Schengen visa is granted for 90 days. If your visa is granted for 90 days, you will be able to stay 2 months on it.
Working from home for your company while being in Egypt is not a problem. But, working for your company while being in the Netherlands can be a problem. But if you plan to continue working remotely for your company while being in the Netherlands, do not disclose that information in the visa application. If you go for a short itinerary, the question of working remotely does not even come up. Similarly, do not mention it at the port of entry either.
hello,
I am planning to apply for Student Visa immediately after my current work Visa expires which is only valid for one year. What are the chances of being granted one because the embassy expects one to return to their country of residence after Visa expires. Thank you
You haven’t mentioned which country you are referring to. Work visas in countries such as the US have dual intent, whereas student visas are strictly “non-immigrant”. So, applying for a student visa right after your work visa expires may lead to visa denials. Therefore, it all depends on the country.
Hi sir, I must commend your effort in both analysis for visa process and prompt reply to questions.
I want to apply for a Schengen tourist visa but I have a phobia for visa denial as I am neither an employee nor self-employed. As a result, there hasn’t been a flow of cash in my bank account but I have a sponsor as my sister. What are my chances of guaranteed tourist visa and what document should I make available for a Schengen tourist visa application? Yes, I have never traveled before. Please help.
Thank you!
Even though you have a sponsor, you would still need to prove that you have strong ties with your country. Having a job or being a student will help. Your case is quite different and it’s really difficult to know your exact chances of visa approval. You just have to give it a try and see how it goes.
I got denied under section 214(b). But i am going back after few days because i had more information as per i knew the reasons i got denied. When the consular asked me about my work descriptions, i only said 3-4 words and he said to me: Sorry i can’t grant you visa at this moment. I only said that base on what i heard from people ( don’t escalate your answers) and this goes against me. But i am ready to fill in the space. So what should i tell the consular is he/she asked what has changed since my first application? since i am ready to give full details about what i do for work
Hi Truth! First of all, the answers during the US visa interview must be clear and concise. Sometimes, just 3-4 words are enough and sometimes you may have to elaborate a bit. It all depends on what your job is and what you have to say.
Second, the visa officers are not too focussed on what you do, rather interested in your strong ties with your home country. That includes your current employment, previous employment, financial standing, family background and travel history. So, it would be difficult to exactly pinpoint that your visa was denied based on the fact that you did not get a chance to elaborate on your employment. But if you feel that way, you can definitely reapply.
When the visa officer asks you, you just have to tell the truth. Tell that the last time, you felt you were not given a chance to elaborate on your employment. You reapplied so you can talk more about your employment this time.
I have been denied us B2 visa twice, first was on October, the second was November, in my D’s_160 I stated that, I am married meanwhile I’m single I have now gotten someone to filled for me as his wife, I’m confused now, I want to know how this may affect me, and what can I do to prevent any complications, I’m confused right now ,help a sister, hoping to hear from u soon
Hi Akosua! First of all, make sure to enter only correct and truthful information in your DS-160. Visa officers are highly trained and they can easily spot any false/incorrect information. But if you have made a mistake in your previous application, you can explain that at the time of interview.
I have applied for my brother for a UK TOURIST VISA on 6th dec . Two week has passes and still we didnt received any response. We contacted the application centre and they replied that the passport is still in the Delhi embassy. We have received back the passports with the granted visa of two other persons who have applied before and after my brother. We really need a help as we are in worry
Hi Sarfaraz! Unfortunately, UK visa status update/tracking is not really possible. The response you hear mostly is your visa application is still in process. It is not possible to know why your application is taking longer than usual. That being said, there are 3 options for you –
1. Wait for another week. UK visa application process usually takes about 30 days. If you are not traveling anytime soon, I suggest you wait for another week and see what happens.
2. If you will be traveling soon, pay for “Retrospective Priority Visa Service” to expedite the visa application process. You can find the procedure for priority visa service in my UK visa guide.
3. If you need your passport immediately for other international travel, you can withdraw your UK visa application. This will cancel your UK visa application and the embassy will mail your passport back.
Hi Thirumal,
My company has plans to send me to US for a month to meet a client but they need b1 visa otherwise they will send someone else. So now as I dont want to miss this opportunity I am planning to apply for B1/B2 visa on my own.
Can you please help me out in how should I do it?
Should I say I am a traveler and make refundable bookings to justify that to gain the visa or is there any other way?
Thanks
Hi Akash! There are two ways to go about it – (1) Have your company sponsor you for a business trip or (2) Apply for a B1/B2 on your own.
For either option, you DO NOT have to make any flight/hotel bookings. US visa application does not require any flight or hotel bookings. You certainly cannot use flight/bookings to justify your trip as well. You would need to have a proper reason to travel to the US, such as sightseeing, attending a conference, family event, etc.
Hello Thirumal,
I am a Filipino citizen and was denied of US VISA twice. I was invited by my employer’s client to their office in order to have an overview on the new process and software to be used in preparation to the upcoming tax season. I am working as a Senior Tax Accountant for an outsourcing company in the Philippines. The following are the points I’m seeing why my VISA has been refused:
1. I’m only working for the outsourcing company for 3 1/2 months.
2. It was indicated in the Questionnaire and Itinerary that I will be staying at the client’s residence during my stay. Do you think it will be safer if I will book a refundable hotel?
3. In the US Visa Questionnaire, there is a question “Have you ever been refused a U.S. Visa, been refused admission to the US or withdrawn your application for admission at the point of entry?” for which the one who answered my questionnaire indicated “NO” but I was already denied once. Do you think it has a material bearing on my second denial?
4. I am Single. 25y/o. Female
I just need clarity and answers to these questions as it is kinda frustrating that you do not know the reason behind the denial. Thank you in advance and have a good day!
Hi Anna! I’m sorry about your visa refusal. Here is what I think –
1. This is not an issue since it’s a business trip. Sometimes companies send employees on business trips as soon as they are hired. It all depends on the business needs.
2. This might raise questions. Your client has to put you up in a hotel or serviced apartment, not in their residence. You don’t need to book a hotel in advance as US visa officers don’t ask for documentation. But it is safer to mention that you/employer/client will be paying for your hotel.
3. The US Department of State has records of all previous visa attempts. Every piece of information in your DS-160 must be accurate and honest. Indicating “No” to this question might have affected your visa result.
4. Being young, single and female has no bearing on a business visa application. If there is a business need, your employer has to send you to the client’s office. Everything else is irrelevant.
Since your’s is a business trip, make sure you specify that clearly in your DS-160. Also, pay attention to your current employer details and duties.
Questions –
=========
1. Who completed your DS-160? You or your employer?
2. Was your first US visa application also from the same employer?
3. Do you have any travel history?
Suggestions –
===========
1. Since your’s is a business trip, make sure you specify that clearly in your DS-160
3. Pay attention to your current employer details and duties
Hi , i am currently applying for an Ireland conference visa as a student in Ukraine .
1. I have been denied a UK visa last year and this year too i have been denied a B1 visa for a conference . My question is do you think i should state in my Ireland application of the visa denial or i should just ignore it .
2. My fiancee lives in the state and wants to sponsor me on the trip to ireland and do you think it is advicable i use her sponsorship because i am a student here in Ukraine and in Ukraine we are not allowed to work as temporal residents .
Hi Sam! First of all, you must look into why your UK and US visas were denied. Knowing the reason will help not make the same mistake for your Irish visa.
1. It depends on the question. Is the question specific to “previous Irish visa denial” or “any visa denial”? If “any”, yes you should disclose your UK and US visa denials. Most countries have information sharing with countries they have visa regime with. Ireland might have data of your UK/US denial in that case.
2. When you say “state”, you mean the “US”? This may not work for two reasons. First, she is not living in Ireland. Two, she cannot sponsor as she is not your wife yet.
Hi,
I want to know if I can travel right away to the UK as soon as I receive my UK visitor visa?
thanks
Hi Kim! Yes. Your UK visa validity starts from the date your visa is approved. Therefore, you can travel to the UK as soon as you receive your UK visa.
Hi Thirumal, I have got a invitation for a meeting which will be held in Hungary and it is all sponsored by my company. And now I’ll have to apply for a visa. This is the first time I’m applying for a Visa as I have never been abroad.
I have a query that, do they ask for PAN card? I have a spelling mistake in my surname on pan card. And also same mistake is there on my bank account. So while submission of bank statement will there be a problem because of spelling mistake in surname at the time of visa process?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Pranjali! Schengen visa application doesn’t ask for your PAN card. But they do ask for your bank statements.
Minor spelling mistakes are absolutely fine. If the name on your bank statement is entirely different from your actual name, that could be a problem. But, minor spelling mistakes are not an issue at all.
Thank you for the quick reply. Actually there is one more mistake I realized today only that, my father name on passport and adhar card has “rao” attached to it like “Ashokrao” and on all other documents like bank passbook, ITR forms and other places like invitation letter, bookings etc it is just “Ashok”. Do you think it will create problem for visa?? What should I do while applying for visa?
Thank you.
Hi Pranjali! In my opinion, it is still fine. Our last name sometimes becomes our initial in India. We also tend to drop our middle names. In my opinion, it’s fine.
If the name on passport is “Ashok” and the name on bank statements is “Sunil”, that’s when you would need to worry. The names are completely different. But, not having “roa” in the name is not an issue.
Note: I suggest making sure the names are same on all documents in the future. It is not an issue for the older generation but your generation and your next generation, it is advised to use the name in “firstname middlename lastname” format everywhere.
Thank you. I’ll update name in other documents but I’m afraid that I’ll have to apply for visa in few days and these documents will have the name issue. Let’s see what happens.
You will be fine. If you worried about it, you can also mention the name differences in your cover letter.
Hello. i am a Nigerian I want to apply for a UK visa for holidays and I have not worked before. But my sponsor is going to pay for my expenses and I will also use his bank details to apply for the visa. I am getting an invitation letter from a friend in the UK. Please will I be given the visa?
Hi Thelma! Unfortunately, The UK visa rejections are very high for Nigerian passport holders. Therefore, you must demonstrate strong employment and financial background along with considerable travel history. If you are using a sponsor, you must be able to provide at least the below documentation.
1. A letter from your sponsor undertaking that he/she would arrange your accommodation, transportation and other expenses while you are in the UK
2. Your sponsor’s bank statements for the last 3 months (must indicate employer pay deposits and have no large undocumented deposits)
3. Your sponsor’s British passport’s main page
4. Your sponsor’s British postal poll card
5. Your sponsor’s utility bill
Please note that UK Home Office started doing strict background checks including contacting employers (your’s and your sponsor’s), previous visa rejections, overstays, criminal charges, etc.
In my opinion, if you don’t qualify, it’s better to not apply than getting a rejection. A UK visa rejection will not only affect your future UK visa applications, but also all visa applications for countries that have information sharing with UK (such as US, Canada, China, and many more countries).
Thanks for your reply! My friend is sending me an invitation letter from the UK and my uncle in Nigeria is going to sponsor my trip and expenses to the UK.
Hi Thirumal, good job youre doing here…well done.
I’m presently self employed and applying for an Ireland Visa. The requirement on their website didn’t give detailed information on what is needed to submit as self employed, but I am making it clear in my letter that the business is sponsoring the trip. I’m submitting my business registration, statement of accounts and proof that I’m the only sole signatory to my business account. I’m using my business account because it’s more funded than my personal accounts. The only issue here is I don’t have my tax returns up to date, but it was never asked for even in the self employed requirements.
My questions;
1. Do I still need to include my personal accounts statements which is not very well funded like the business? I have salary pay slips I am planning to include, but will this be needed if I’m not submitting my personal account statement?
2. If I provide my business account statements which is quite impressive, my business account registration certificate and client’s invoices, can the tax returns be an issue especially since no emphasis is really placed on it by the Irish Embassy?
3. I intend staying for a month for a tourist visit, you stated not giving more than 15 days itinerary, does this mean I leave out the remaining 15days unexplained? Even though my bookings already showed details for 30days
4. This is my first time ever traveling out, I explained that I have decided to start exploring traveling because it was never a priority until I build my business up to a particular growth state and having achieved that, I decided to start with Dublin. Which is one of the cities of the world I’m planning to explore. Is this too much details and will it have any effect?
5. Apart from my business tie,I have included pictures of my family( dependent and retired father and elder sister) do I need to include their birth certificates showing that we are really family?
I ask too many questions please forgive me. Thank you
Hi Seun! Apologize for the delay in responding to your comment.
1. Ireland and UK are strict about the purpose of travel. If your purpose is “business”, then you can use your business accounts as proof of financial solvency. But, if your purpose is “pleasure”, then I’m afraid your business accounts cannot be used. Visas usually get denied if it’s unclear whether business funds are available for personal spending.
2. If your purpose is “business”, you can absolutely use your existing business documentation. Tax returns will only strengthen your case but not mandatory.
3. Asking for a 30-day entry will definitely raise questions such as who will run the business while you are away, why you would need 30 days in Ireland, etc. If you already have your flight tickets booked, then you have no choice but to use them.
4. Personal achievements are not given much priority. What matters for Ireland is whether you meet the criteria. Lack of travel history could pose a problem. If you can tweak your purpose to be 100% “business”, then there is a higher chance since it’s a business demand for you to be in Ireland.
5. You may have to enter your family/parent’s details in your Ireland application form. But you don’t need pictures or birth certificates of them.
Questions:
What passport do you hold? I can give you detailed suggestions if I knew your passport.
Hi,
I am from Nepal. I recently applied for UK Business visa and now waiting for their response. I am planning to attend the meeting there. I was previously rejected for short-term student visa for a 2 week course, which was fully sponsored. In the box, where it says reason for refusal- I have written “incomplete document” since the reasons for previous denial was- not attaching payslip, consent from parents (although I was 29 at that time) and being unmarried. I think I have got all my information and documents right but I am worried since I was rejected before. Also, at the VFS they have given me a document that says my passport is damaged and may likely to be refused visa. Please let me know what you think about this.
Hi Gemma! Unlike other countries, UK Visas and Immigration does not communicate or ask for additional documentation if needed. If they can’t find something, they just deny the visa. You have to make sure you provide every piece of documentation and cover letter that supports your application. I need more information inorder to provide you with my feedback. Can you answer the below questions?
1. Is your business trip to the UK sponsored (your current visa application)? If so, who is the sponsor and what kind of documentation did you provide?
2. Who was the sponsor for your 2-week course (your previous visa application)? What kind of documentation did your provide?
3. Is any important information on your passport not readable to due to the damage?
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
1. Yes, the accommodation is being covered and that is clearly mentioned in the invitation letter. I have shown my bank statement to show that I can cover the travel.
2. Acceptance for the course letter, payment voucher, support letter from my work covering my course fee and daily allowance of 50 pounds, as for the accommodation, I had written that I would stay at my friend’s place. I had given her passport details, her residency card details, electricity/gas bill clearance, support letter from her.
3. All the information is clear and readable. The only thing is the picture is slightly discolored but no issue with my travel to 3 other countries before application.
Hi Gemma!
1. When you say that the accommodation is covered, you mean, (a) your company agreed to provide a daily allowance? OR (b) actaully booked a hotel for you for those two weeks.
If they agreed to provide you with a daily allowance, that would complicate things for the visa. To keep it simple and clear, I suggest your employer booking a “refundable” hotel on your name for those two weeks. After your visa, they can cancel the booking and provide you with a daily allowance.
2. I think mentioning about your friend wasn’t a good idea. When you introduce a new person in your application, the home office does all kinds of background checks on that person. If there is anything questionable, they deny the visa.
There isn’t anything wrong with your friend. But it obviously complicated your application. This time, just have your employer book a “refundable” hotel for you. They can cancel after your visa approval and you can still stay with your friend. For your visa, just keep everything simple.
3. If the picture is discolored but still recognizable, then you should be ok. If the picture is not recognizable, then the airport authorities or the immigration official cannot confirm that it’s your passport.
Hi,
I’m a salaried employee and applying for my VISA to UK.
My cousin brother has sponsored my trip(tickets, accommodation & everyday expenses etc.) as I will be travelling with his mother(she holds Indian Diplomatic passport). He is posted in London (High Commission of India). My trip will last for 3 weeks.
My only concern was I do not have the required funds in my salary account instead I have those in my Savings account in which the funds are saved by my parents for me. Will that create a problem and question my ability to sustain in the UK?
Also, are there any other tips that you’d like to give me on how should I apply. Will my Visa get approved? A bit scared..
Hi Twinkle!
1. Usually, sponsorships from parents, siblings and spouse work the best. If your cousin is not directly related to you, it may pose a problem.
2. A 3-week itinerary just for London is too long. It may raise questions. But it depends on your purpose of travel (see the questions below)
3. If your cousin undertakes the responsibility of your expenses while you are in London, your bank statements are not too relevant.
Questions
Is your purpose of travel “tourism” or to “help your aunt as she can’t travel by herself”?
Useful info
I wrote a detailed article on UK visa refusal reasons. Take a look, it answers a lot of your questions.
Yes, one of the main reasons is that she won’t be able to travel all by herself.
Also, since my cousin has been posted there for 1.5 years now. I haven’t actually got a chance to spend time with him and his family. I have a lot of leaves stacked up, so I thought of staying with them for 3 weeks.
Will the long stay duration actually be a hindrance?
You can definitely use “helping your aunt in travel” as a reason. But you have to make sure it’s clearly stated in the documents that your cousin supplies. You must also supply documents that confirm your relationship with your aunt and cousin.
Since you are not directly related to your cousin or aunt, you must provide necessary documentation that rules out the assumption of human trafficking or domestic labor.
Three weeks is not a major issue. Make sure you provide a detailed “leave approval” letter from your employer stating the dates of your leave, your purpose of vacation (travel to the UK to help your aunt) and the day on which you will have to report back at your job. This document will reaffirm your intention to return back to your job and home country after your vacation.
When you say “Since you are not directly related to your cousin or aunt, you must provide necessary documentation that rules out the assumption of human trafficking or domestic labor.”
What all documents do I need to provide?
Any family photographs that show both of you in the picture will help. Regarding documentation, I don’t have much idea. You can probably provide any documentation that proves your relationship. If there isn’t any, I guess a notarized document/affidavit confirming your relationship should work.
Hello,
I am a teacher and is currently doing a masters programme. So basically, I am employed as well as I’m doing my studies. I also have a 1-year-old son, I want to travel to the US this Easter with him and my spouse. My spouse already has his visa. I was a visa holder at age 14 -19 years. When that visa expired, I reapplied and was denied. They said I was a minor at the time I applied.
Any advice on what to do this time? Should I allow my spouse and son to go together? Should I go with my son alone? Or should we go as a trio? Suggestions please.
Thanks!
Hi Shavon! You did not mention whether your son has a US visa already? I’m assuming that he has one, and my answer is based on that.
I suggest going as a trio. Since your spouse and son have visas already, it’s just you who would need to secure a visa. Even if your visa gets denied, they can still go. But securing your visa first will help you all plan your travel well.
In my opinion, you have a strong case for the below reasons –
1. You are an employee and a student. This works very well as a strong tie with your country. You have to return back to your country to finish your studies and also continue your job.
2. You have a history of prior US visas, which will help in your current application. The previous denial shouldn’t affect your current application as the reason for the denial was not completely your fault.
Good luck!
Thank you for the respond. I appreciate it.
My son doesnt hold a visa. Only my spouse. Should we still go together ?
Well, it’s complicated in that case. Since your intention is to go as a trio, I suggest you all going together.
Definitely an eye opener. I have been refused Thailand visa two times in two years. They put VL on my passport. Next time, if I am going to apply for Thai visa, I am not going through any agents. I will do it myself.
Hi John! Sorry to hear that! I always recommend applying on your own. You will learn a lot in the process. Good luck!
Hi Thirumal, I got the schengen bussiness visa. Thanks
Hi Pranjali! That’s fantastic! Congratulations and enjoy your business trip to Europe!
Hi, I have complete documents and joining a tour group. My visa B1/B2 was refused on Feb 14, 2019, because my answer was not appropriate. The question was why you want to go to the USA. I know the answer (Tourism) but I said Not thinking, to celebrate my 62nd birthday and will visit tourist spots, take lots of pictures to show to my family. Then I realized it was wrong. Can I have a second for this mistake? I am a permanent resident in a foreign country .
Hi CSB! In my opinion, that is not a wrong answer. You explained honestly why you want to go to the US. And, that is what the visa officers would like to hear, your honest reason.
Your visa denial could be due to a different reason. Without looking into your case and knowing your complete situation, it is difficult for me to pinpoint the exact reason.
Did anyone else in that tour group secure their visas successfully?
Hi Thirumal !
Having read most your comments here I must say I appreciate the way you give quick response to comments.
I am a Nigerian with no traveling experience, I work with an International NGO foundation based in Nigeria. My boss the Founder of the NGO foundation has decided to sponsor me to go attend the Global Philosophy Conference in the USA coming up first week of April this year 2019. The conference is for two days, my boss has booked hotel for me at the venue where the conference will be holding. San Francisco, California.
He has filed my application since last year December 2018 and my interview at Consulate is coming up first week of March. My boss is a frequently traveller.
My question is I have not traveled out of Nigeria before, so what is my chances of getting the USA visa to attend the conference being a first timer??? Your quick response will be highly appreciated. Thanks very much!
Hi Abdul Rahmon! Not being outside of Nigeria is not negative. A lot of factors play a role in the visa decision, not just travel history. You should be confident in going to this conference in the US. At the same time, you should also be content with not going.
My suggestion is you explain the same thing as you wrote here to the visa officer. Be honest and tell the reasons why you would need to go to this conference and why your boss wants you to go to this conference. Also, tell why you never traveled outside the country.
The thing is, as long as you have answers to the visa officer’s questions, you are fine.
I never traveled out of The country before because I have no reason to travel, you know you must have a specific reason before you can travel out of the country, more so, the previous company I worked for didn’t have traveling opportunity and going for one conferences or the other outside the country. I joined this present company nine months ago. I hope that doesn’t really matter.
Please kindly reply back. Thanks a lot.
I suggest not to mention that you joined this current company because your previous company didn’t have any travel opportunities. This sounds like you are interested in traveling to the US more than your company/conference itself. This might prompt the visa officer to question your true intentions. Visa officers are highly trained in this aspect and they can sense any false intentions, desperation, etc.
I suggest you build some travel history. Take some time off and travel to the neighboring countries first. Then venture into countries outside your continent