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, even simple mistakes can get your visa denied.
I have applied for a lot of visas. I have made a ton of mistakes. But over time, I have learned to avoid these mistakes. These days, none of my visas are rejected.
Being smart and avoiding these mistakes will spare you time, money and visa denials. So, let’s take a look at these 11 visa mistakes that can get your visa denied. And the ways to avoid them.
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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
This was an incident from 2017. Thailand Visa on Arrival is only for 15 days for Indian 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 requested the visa officer for a 30-day Visa. I told the visa officer that I had 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.
RELATED: 55 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with a US visa in 2025
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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 flight itinerary for your visa.
For visa EXEMPTION and visa ON ARRIVAL, you must show a confirmed and purchased return/onward flight ticket. You can take advantage of Expedia’s 24-hour cancellation policy if you need to.
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03. Showing an incomplete itinerary
Consulates would like to see a complete itinerary. They would like to see the itinerary begin and end 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 a 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 Malaysian 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 had to then upload my complete itinerary. 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 Malaysian 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 would be staying permanently in Australia, as he had 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.
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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 proof such as a leave approval letter, a 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 number 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, which 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.
Exceptions
There are some countries that issue visas just for the days you have asked for, such as the Vietnam eVisa. Make sure to read the visa requirements.
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05. Mentioning friends/relatives in a foreign country
Never mention that you know someone in a foreign country. If you do, then you may be asked how you actually know this person. You may also be asked to provide 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 knew anyone in Brazil while applying for his Brazil visa from India. He casually mentioned that he had a friend there whom he met through Couchsurfing. The 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.
Exceptions
When you are using a sponsor for your visa application, you will, of course, mention that you know your sponsor. Example: A UK visitor visa using a sponsor.
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06. Mentioning Couchsurfing, hitchhiking, etc.
Never mention 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 need to show proof of hotel reservations for your visa application, just make a few refundable hotel reservations.
Do not mention 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 volunteering, remote work, digital nomad, etc.
Never mention 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 blacklisting.
If found at the port of entry (immigration at the airport), you might be subjected to arrest, fine, deportation or even a 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 for work and time 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 you intend 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 independence 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 would 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.
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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 a risk.
In my opinion, you are better off applying for the visa on your own. As long as you have employment proof, sufficient funds in the bank and a decent travel history, 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 for 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 on 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 would have had a high success rate as I would have provided my flight bookings, hotel reservations, bank statements, etc.
Exceptions
You can use a close family member whom 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 have never traveled abroad. All their experience is only from applying for 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 for 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 the United States that most Indian tourists are keen on visiting. Travel agents have some experience in visas for these countries, but not Chile.
A travel agent took my reader’s money but couldn’t help when the Chilean 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 he had a great trip to Chile.
Exceptions
There are a few countries whose visas can only be applied for through authorized travel agents, such as the UAE visa or the Singapore visa.
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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 a substance. They put a large and clear stamp on 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 on 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 not to book any non-refundable flight tickets or hotels prior to your visa approval.
Never purchase flight tickets before your visa is approved. Always book a flight reservation and only 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.
Exceptions
You would need confirmed return/onward tickets for Visa EXEMPTION and Visa ON ARRIVAL.
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SUMMARY
There you have it! 11 Mistakes That Can Get Your Visa Denied. And the ways to avoid them.
Have you ever made any mistakes that got your visa denied? If so, let me know in the comments below so other readers can learn from it.
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Syed says
Hi sir, with due respect, do I need a police clearance certificate (PCC) for the DS-160 visa at the time of the interview in the Delhi US embassy? I went for PCC to passport office today and they said I don’t need a PCC for DS-160 visa. Please, help me do I need it or not?
Thirumal says
Hi Syed! A police clearance certificate (PCC) is NOT REQUIRED for a US B1/B2 visa. All you need is a copy of your DS-160 confirmation, US visa appointment confirmation and original passport. You can carry minimal documentation such as your employment proofs, financial proofs and old passports (if any).
Syed says
Hi sir, I have the interview for DS-160 at US embassy in New Delhi. Do I need to take pcc bloodgroup and passport size photograph with me the day I have interview in Delhi? I have 31 march interview please let me know as soon as possible. What all documents I should take with me? Do I need also pcc bloodgroup and passport size photograph?
Thirumal says
Hi Syed! Your photo and fingerprints will be captured during your biometrics appointment. You don’t have to carry a passport photo with you. Blood group documentation is not required.
Chiamaka says
Please, I just submitted my visa application to Trinidad and Tobago embassy. I was not interviewed or asked any questions. Is something wrong and how long does it take to get approval or mail?
Thirumal says
Hi Chiamaka! I have never applied for a Trinidad and Tobago visa myself. So I am not sure how long it takes or an interview is required.
Bismark says
Please am Bismark from Ghana and I have refused of UK visa by not having travel experience 2017 and I want to try again. Please what procedure I should pass on this time around?
Thirumal says
Hi Bismark! If your circumstances have not changed since 2017, your visa will likely be refused again. Keep in mind that not only building travel history, but consistent employment, a decent source of income, regular savings, improving family and social ties are also important.
Ebadur says
Hi, I have a UK visa. Can I travel to Schengen country?
Thirumal says
Hi Ebadur! No. You cannot use your UK visa. You need a Schengen visa to enter any Schengen country.
Ankur boruah says
Hey sir, I am soon going to apply for B2 visa. I don’t really have that much finance may be 1 lakhs, but I have a friend who lives in USA. I am going to live with my friend till the stay? Will that be a problem? What prove should I show for my B2 visa?
Thirumal says
Hi Ankur! If you have strong ties with your country, you will not have any problem securing your US visa even though your current savings are small. Also, you do not need to show any documentation for your US B2 visa. Even if you have the documentation, the visa officers will not ask for them. The visa officers make their decision based on your answers in your DS-160 and interview.
Jay says
Hi Thirumal! Good Morning! I hope you are doing good. I’m an Indian citizen currently working in Malaysia on Employment Pass. I am working in Malaysia since 20 months. I have a valid visa till Jan 2020. I got a job offer from a UK company. I’m planning to apply for the UK visa from Malaysia as I’m currently working here and planning to travel from India to the UK.
Can I apply for Visa from Malaysia and travel to the UK from India?
Thirumal says
Hi Jay! Yes. You can apply for your UK visa from Malaysia. You can, of course, travel to the UK from India. There are no restrictions on where you can travel to the UK from.
VISHAL says
Hello! I applied for Romania tourist visa on 20th September 2019. and today is 18th October. Still I have not received an appointment date to submit my documents to the embassy. I called embassy lots of times, but no answer. My journey date is on 15th November. What should I do, as even after 29 days, the status of my visa application still says “Sent for Validation”. Should i wait for an appointment or should i visit embassy without an appointment? Kindly Advice.
Thirumal says
Hi Vishal! I haven’t applied for a Romania visa myself so I am not sure about the process. But in my opinion, 29 days is too long. I suggest visiting the embassy and asking for an update.
Jestin says
Hi, I hope you are doing good. I would like to know if I can use a dummy hotel booking at immigration in Malaysia. My visa is approved, but I do not have a sure travel plan, so I have reserved only one week stay in Airbnb, but a dummy booking from booking.com for the full schedule. Will the immigration officer check the details of confirmed hotel booking?
Thirumal says
Hi Jestin! All you need is a hotel/Airbnb booking for the first few days. If you have a one week booking in an Airbnb, that’s sufficient. You don’t have to show hotel booking(s) for your entire stay.
The immigration officers will not verify your hotel booking. All they want to see is a proof of hotel booking. Carry a print of it or just show it on your phone if asked.
Ehis says
Hello there! I’m getting married in December and I want my wife to go for her wedding/dress shopping in NY. I made an appointment with a bridal shop in NY and they are expecting her. The interview date was in Zimbabwe, her home country. The consulate told her at the interview to go apply in South Africa because they can’t confirm the bank statement. She was asked how long she would stay which she mentioned 10 days. She has the wedding venue confirmation and all fees paid which means she is definitely coming back to get married. She has rescheduled a new appointment in South Africa where they can confirm the bank stamp and statement which is my personal business account and I’m the sponsor her husband. What are the chances of her getting the visa?
Thirumal says
Hi Ehis! Since you aren’t married yet, your sponsorship may not hold much value. Also, her obligation to return back depends on if the venue is reserved on her name and she has paid for it, partially or fully.
grey says
Hello Thirumal. I have filled up the US visa application. My father lives in the US also he has two sons. I only mentioned my father and I did not mention his sons because I do not know them, either have any information about them (they are from a different mother). Do you think it is a problem that I didn’t add them to the application? Any suggestions? Thanks.
Thirumal says
Hi Grey! In my opinion, the person that’s directly related to you is your father and just mentioning him is enough.
Rosie says
Hi, my friend from Jordan applied for the Schengen Visa to travel to Greece. He found out that his credit card denied his hotel purchase. This will stop him to get his VISA to travel? Thank you.
Thirumal says
Hi Rosie! Yes, there is a slight possibility. I suggest contacting the hotel to sort out the payment issue. Your friend can request the hotel to keep the booking or use another payment method.
Ameena says
Hi, I applied for a dependent visa to the UK. Unfortunately, in my address, I found a spelling mistake in the place where I live. After submitting my application I recognized it. How I can rectify my mistake?
Thirumal says
Hi Ameena! Since it’s a small spelling mistake and that too in the address, you don’t need to worry. You will be fine.
Stella says
Hi! I am 29 and I am planning to apply for a US tourist visa for a vacation and visit my boyfriend for a week. I am currently a working student and I am graduating next year. Is it better to apply as a student or as an employee? Thank you!
Thirumal says
Hi Stella! It depends. If your primary focus is employment, then apply as an employee. For example, you have a full-time day job and you study in the evenings, then you are primarily an employee. But if you study full-time in a university and work a part-time job or an internship, then you are primarily a student. Then you apply as a student.
JK says
Hi Thiru,
*This is regarding H1B visa interview in Chennai.
*My son Given Name and surname is correctly printed on my son passport.
*My Son passport Father’s surname is not fully printed. (Father’s Given name Printed but surname not printed).
*Could you please advise if any issue for US Visa interview.
Regards,
JK
Thirumal says
Hi JK! This will not be an issue for your son’s US visa interview. It’s a common error in many Indian passports where father names are not complete. It’s fine and it will not affect your son’s visa result.
Ahmed says
Please, I received an email from the German embassy that, I should submit proof of my financial means of stay in Germany (Blocked Account) as a student. And I’m asking if my visa will automatically be granted or not.
Thirumal says
Hi Ahmed! Your application will NOT be automatically approved. You have to respond to the German embassy’s query and submit the requested documents. Only after the embassy receives the requested documents, your visa application process will resume.
Samson emem josephine says
Good day. I have travelled on vacation with my spouse to UAE and my spouse has traveled to UAE five times alone too. We are married with six kids. We are planning to visit Mexico on tourist for 10 days. Our leave letter is dated 1st September to 30th September. We have an appointment with the Mexico consular on 9th September. My question is that I need a sample letter of the following
*Letter stating current salary
*Letter stating the purpose of trip and date of entry and departure?
*Proof of permanent residence in country?
*Details of itinerary activities in which the applicants will take part?
Please kindly note that we were denied France Visa because our purpose and place of stay was not provided. Please kindly treat with urgency.
Thirumal says
Hi Samson! Mexico visa requirements are not as strict as France or other Schengen countries. Mexico consulates and its visa officers are quite generous. Of the 4 documents you have mentioned, you only need the following
(1) An employment letter stating your name, duration of employment, salary and duties and
(2) Proof of permanent residency in UAE
Leave approval letter and itinerary are not required.
Gurpreet Kaur says
We had applied for visa on 14th Aug’19, with the application number our visa was refused with the citied decision that “the information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable”
I am working as a Project Manager for the past 12 years. We planned to travel to Switzerland, Paris and Belgium with my parents. My plan was to travel from 13th sept’19 tickets are already booked. This is our first international trip.
Our Cover Letter had the following
I, holding passport number XXXX along with my parents XXX holding passport number XXXX and XXX holding passport number XXXX would like to travel to Europe from 13th Sept 2019 to 22nd Sept 2019 as tourists. We would like to apply for the Schengen visa for the same.
My Parents dream is to visit Switzerland and see all its beautiful sightseeing places. We have planned our travel itinerary as follows:
Date Wise Itinerary was provided
All documents were submitted as per the checklist, No objection certificate, Salary slips and bank statements and fixed deposits.
What could be the reason for the rejection? Please guide should we reapply or what points we need to take care now for reapplying?
Thirumal says
Hi Gurpreet! Your profile looks good but you haven’t mentioned anything about your parents. It’s difficult to comment without knowing anything about your parents such as their employment backgrounds, sources of income, etc. I will try my best to answer your question based on the limited information you have provided.
Lack of travel history
If you or your parents lack any travel history, it’s difficult to secure a Schengen visa. I suggest improving your travel history by doing trips to countries that do not require any visas.
Lack of family ties
You haven’t mentioned if there is anyone else in your family that aren’t traveling with you. Visa officers can get suspicious if the entire family is traveling without leaving any family ties behind that would bring them back to their home country.
Internal flights and hotels
You haven’t mentioned if you have provided internal flights or train tickets and hotel bookings. If you haven’t, you must provide those as well.
Cover letter
I suggest refining your cover letter to include your purpose of travel, day-wise itinerary, employment background, financial solvency, travel history, family ties and the obligation to return back after the trip.
Appeal instead of reapplication
You can also appeal your visa decision instead of reapplication.
Rachel says
My friend lives in Hyderabad India and I live in the UAE. We planned a trip to Greece to celebrate her birthday in October 2019 for when her leave is approved. 3 of us friends will be going from the UAE and D will be joining us from Hyderabad. All of us who applied in the UAE on separate dates and in different locations got the visa. However, D applied for the Schengen visa and got rejected. Reasons given were
* Your intention to leave the territory of the member state cannot be ascertained
* The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable.
We provided all the documents as below
– Application Form
– Cover Letter
– Photos
– Schengen Travel insurance
– Email from her line Manager confirming her leave and her return
– Letter from her company approving her leave and NOC of travel
– Salary slips for the past 7 months
– Recent promotion letter to show the reason for return as happy with career progression in the company
– Her Bank statements showing 3-4 lacs savings
– Confirmed tickets (hers from Hyd via the UAE and mine from the UAE nad back – Same flights onward to Greece)
– Hotel Bookings are done by me and a letter from me stating she will be staying with me along with other friends
– My Greece visa copy, passport copy, visa of the UAE, a cover letter requesting for her visa
We are visiting 3 places in Greece, Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini and have shown hotel bookings for all 3 locations but were waiting for everyone to get the visas to book the internal flights and tours as these are all non-refundable also once booked.
The main ticket to and from Greece (and from/to Hyderabad for D) is booked, confirmed and non-refundable.
What else could we provide in the appeal visa request? Any advice?
Thirumal says
Hi Rachel!
Refusal Reason 1: The visa officer either overlooked her leave approval and promotion letters or your friend doesn’t have enough travel history. You haven’t mentioned anything about her travel history and there isn’t enough time to build some anyway.
If you are going for appeal, I suggest providing a NOC document from one of her parents stating that they are aware of their daughter taking a vacation/holiday to Greece. I know this sounds silly in this day and age but consulates in India scrutinize young unmarried female applicants traveling alone or with friends.
Refusal Reason 2: The visa officer either not convinced by the hotel and flight bookings or you weren’t clear enough in the cover letter. If you are going for appeal, I suggest the below
– Book “refundable” hotels on her name. They can be just for her or for all 4 you. But those bookings must be on her name. You can cancel them after her visa approval and continue with the hotel bookings that you already have.
– Refine the cover letter to indicate the purpose of her travel, day-to-day itinerary, travel companions, employment background, financial solvency, travel history and the obligation to return back after the trip.
Other suggestions for her appeal
– Drop the email from her manager. It’s unnecessary as there is already a leave approval letter.
– Unless asked for 7 months, I suggest providing only 3 months salary slips. Too much of documentation leads to VOs overlooking crucial documentation.
– Reduce documentation from your side as well. You can drop your UAE visa and cover letter from you.
Agnes says
Hi! Please urgently need your help. My mother-in-law applied for a tourist visa to the US last Friday and got her visa declined under section 214b. Please do I need to write a letter explaining that she is an honest person and has no intention to stay in the US. Can she take her husband’s will stating that his wife will have the power of attorney on his property and etc. And can someone speak on her behalf? Lastly do we need to write supporting letters? Thank you so much.
Thirumal says
Hi Agnes! Letters and documentation are not necessary for US visa application. Even if she has a letter from you and a will from her husband, the US visa officers will not ask for it. The US visa officers make their decision based on the information entered in her DS-160 and the answers she gave during her visa interview. Therefore, it’s very crucial to enter accurate information in her DS-160.
No one can speak on her behalf. Only if she is physically incapable to attend or speak during the interview, an interpreter is allowed.
I suggest to spend some time and go over her DS-160. Spot all the mistakes that might have lead to her visa refusal. Make sure to fix those issues in her re-application.
Agnes says
Hi Thirumal, great news. My mother-in-law got her us visa approved. All supporting documents were uploaded online. Thank you so much for your advice.
Thirumal says
That’s fantastic! Congratulations to your mother-in-law!
Ekta says
Hi Thirumal! Thanks for the detailed explanation.
Small background.
1) I am an Indian passport holder, shifted to the UK in June month 2019. Resigned from Indian Company in May.
2) Currently employed with UK company, joined in Aug first week
3) No salary slips obtained from the current organization(UK)
I have a small query, I need to visit a conference in the US and my company asked me to file a Business visa for the US. When I saw the list of documents, they are asking for 3 months payslip from the employer but I am employed with the current organization from last one month only. I am currently employed with UK company and it’s been only one month in the UK. Before that, I was in India.
Kindly advise if 3 months payslips are really required for Business visa processing or there is any way around.
Thirumal says
Hi Ekta! You don’t need the payslips. Even if you have them, the chances of you being asked to show them are very slim. US VOs rely solely on the DS-160 form and interview answers. They don’t ask or depend on documentation. So, no need to worry.
Kunle says
Hello, I don’t know if you have any suggestion for me. I am one of the organizers of a conference in the US. I don’t know where to categorize my visa. Is it academic, business or international organization employee? Actually, the head office of the company I work is in the US.
Thirumal says
Hi Kunle! TEMP. BUSINESS PLEASURE VISITOR (B) is the appropriate visa category and BUSINESS & TOURISM (TEMPORARY VISITOR) (B1/B2) is the appropriate visa class for you. Academic (F) is for students and international organization (G) is for diplomats and officials of UNO, WHO, etc.
Vishesh says
Hey! Can you please tell me should I book dummy air tickets and hotel bookings for my FRENCH STUDENT VISA, as it is mandatory to show 3 months accommodation
Thanks:)
Thirumal says
Hi Vishesh! My knowledge and experience are only in tourist visas. I don’t know the requirements and mandatory documentation for student visas.
But for a French (Schengen) “tourist” visa, you should only show a flight reservation (dummy ticket). Even the consulates recommend not to book any flight tickets or hotel bookings prior to the visa approval.
Ams says
Hi Thirumal,
Thank you for the information in your blog.
I am from the UK and my boyfriend is Bulgarian and holds a Bulgarian passport. However, he lives with me in the UK. We wanted to travel to America last year for 5 days however, as you know, he would require a Tourist Visa. We applied in plenty of time, had the holiday booked (could refund so not a problem) and submitted all the required information. However, he was denied the visa on the basis that he did not demonstrate that his intended activities in the US would be consistent with the classification of the non-immigrant visa for which we applied. We had confirmation of outbound and return flight tickets, hotel confirmation for the duration (5 days), bank statements and job confirmation in the UK but this still was not enough. We want to re-apply and try and go to America again. Is there any advice you can give? I’m not sure whether we missed any important information or whether him living in the UK even though he’s Bulgarian would have an impact.
Thank you in advance.
Thirumal says
Hi Ams! What I understand from your boyfriend’s US visa attempt is that he failed to show strong ties with the UK. If he doesn’t have strong ties with the UK, the visa officers would assume that he would remain in the US and will not return back to the UK. In order to prove strong ties with the UK, he must be living in the UK for a few years, must have a full-time job and has a decent travel history. If he lacks in any of these, it can affect his visa result.
Flight tickets and hotel confirmations are not required for the US visa application. Even if the applicant has them, the visa officers will not ask for them during the interview. Therefore, these documents will not help with the visa decision.
Also, visa officers do not ask for documentation on his employment, salary, etc. Instead, they use a variety of sources to verify an applicant’s background. They can verify an applicant’s job, income, etc using these sources. If they are not satisfied with the information they found, they can refuse the visa.
Please answer the below questions so I can give him some suggestions on his reapplication.
– What is his status in the UK?
– How long he has been working at his current employer? Is it a full-time job?
– Has he traveled to any countries other than Bulgaria and the UK?
Subeg singh says
Hello, I was returned from Australia and was illegal for 3 months by mistake and after that, I went to immigration and get 15 days visa and came back to India and there is no any deport stamp and mock any ban stamp on my passport. So can I apply again for Australia, is that possible?
I was returned to India on 14/11/2017
Thirumal says
Hi Subeg! As far as my knowledge goes, Australia has a minimum 3-year ban on visa overstays. There won’t be any stamps in your passport but the information will be in their records. I suggest contacting the Austalia department of home affairs to figure if it’s the right time to apply again.
krishnamoorthy says
Hi Thirumal, I have appeared biometric for UK VISA stamping yesterday and submitted the below documents as described by company’s checklist for UK visa stamping:
1.) COS letter
2.) Appointment letter
3.) Pay Slips with covering letter from our company
4.) Degree certificate and Marksheet
5.) TB screening report
I forgot to submit the online application form for scanning and VFS team also didn’t ask for it. Will be there any chance for refusal if I didn’t submit the online application form for scanning?
Thanks
Krishna
Thirumal says
HI Krishnamoorthy! Document upload is a new feature and it wasn’t there when I applied. So I am not fully aware of how the document upload works. But what I know is that you can upload documents yourself or have VFS staff do that for you. You only have to scan and upload supporting documents and not the application itself. If the VFS staff didn’t ask for your application, then you are fine. No need to panic. It’s probably not required.