Bureau of Consular Affairs US Department of State

Visa Refusals

Rachel PetersonVisa Services

Bureau of Consular Affairs

A Consular Officer Considers…• Qualification under the law based on the specific

visa type• Each case on its own merits• Presumption of Immigrant Intent (as applicable by

visa type)o 214(b)

• Fraud considerations, review, if applicable• Ensures applicant has no ineligibilities or must have

DHS (Department of Homeland Security) waiver

Visa Denials NIV IV

Category One Refusals - Serious

• National Security, Criminal, Contagious Disease

• INA 212(a)

Category Two Refusals - Less serious• Most common: Section 214(b) of the INA N/Ao Immigrant Intento Residence Abroad

• Frequent: 221(g) denial o Information not sufficient to establish visa eligibility o Additional documentation may be required

Visa Denials - Additional Information• Applicants told reason for denial orally and in writing immediately – no one left not knowing • All denials reviewed by supervisory officer

• No visa denial appeal process - Consular Officers have sole authority by law

• The Visa Office in DC reviews advisory opinions only regarding interpretation of law, not facts

Contacting Us – U.S. Embassy or Consulate

N IV C hief IV C hief C itiz e n S e rvices

C o n s u la r S ec tio n C h ie f

D C M

A m b a s s a d or

Your first point of contact - the U.S. embassy or consulate where the applicant applied

(http://travel.state.gov/congress)

Useful InformationFirst contact the embassy/consulate where

the applicant applied(http://travel.state.gov/congress)

Helpful Hints• Include:

oVisa applicant’s full name (as appears in PPT), DOB, city/country of birth, and PPT number, and date of last interview

oCongressional Contact Information• Send an email instead of a letter

oQuicker than a letter

Contacting Us - the Visa Office

P a sspo rt S erv ices

F ie ld S u pp o rt & L ia ison L e g isla tio n , R e g & A dv iso ry Public & Diplom atic Liaison

Visa Services O ve rsea s C it ize n s S e rv ices

A ss is tan t S e cre ta ry fo r C on su la r A ffa irs

U /S fo r M a na g e m e nt

Bureau of Consular Affairs

Public Inquiries Division

Where to Find InformationOur websites - http://travel.state.gov

http://travel.state.gov/congress

Inquiries from Congressional Staff -• Congressional Inquiries: (202) 663-1516

visanet@state.gov• National Visa Center: (603) 334-0828

nvccongressional@state.gov• For complicated cases: hill-liaison@state.gov

Inquiries from the Public - • Public Inquiries: (202) 663-1225• National Visa Center: (603) 334-0700

Other websites: USCIS http://uscis.gov , CBP http://cbp.gov)