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What are the reasons for rejection?
The standard reason for a visitor visa rejection is that the applicant has not proven substantial familial, economic, property, and/or social ties to his or her homeland. In making a decision, the consular officer examines an array of factors. Negative factors include:
residing in an "economically–depressed" area (for example, according to the Embassy, Irkutsk is one of them);
being single or divorced;
prolonged prior visits to the United States, even if the stay was within the term granted by the white I–94 card stapled into the passport by an INS inspector;
limited or no travel to Western countries (Eastern European countries, China, Cyprus, and Turkey are not considered; this seems to be a particularly critical factor in making a decision, with the rationale being that if you return to Russia from a civilized Western country, you are more likely to return from the United States. "Come back and apply again after you visit someplace else in Europe.");
limited property ownership;
receiving a minimal salary, even if the salary indicated is only an "official" salary;
absence of dependant children being left behind;
trip's purpose is not compelling ("why can't your American relative visit you?") or "seems fishy" to consular officer;
applying for the wrong type of visa (an F–2 instead of a B–2, for example);
existence of a close family member in the U.S. and how that family member ended up in the United States ("He immigrated, and so will you with his help. Let him apply for a green card for you officially.");
previous rejections (instead of examining the application anew, asking what circumstances have changed since the last rejection);
missing documentation (e.g., bringing a salary reference from employer, but not the tax declaration);
inconsistent information in applications (e.g., Application 1: indicate one purpose, planned length of stay;
Application 2 (one month later): indicate different purpose, different planned length of stay;
during verification process, information presented does not check out (e.g., inviting party moved office and changed telephone; verifying officer goes to wrong address);
presentation of falsified documentation (e.g., bogus invitation, **** marriage certificate, counterfeit airport entry stamps, **** employer reference or Labor Books);
interview–related factors, including having a "suspicious" manner, and giving unconfident or "illogical" answers to questions;
dual–language, notarized, form invitations (these invitations arouse suspicion because they are often bought and sold in Russian–language communities in the U.S.).
The standard reason for a visitor visa rejection is that the applicant has not proven substantial familial, economic, property, and/or social ties to his or her homeland. In making a decision, the consular officer examines an array of factors. Negative factors include:
residing in an "economically–depressed" area (for example, according to the Embassy, Irkutsk is one of them);
being single or divorced;
prolonged prior visits to the United States, even if the stay was within the term granted by the white I–94 card stapled into the passport by an INS inspector;
limited or no travel to Western countries (Eastern European countries, China, Cyprus, and Turkey are not considered; this seems to be a particularly critical factor in making a decision, with the rationale being that if you return to Russia from a civilized Western country, you are more likely to return from the United States. "Come back and apply again after you visit someplace else in Europe.");
limited property ownership;
receiving a minimal salary, even if the salary indicated is only an "official" salary;
absence of dependant children being left behind;
trip's purpose is not compelling ("why can't your American relative visit you?") or "seems fishy" to consular officer;
applying for the wrong type of visa (an F–2 instead of a B–2, for example);
existence of a close family member in the U.S. and how that family member ended up in the United States ("He immigrated, and so will you with his help. Let him apply for a green card for you officially.");
previous rejections (instead of examining the application anew, asking what circumstances have changed since the last rejection);
missing documentation (e.g., bringing a salary reference from employer, but not the tax declaration);
inconsistent information in applications (e.g., Application 1: indicate one purpose, planned length of stay;
Application 2 (one month later): indicate different purpose, different planned length of stay;
during verification process, information presented does not check out (e.g., inviting party moved office and changed telephone; verifying officer goes to wrong address);
presentation of falsified documentation (e.g., bogus invitation, **** marriage certificate, counterfeit airport entry stamps, **** employer reference or Labor Books);
interview–related factors, including having a "suspicious" manner, and giving unconfident or "illogical" answers to questions;
dual–language, notarized, form invitations (these invitations arouse suspicion because they are often bought and sold in Russian–language communities in the U.S.).
