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B1 Visa for USA accepted after rejection/reapproval in 2 weeks
I wanted to share my experience after reapplication and approval of my B1 Visa.
I was visiting the US for participating in a competition. I had everything required, enrolled in an institution pending graduation after 1.5 years, invitation letter, sponsorship for a complete trip.
At first attempt, here's the transcript:
Interviewer: Purpose of Travel
Me: I am invited by *** for the finals of the competition *** taking place in **
Interviewer: Have you traveled outside of India before?
Me: No Sir
Interviewer: How did you get to know about this competition
Me: I got to know about this competition through the website ***(probably he looked that up, a lot of typing here )
Interviewer: What degree are you pursuing?
Me: I am pursuing a degree in *** at ***
Interviewer: It's a Bachelors or Masters Degree
Me: It's *** degree
Interviewer: Oh okay got it
Interviewer: Can I see your invitation?
Me: Yes sure (slid the letter)
Interviewer: Saw the letter, ok (probably opened up the website ***)
Interviewer: What does ***(sponsor) do?
Me: It's a *** which has business in ***
Interviewer: Where are you going?
Me: ***
Interviewer: Who is funding it?
Me: *** will bear all the costs
Interviewer: How many years of schooling have you completed?
Me: *** years after High School
Interviewer: When will you be graduating?
Me: ***(***.5 yrs then)
Interviewer: What do you plan to do after graduation?
Me: I intend to take up a job
Interviewer: Where?
Me: That's not decided as of now but mostly in the IT sector
Interviewer: Ok
Interviewer: I am sorry to inform you but you don't qualify for this Visa. The reason is mentioned in this letter(handed out 214(b) sheet)
Me: Thank You
As you see, I wasn't expecting a lot of questions, and I don't know why he asked them...
Before reapplying, ht to revise the invitation letter including a guarantee clause that I will not be involved in any activity outside of B1 and they take responsibility for my return back to India. I also had the flight tickets and booking ready. I did prepare a set of questions that could have been asked reading on these forums. But to be honest, I was not confident but more nervous this time.
So, here's the transcript for the 2nd attempt after 2 weeks:
Interviewer: Can I please have your passport?
Me: Sure (slid the passport)
Interviewer: Why are you going to the US?
Me: I am invited by *** for the finals of the competition *** taking place in **
Interviewer: (after a lot of researching and probably looking up my previous rejection) How long?
Me: 4 nights, 5 days
Interviewer: Can I see the invitation letter, please? (points at the invitation letter I kept beside me)
Me: Sure (slid the invitation letter)
Interviewer: (Read the letter, saw something on the screen, probably glancing the reason for rejection last time) Ok, so you are a finalist, you already have won the nationals?
Me: Yeah
Interviewer: Ok, so is it a team competition or single participant?
Me: It's a team competition, and my teammate already got her VISA approved.
Interviewer: (types a lot) No problem, your VISA is approved, you will get an SMS in a few days.
Me: (Smiling) Thank you, thanks a lot.
That's it I got my VISA within a few days.
Now I don't get the reason for rejection last time, as he barely asked me any questions, people say it's about confidence, but I was twice as nervous as the last time because it was already rejected and I didn't have time for any further reapplication. Moreover, people say it's only useful to reapply if a certain amount of time has passed such as 3 months or circumstances have changed. All these, remarks on these forums made me more nervous while applying for the second time, with my legs shaking as I stood in front of the window.
I strongly think people should reapply if their reason to go is justified, also after correcting for errors in the first application. I think the revised invitation letter helped my case, or maybe it was just consular's mood at first application because of which I was rejected or maybe it was just luck.
Should you consult any immigration advisor/lawyer? I think you should if it gets rejected after the first application, the sponsors consulted their advisors for my case. It's a lot better to invest a few more bucks than to get rejected again.
I was visiting the US for participating in a competition. I had everything required, enrolled in an institution pending graduation after 1.5 years, invitation letter, sponsorship for a complete trip.
At first attempt, here's the transcript:
Interviewer: Purpose of Travel
Me: I am invited by *** for the finals of the competition *** taking place in **
Interviewer: Have you traveled outside of India before?
Me: No Sir
Interviewer: How did you get to know about this competition
Me: I got to know about this competition through the website ***(probably he looked that up, a lot of typing here )
Interviewer: What degree are you pursuing?
Me: I am pursuing a degree in *** at ***
Interviewer: It's a Bachelors or Masters Degree
Me: It's *** degree
Interviewer: Oh okay got it
Interviewer: Can I see your invitation?
Me: Yes sure (slid the letter)
Interviewer: Saw the letter, ok (probably opened up the website ***)
Interviewer: What does ***(sponsor) do?
Me: It's a *** which has business in ***
Interviewer: Where are you going?
Me: ***
Interviewer: Who is funding it?
Me: *** will bear all the costs
Interviewer: How many years of schooling have you completed?
Me: *** years after High School
Interviewer: When will you be graduating?
Me: ***(***.5 yrs then)
Interviewer: What do you plan to do after graduation?
Me: I intend to take up a job
Interviewer: Where?
Me: That's not decided as of now but mostly in the IT sector
Interviewer: Ok
Interviewer: I am sorry to inform you but you don't qualify for this Visa. The reason is mentioned in this letter(handed out 214(b) sheet)
Me: Thank You
As you see, I wasn't expecting a lot of questions, and I don't know why he asked them...
Before reapplying, ht to revise the invitation letter including a guarantee clause that I will not be involved in any activity outside of B1 and they take responsibility for my return back to India. I also had the flight tickets and booking ready. I did prepare a set of questions that could have been asked reading on these forums. But to be honest, I was not confident but more nervous this time.
So, here's the transcript for the 2nd attempt after 2 weeks:
Interviewer: Can I please have your passport?
Me: Sure (slid the passport)
Interviewer: Why are you going to the US?
Me: I am invited by *** for the finals of the competition *** taking place in **
Interviewer: (after a lot of researching and probably looking up my previous rejection) How long?
Me: 4 nights, 5 days
Interviewer: Can I see the invitation letter, please? (points at the invitation letter I kept beside me)
Me: Sure (slid the invitation letter)
Interviewer: (Read the letter, saw something on the screen, probably glancing the reason for rejection last time) Ok, so you are a finalist, you already have won the nationals?
Me: Yeah
Interviewer: Ok, so is it a team competition or single participant?
Me: It's a team competition, and my teammate already got her VISA approved.
Interviewer: (types a lot) No problem, your VISA is approved, you will get an SMS in a few days.
Me: (Smiling) Thank you, thanks a lot.
That's it I got my VISA within a few days.
Now I don't get the reason for rejection last time, as he barely asked me any questions, people say it's about confidence, but I was twice as nervous as the last time because it was already rejected and I didn't have time for any further reapplication. Moreover, people say it's only useful to reapply if a certain amount of time has passed such as 3 months or circumstances have changed. All these, remarks on these forums made me more nervous while applying for the second time, with my legs shaking as I stood in front of the window.
I strongly think people should reapply if their reason to go is justified, also after correcting for errors in the first application. I think the revised invitation letter helped my case, or maybe it was just consular's mood at first application because of which I was rejected or maybe it was just luck.
Should you consult any immigration advisor/lawyer? I think you should if it gets rejected after the first application, the sponsors consulted their advisors for my case. It's a lot better to invest a few more bucks than to get rejected again.
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