Visitors visa rejected

[dinu]

Dear Sir,
I attended my interview for going to US on 28/10/2008.I am married,living in Dubai for last 4 years and have a 2 years aged son.I want to go to US for attending my CPA exam and presently taking coaching from beckers .i am unemployed.

During the interview the VO asked me for how long will i stay at US i fumbled saying 15 days and on the form it was written 1 month.From there he started questioning me like why arent u taking ur child,u dont seem to have a travel history,and like u know that travel history matters,he asked me where would i stay and i replied as with a friend at texas for saving on accommodation and he told me one month is quite a long time.
Lastly he refused me the visa saying i dont have a travel history.

Can i make a change in the situation by going to europe for tour and then after coming back shall i apply with the family with a hotel booking showing that i am not going to stay at texas but will stay in a hotel at New York and my husband and child will accompany me for attending CPA exam.

waiting for the advice since a long time.Please pity on me and reply.

[siceg]

Relax, it is not the end. I am not sure if B2 Visa can be used for education purposes..I could be wrong. Next time you appear for the interview, make sure you have a complete schedule of the examination. With dates from start to end. Also what I feel what went wrong here is when you mentioned about living with your friend. If they suspect you have strong ties in the US they assume you wont come back. You don't have to go for a world tour to get a US visa. And yes, making advance lodging reservations will help.

Best of luck!

[dinu]

One more query

Hey Hi,
Thank you very much for your advice. I shall make sure that the next time i go with the lodging reservations etc.

But shall i apply with my husband and 2 yrs old son so that they dont feel that i am running away to US and that my husband can say that he and child are accompanying me to attend the CPA exam.

And what if the VO asks us that are we not going to tour after the exam or what if the VO asks me that are u not going to stay at ur friend's house this time.

How should i justify above questions asked by VO.

Please advise . Take care. Have a nice day.

[orion]

Taking your family alongwith is a bad idea, they will assume that the whole family wants to immigrate!

[dinu]

hi

I know taking the famiy is a bad idea and that's the reason for the first time i applied alone but then in the interview VO started asking me why am i not taking the child? i told him that the child will not let me study but he was not ok with the answer.

Kindly advise.Thanks. Take care

[C4us]

You need to prove why you need to take the CPA exam if you are living in Dubai. This looks like you plan to look for a US job.

[dinu]

Hi

Then in that case will it be suitable if i show them the examination schedule, lodging reservations and apply alone.


Please advise.

Thank you very much.

[C4us]

What you need to show is why you need a US CPA credential in Dubai.

[dinu]

Hi

In that case can i tell them showing my previous work experience certificate
that i have worked as an accountant for last 3 years and expect a better scope in the job in future i want to attend CPA exam

or else after 2-3 months shall i apply with the family saying its for tourism purpose.

Kindly advise which would be a better option?

Thanks. take care

deepa

[C4us]

You have not yet answered spcifically why you need a CPA credential in DUbai. Your responses are vague. You appear to be planning to stay in the US or look for a job while on B2 visa.

Since you cannot answer my questions, you should see why the VO is not convinced as to the truthfulness of your responses.

[dinu]

Dear Sir

I am married and have a two years old son .We are staying here in dubai for
the last 4 and half years. My husband is a reservations manager in a travel agency since last 10 years. Our financial situation is more than stable and i really have no aim to settle in US.

I used to work in dubai as an accountant and left my job as my son used to often get sick in the day care. Then not to waste my time and atleast to have a better job in future i found that there is an increasing demand for cpas in dubai and hence i decided to pursue with cpa.

The above is my reason to do cpa. Tell me that will the VO listen to all this what i say and that's the only reason i was trying to seek advice from you senior members as to what should be a short and brief answer which will convince the VO so that i can go and appear for the exam as i have started preparing for it.

Thats why i asked you that as my husband's position is stable shall we both apply together and what if he says that he is accompanying me to appear for CPA.

Please advise.Thanks. Take care

[C4us]

This is one of the cases where I believe it is in your best interest not to use short and to the point answers to the VOs questions. Like me, he/she may be unaware of the acceptance of the CPA credentials in the Dubai business community.

For example:

VO asks why you want to visit the US.

Rather than just answering: to take the CPA exam.
Answer: Since companies like xxx,yyy, and zzz are now giving preferences to accountants with the CPA credential, I want to improve my employment opportunities by taking the CPA exam which is only offered in the US.

You provide the same answer but supply what might be information unknown to the VO in the expanded answer. Think of how you might answer typical questions along the same line. Always be truthful and forthright.

I know it goes against the usual advice; since the usual advice has not been successful, it would not hurt to try this approach since the typical replys do not truly indicate why you would benefit from the visa and not be an overstay.

It might also help to write a letter to the VO detailing the reasons why taking the exam is important to your career in Dubai. Even if it is not read, it will help you better organize your thoughts and you can say something like: As I explained in the letter (or statement) I have given you, (answer to the point of the question). This might prompt the VO to read your letter if he/she has not already done so.

At best, you will get the visa; at worst, you have tried the other approach and failed.

Once you explained the situation to me, my opinion on you getting the visa changed completely. It is how best to get the facts before the VO in the limited amount of time you have. Start making you list and narrow it down to the most compelling 3-5 statements.

[dinu]

Dear Sir

Thanks for your valuable advice. Sir, as i am at house i wonder whether do they give visas for housewives to write exams in US as they may get suspicious as to whether we will search a job and settle there.

Also as i had in my first application mentioned that i would stay at a friend's house at texas. In this context if i take the lodging reservations for New York example won't they ask me as to why am i not going to stay at the friend's house mentioned in the 1st application.

Sir, please advise as i have to appear for the examination in feb . i have already invested quite a sum of money in studying this and now i just dont get how to convince the VO to let me write the exam.

My husband works as a reservation manager with a travel agency and we have a good bank balance to present to VO.will these 2 points help me to get a US visa if we altogether apply saying that the family accompanying me to appear for CPA

[C4us]

Where you stay is not important. Staying with your friend is fine.

It is certainly true that in the US women often take the opportunity to improve their business skills while their children are small. That is not the problem with your application.

I suspect that in your first interview the VO did not realize the usefulness of a CPA credential where you are now living. That is why I suggested that you look at ways of bringing up the value of being a CPA where you are so as to overcome the presumption that you plan to immigrate to the US.

It is better that you travel alone and not obtain a visa for your husband or child; this is your tie to where you live now. While you may leave your husband, very few US women would abandon their child in another country. Emphasize that your trip will be short because you cannot bear to leave your child for long but that you can only take the exam in the US.

Review the advice that you have receive on this thread. Act on it. Make a new appointment and go with confidence that you will be able to convey the importance of you taking the exam in the interview. Let us know after the interview how it went.

[ramabalaji]

dinu,
I am glad finally you got a proper answer. Best of luck.