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Yocket Editorial Team
Updated on 03 May, 2019

What is the 214 B visa rejection?





Section 214(b) is a section under the Immigration and Nationality Act in the US. It is the section under which a non-immigrant applicant’s visa is refused/ denied.

US laws put emphasis on US non-immigration visa applicants (except H1B and L1) to prove that they are willing to return their home country and have no intention of illegally staying back in the United States or becoming immigrants.
 

What are the reasons that your application is refused under 214B?

There are many reasons why your visa can be denied under 214B, here are  few highlighted ones:

  1. No strong ties to your home country: If you do not show that you have any strong ties to your home country, like family, a job, a house, or other assets that you may want to return to, there is high chance that your visa may be denied.

  2. Interview Problems: If your interview wasn’t great, it can definitely lead to a rejection. How you conduct yourself; how honestly you answer questions; how you are dressed; your reactions and  facial expressions; eye contact; hesitation in answering questions; discrepancies in answers to questions and information contained in the application form; nervousness - all go into weighing your intentions, credibility, and eligibility for a visa. Also, if the visa officer thinks that any document of yours is fraudulent (like a work letter or a bank statement), he will reject your application.

  3. Fit overstay profile: There are a set of profiles that have been taken from all the applications that have applied for a visa. These profiles are the ones who have overstayed their visas or applied for extensions in their visas or have illegally immigrated to the US. If your profile matches these profiles, your visa could be rejected.

  4. Multiple long and extended stays in the US: If you have visited the US multiple times for long periods of time and have also extended your stay there, then the officer may have doubts that you have immigrated there, are participating in illegal employment activities, or have immigrational intentions.

  5. Student specific reasons: There are some student specific reasons, which need to be kept in mind as well:

  • If you intend on attending a community college or a “non-brand” university
  • If you lack economic ties to your home country
  • If you show your intention of staying back in the US for an extended period of time after the completion of your course
  • If your program has little use in your home country
  • If you are an older applicant (30+ years)
  • Inadequate knowledge of English
  • If you have previously studied in the US and your academic track record and attendance wasn’t good
  • Insufficient display of funds

6. Any previous interactions with the police: If you were detained by the police or have been arrested before, then there is a high chance that your visa will be denied.
 

There are some circumstances that may not even be in your hands like human errors by the visa interviewer, or any misunderstanding that may have emerged during your interview.
 

What can you do to avoid the 214B VISA refusal?

While a lot depends on your profile, there are things you can do as well. Here are some tips:

  • Dress well for the interview. Formal aren’t compulsory so you should wear anything casual but still smart.
  • Try to establish a strong tie with your home country. Mention how your entire family is here, how pursuing your degree will help you come back and get a promotion at your current job, etc.
  • Be confident while answering your questions.
  • Make sure to be aligned with the profile that you have submitted to the university
  • Do not submit any false documents, whether they are job recommendations or bank statements
  • If you have had any encounters with the police, then explain what exactly happened and how you have improved or changed.
  • If you did stay for an extended period of time in the US previously, explain the circumstances under which it happened
  • If you have chosen to go to a community college or a “non brand” university, then mention why you made this decision
  • Maintain eye contact and try not to fumble while speaking to the officer. Be confident!

To know more about how to prepare for your VISA interview, read our article on VISA Interview Preparation Tips.

All in all, as a student you have to prove that you are a great fit for your program and that you will gain knowledge and life experience by studying in the US. However, you also need to show that you do wish to come back to your home country.


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Yocket Editorial Team

Yocket is the largest regional online community for students with a desire to pursue higher education abroad.

Published in:
 I-20 and VISA

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