I was rejected for F-1 visa

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>I scheduled my visa interview a few days back and was unfortunately rejected. Upon asking the visa officer, he gave me a sheet containing the specific reason for which I was rejected.</p>

<p>You have not shown that you have sufficiently strong family, social, or economic ties outside the U.S. Such ties can include employment, professional, educational, family or social links to a foreign country. You have not demonstrated that you have the ties that will compel you to return to your home country after your travel to the United States.</p>

<p>I was asked the following things in my interview:</p>

<ol>
<li>Why do you want to travel to the United States? I replied: Undergraduate Study</li>
<li>How long have you stayed in this country? I replied: 18 years, I was actually born here. (Actually I live in a foreign country for which this was asked)</li>
<li>What does your father do? I replied: He was as an..........in.............company</li>
<li>Do you have any salary statements showing your father's income? I replied: Yes (and after that, I showed him my Dad's salary statement and even bank statements even though he did not ask for it)</li>
<li>Who will support for your education? I replied: My Dad, for everything</li>
<li>Have you graduated from high school? I replied: No, I will in June</li>
<li>Which school do you study in? I replied to that question too.</li>
<li>Have you ever travelled to the U.S. I replied: No</li>
</ol>

<p>The man then said, sorry we cannot provide you with the visa today. I asked why, he gave me the reason (2nd paragraph) and told that: 'You couldn't show strong ties like employment with your home country. After you graduate, you don't have means of support'
I purposely did not go into further argument with the visa officer fearing that he possessed the ability to cancel my status permanently.</p>

<p>Things to note:</p>

<ol>
<li>I applied for visa very early because I received my I-20 early. Normal visa interviews are in June-July-August</li>
<li>The visa officer did not ask for my I-20 at all.</li>
<li>The etiquette I always knew was to have a good and straight posture, looking directly into the eyes and replying to whatever he says ONLY. I did everything as said.</li>
<li>Based on points 2 and 3, I did not myself willingly hand over the I-20, transcripts and many other such documents because they were not asked for.</li>
<li>The visa officer, therefore doesn’t know that I received a college grant of very high amount (45k)</li>
</ol>

<p>Mistakes I made (probably):</p>

<ol>
<li>I gave short concise answers (someone told me they have very little time allotted for each applicant), but it backfired at me. I couldn’t explain my situation assuming throughout the interview that I would be asked for the documents when necessary.</li>
<li>I did not understand the concept of ‘strong ties’ probably and was unsuccessful in this case.</li>
<li>I did not make them aware that I received grants from my college</li>
<li>I should have given all my documents to them for review before anything.</li>
</ol>

<p>My understanding of the concept of ‘STRONG TIES’:</p>

<ol>
<li>You must prove that you will return to your home country after intended period of stay.</li>
<li>This can be achieved through ECONOMIC and SOCIAL & FAMILY ties
ECONOMIC ties: Can be demonstrated through propriety of Land, Stocks & Bonds, Gold and Real estate holdings. Documentation can provided in this case
SOCIAL & FAMILY: Can be demonstrated (????)</li>
</ol>

<p>What is the proper concept of ‘strong ties’? Please explain in detail</p>

<p>How do I show proof of SOCIAL & FAMILY ties? This is ripping me off. Is it possible through documentation or verbally only? (And should I say something showing proof, verbally, considering Point 3 under ‘Things to Note’?)</p>

<p>I did not understand what the visa interviewer meant by: 'You couldn't show strong ties like employment with your home country. After you graduate, you don't have means of support'</p>

<p>Please comment on my situation and please suggest me something honest and detailed.
What should I do for my next interview? How do I prepare myself?</p>

<p>The next Visa form I fill will ask me whether I was refused a U.S. visa or not and will ask for a subsequent explanation. What should I explain and will this affect me in my next visa interview?</p>

<p>Thank you for taking your time in reading the whole story. Responses will be highly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Im sure there’s nothing worse than working hard for 12 years and then hearing this from a visa officer…</p>

3

<p>It indeed is very sad and depressing to see that you have been rejected for a F1 Visa. Quite honestly, I do not have a great idea or understanding of the entire Visa Process. But, did you try to talk to your School Counselor about the whole issue? Maybe she, knowledgeable of your situation, can help you get a better grasp of the ‘social ties’ clause. Also, have you tried to consult your local USIEF Office? I am a member of this foundation and, based on hearsay, know that they offer Visa Counselling Services.</p>

<p>I hope everything clears out for you and you finally get the ‘big’ stamp!</p>

4

<p>@aniruddhc and harvard17: Yes it is really very depressing after you have got highest grades in high school, decent standardized test scores, 45k college grant with only 10k pay :frowning: :(</p>

<p>PLEASE SUGGESTIONS EVERYONE :(</p>

5

<p>well you should have certainly told about the grant…i guess it would help … but you need to give them a reason why you would come back… a solid reason… if there aren’t economic reasons think of social ones (i dont really think those could be put on paper(or can they?)), which have to be strong enough
mind if i ask which university you got into?</p>

6

<p>@AkshayM: Thank you. I got accepted to a top liberal arts college. Don’t worry, I will personally tell you the name once my visa works out :p</p>

<p>I still don’t understand the matter of social and economic ties. Please, for god sake, if anyone who is experienced explain me the concept in detail. :(</p>

7

<p>well economic reasons could be like you have a family business or something… social… umm idk really …think along those lines…</p>

8

<p>bump…</p>

9

<p>say something like i have my friend’s circle / girlfriend / close friends or something like that for social ties</p>

10

<p>@aniruddhc: Thanks :slight_smile: Will that be enough? And what if they don’t ask me at all, just like my first interview? Should I say it from myself?</p>

<p>SUGGESTIONS PLEASE</p>

11

<p>Please don’t say it without them asking you… Youll totally be categorized as a potential immigrant, then…</p>

<p>Go to a famous career counsellor for mock visa interviews.</p>

12

<p>PokharaBoy- I really feel bad about this. I would like you to apply once more and tell those ****ed up people in embassy about your achievements and grants.</p>

<p>And thanks for this thread.</p>

<p>I think we should create a specific thread which could help students about visa, we may share our questions…</p>

<p>So, Pokhara Boy u start the thread primarily for this and paste the link over here.</p>

13

<p>@PokharaBoy–May be the best option is to inform your college and request them to do sth…As far as I know, US Embassy doesn’t mess with students who got admitted to good college with fantastic aid!so if your college requests to the US Embassy over here, I think they won’t deny in your next application…</p>

14

<p>^That, in my honest opinion, is a fantastic piece of advice!</p>

15

<p>@carreshwell: There are very few threads on CC regarding the issue of F-1 visas. </p>

<p>I definitely need more suggestions :frowning: Sorry for bugging everyone too much :p</p>

<p>Ok…I had more questions

  1. Will it be supportive if I bring statements from my school GC, Prinicpal, my Dad’s employer and my home country’s embassy that I will return back after my stay in the U.S.?
  2. Are my chances for getting a visa reduced due to a refusal? Or will my application be further scrutinized?
  3. This is my game plan for the next interview: I go to the VO and just right after saying ‘Good Morning’, I hand over my documents one after the other giving an explanation of what they contain (Assume that the VO did not ask for them). Will that be a good idea? (Also remember that they did not check all my documents in the first interview, READ FIRST POST)</p>

<p>Thanks for your answers everyone :)</p>

16

<p>well you need some expert advice on this… you should contact some visa advising agencies or the school you have been admitted to as everyone else has said… people on here can help you but not with professional documentation and stuff… so I would refrain from giving any advices on documents and stuff because it MAY do you more harm than good</p>

17

<p>See, the reason u were rejected is Social ties. Now, first you need to create an impression that u got a grant in a nice college, u r intelligent- not the one who just wants to enter usa. Then you need to give clarification that you will return back ( U may collect proofs for that). u weren’t rejected because ur college wasn’t good, or u couldn’t pay but because of social ties. So, create a good impression and then lay stress on social ties.</p>

18

<p>You might even want to use one of your prime ECs. Like if you’re an athlete, you could talk about national pride and playing for your country etc.
Goodluck! This was rather unfortunate, But I’m sure it’ll be alright :slight_smile:
P.S. Did you have your interview in New Delhi?</p>

19

<p>@carreshwell: How do I create that impression? </p>

<p>@gary7: No, I did not have my interview in New Delhi</p>

<p>MORE SUGGESTIONS PLEASE :)</p>