U.S. Tourist Visa: How to Make your Chances of Approval Higher
For those foreign nationals who are not exempted from the Visa Waiver Program, they need to secure a tourist visa (B1 or B2) to travel to the United States for short visits, either for business or pleasure. Examples include tourism, vacation, visiting family and friends, medical treatment, business meeting, attending a business workshop, or personal leisure.
Normally, most applicants want to know their chances of approval before proceeding to apply. With this in mind, we came up with a list of documents that you may use to declare as proof of ties to help in convincing the consular officer that you are going back to your home country after the short visit.
The information listed below are for reference only and not to assure the approval of your tourist visa application. It is on the decision of the U.S. immigration officer whether to approve or to deny your visa application.
Here are few suggested proof of ties:
Employment
Having a job in your home country will not guarantee to have your visa issued. Immigration officers also look at the length of your current and previous employment, the type of job you have or had, and your current salary income.
The duration of requested visit to the US will also be measured, as Immigration Officers most likely question applicants who wish to stay for more couple of months. It’s important to consider the nature of your current job and the allowable leave your company issues, thus, you will need to provide Certificate of Employment stating your position, start date, current status, monthly or annual salary income, and leave certification. Providing this evidence will serve as a reference for the immigration officer who will evaluate your application.
Family Obligation
Examples of family obligations are elderly parents who need your presence to take care of their needs and obligation to take care of your child / children, especially when they are still going to school. The applicant should submit official documents establishing the family relationships, letters from physicians explaining important medical conditions of any dependent family members, and documents establishing the current school enrolment of the children.
You may also obtain supporting letters from family members, attesting that they will look after your loved ones while you are shortly away. This will help answer questions of the immigration officer as to who will take care of them if you go to the U.S.
Property and Personal Asset
Individuals are less likely to leave if they own a home, have property, or have large amounts of funds in investment accounts in their home country. While financial assets are required to establish the ability to support the visit, evidence of property and financial assets should also be provided as evidence that the applicant’s connections to the home country. Evidence can include ownership of real estate property, business, or house.
Community Involvement
Showing documents that you currently participate to your community may also increase your chances of getting your visa application approved. This may help convince the consular officer that you are happy with your involvement or obligation in a specific community activity and you are likely to return in your home country for this reason.
Travel History
If you have previously visited outside your home country for tourism, and have not overstayed or have followed your allowable stay provided by the juristic immigration, then you are more likely establishing a trust to the immigration officer that you will not overstay during your visit to the U.S. and that you will return to your home country after your vacation.
The more documentation that you submit to show that you will return to your home country, the better the chance for the approval of your visa.
Category: US Tourist Visa
About the Author (Author Profile)
Cassie Polo is an article contributor and a frequent writer of Siam Legal US Visa Blog. She talks about immigration services and other immigration-related matters. Right now, Cassie assists applications for Canadian Visa and U.S. Visa at one of the law firms in Thailand.
Question, please. My Filipino friend’s 38-year-old sister just went thru the USA tourist visa process. She has everything correct, all legal employment, records with leave of absence, marriage certificate, uncle’s address in Los Angeles, phone numbers and email, approx. $2,500 in the bank, small land title, one stamp in her passport, but she still was denied and very upset. Her son just graduated from school. This was her best time to take a short vacation to see the USA. Any advice? She wants to try again. Thank you.
Dear Anthony,
The applicant may re-apply again. Make sure to accomplish the DS-160 as precise as possible.
During the interview, prepare to answer day-to-day plans upon arrival to the US, the purpose of the trip, current job, personal information, family, and finances.
Make sure to demonstrate that she will come back to Thailand at the end of the visit.
These and the significant amount of social ties will give her an advantage of getting approved for the visa.
It’s actually a great and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you just shared this useful info with us. Please stay informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Corine! Thank you for your input. Glad that we could help.
Impressive! Thanks for sharing this.
Hello, i am planning on applying, i have all of the above except my parents overstayed their visa in the US before when i was only 12 years old. Although it is not my fault since i was a kid and we all left willingly will this affect my chances?
Hi Larissa,
No. It will not affect your application. The application will be based solely on the applicant.
It’s great that you talked about tourist visas and their types. Recently, one of my friends mentioned he’s having some issues with an aunt who wants to visit him. I believe immigration issues are a delicate topic, and a lawyer by your side is the best idea, so I’ll be sure to tell my friend about it. Thanks for the information on tourist visa applications.
Glad to help. For consultation and assistance, feel free to contact us.
Hello. I plan to apply for a Visa. I am a 22 year old Filipino citizen. I’m currently studying in the Philippines and managing a business. I want to visit USA because my relatives are there. Any help on how I can increase my chances of getting approved aside from what is stated here? Thanks!
Dear Carlos,
The most important thing is to show sufficient evidence that you plan to visit the US only for tourism purposes and return to your country afterward. This article gives you some ideas of how to do that. Depending on your circumstances, your family in the US could also act as a sponsor, which may strengthen your application.