Source: http://www.visapro.com/resources/article/how-to-avoid-nonimmigrant-visa-denial/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 04:43:58+00:00

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On any given day throughout the world many visa applicants find themselves in a dire situation- they hear a U.S. consular officer say, “Your visa application to go to the U.S. is refused. You are not qualified under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.” To be refused a U.S. visa when you are not expecting it causes great disappointment and sometimes embarrassment. What does a § 214(b) visa refusal mean? And what can applicants do to prepare for a visa reapplication or avoid a refusal in the first place?
§ 214(b) denials are among the most common form of U.S. visa denials.
A § 214(b) denial is not fatal but can be avoided or overcome.
Bringing the right forms of evidence to the interview can be the key to succeeding at a visa interview.
The presumption of “immigrant intent” can be likened to “you are guilty until proven innocent.” Since the consular officer presumes you have immigrant intent, to qualify for a variety of U.S. visa classifications, including visitor, student visa, exchange visitor and investor visas, applicants must be able to prove that they do not have ‘immigrant intent,’i.e., that they will leave the U.S. at the end of their authorized stay and return to their home country because they do not have the present intention to remain in the U.S. permanently. Failure to show that you do not have immigrant intent will result in a refusal of a visa under Section 214(b).
Consular officers have a difficult job. They must decide in a very short time if someone is qualified to receive a temporary visa. Most cases are decided after only a brief interview and quick review of whatever evidence the applicant presents.
Each person’s situation is different and consular officers are aware of this diversity. During the visa interview they look at each application individually and consider professional, social, cultural and other factors. In cases of younger applicants who may not have had an opportunity to form many ties, consular officers may look at the applicant’s specific intentions, family situations, and long-range plans and prospects within his or her country of residence. Each case is examined individually and is accorded every consideration under the law.
If an Immigrant Petition (family or employment based) has been filed on your behalf, it will be very difficult to overcome the presumption of immigrant intent, even if you won’t be getting the green card for many years because of retrogression.
No, the consular officer will reconsider a re-application if the applicant can show additional convincing evidence of ties to a residence outside the U.S. and demonstrate how their circumstances have changed since the time of the original application. The applicant should contact the embassy or consulate to find out about any specific reapplication procedures as this may differ across consulates and embassies. Unfortunately, some applicants will not qualify for a nonimmigrant visa regardless of how many times they reapply until their personal, professional, and financial circumstances change considerably.
What Can Be Done If A Visa Is Denied Under Section 214(b) For Lack of Residence Abroad?
Applicants should also carefully review their situation and realistically evaluate their ties– what will make them want to come back. Then they can write down what qualifying ties they think they have which may not have been evaluated at the time of their interview with the consular officer. Also, if they have been refused, they should review what documents were submitted for the consular officer to consider and note if the consular officer made any comments about the submitted documents or if he or she suggested any other documents.
Applicants should also bear in mind that they will be charged the nonrefundable application fee each time they apply for a visa, regardless of whether a visa is issued.
Liza was excited because her friend Timothy, a national of Turkey, was coming to visit her in the U.S. Suddenly, the phone rang. Liza couldn’t believe her ears! Sadly, Timothy told her, “I cannot come…the consul said I am 214(b).” When Timothy went to the interview, all he took with him were his passport, round-trip airline tickets and an invitation letter from Liza.
Timothy can reapply for tourist visa. This time, however, Timothy must bring with him more evidence that shows that he has strong ties to his home country. When Timothy returned to the consulate, he brought with him proof that he owned a home in Turkey, was working in a stable company with good benefits and that he had a large and close-knit extended family. He also showed that he had few relatives in the U.S. This time, Timothy’s visitor visa application was approved.
Who Can Influence The Consular Office To Reverse A Decision?
Other common nonimmigrant visa included refusals based on Sections 221(g) or 212(a) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act.
Under INA §221(g), a visa may be refused if it appears to the consular officer from statements in the application, in the papers submitted to the officer by the applicant, or evidence from a third party or reliable outside source that the applicant is ineligible to receive that particular visa or such other documentation or the application fails to comply with immigration laws.
An example would be if an H-1B work visa applicant was refused because the consular officer did not believe that the applicant possessed the requisite qualifications to perform the offered job.
If an applicant has been refused under §221(g), the individual may be able to overcome the refusal by presenting additional documentation to the consulate. Practically, if an individual is refused a visa, he or she should contact an immigration attorney who can contact the chief of the nonimmigrant section to discuss the matter. If the attorney is unsuccessful at this level, the case should be discussed with the chief of the consular section. Since there is no judicial review of nonimmigrant processing, the attorney must exhaust every possible alternative within the consulate before the matter is referred to the State Department for an advisory opinion.
Under the INA §212(a), various classes of aliens may be ineligible for visas or admission on grounds related to health, criminal activities, security, public charge, etc. For example, a person applying for a tourist visa may be denied under § 212(a) if he or she has been arrested and convicted of a crime.

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