Ask the Consul Installment 24-02
Common Visitor Visa Myths Debunked!
Embassy of the United States of America
100 Duke & Young Streets, Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana
There are many myths and misconceptions about the U.S. visitor visa process that can confuse potential visa applicants. In this edition of our Ask-the-Consul, we will dispel some of those myths and set the record straight on common misconceptions.
MYTH: On a given day, the number of visitor visas issued is based on a quota; if the quota is reached, everyone else is denied.
FACT: There is NO quota on the number of business/tourist visas that can be issued in a day, month, or year. Consular Officers will approve visitor visas for all qualified applicants, regardless of the number of visas previously issued. This means that the first and last applicant will have the same fair opportunity to receive a visa, once they meet the eligibility criteria.
MYTH: Getting approved for a visa is all luck and depends on the mood of the Consular Officer.
FACT: Decisions about U.S. visas are based on U.S. immigration laws, and our Consular Officers are highly trained to apply the same legal standards to each case when making a decision. Therefore, an officer’s mood, the time of day, or any other factor unrelated to the law will have no effect on the decision. Also, applicants will receive the same level of service and consideration regardless of who conducts the interview.
MYTH: Only wealthy people qualify for a visitor visa.
FACT: Every day, Consular Officers issue visas to applicants with varying financial circumstances. When evaluating a visitor visa application, Consular Officers consider factors beyond the applicant’s financial situation, such as the purpose of the trip, the applicant’s ties to their home country, their job and family, as well as their immigration/travel history. While there is no requirement that an applicant be wealthy, applicants do need to show that they can pay for, or have a sponsor, to cover their expenses while in the United States.
MYTH: If I’m sponsored for an immigrant visa, I will not qualify for a visitor visa.
FACT: People with pending immigrant visa applications may choose to apply for visitor visas like any other applicant. While Consular Officers will consider the applicants’ ties to the United States and intention to immigrate in the future, being sponsored for an immigrant visa does not automatically disqualify an applicant for a visitor visa. Consular Officers will review the totality of the applicant’s circumstances to determine eligibility to travel as a visitor.
MYTH: You need to enter the United States within 6 months of receiving your visitor visa; otherwise, it will become invalid.
FACT: There is no specific time frame within which someone must use a visitor visa. A nonimmigrant visa is valid until its expiration date; this means the visa holder may apply for entry into the United States at any time before it expires.
MYTH: If I pay a visa consultant to complete my application, I stand a better chance of qualifying.
FACT: Visa consultants have no influence over visa decisions, and they have no “inside” connection with the Embassy. An applicant’s eligibility for a visa is determined by a Consular Officer based on the visa interview.
The visa application process is designed to be straightforward and accessible to all applicants. For this reason, we encourage applicants to complete their visa application and pay the required visa processing fees themselves. Our website — https://gy.usembassy.gov/visas/ — offers comprehensive information on all our visa services, along with the applicable fees.
If you do use a visa consultant, ensure the person helping you is entering accurate, complete information before the application form is submitted online.
“Ask the Consul” is a monthly column from the U.S. Embassy answering questions about U.S. immigration law and other Consular topics. Detailed information about visas can be viewed at https://gy.usembassy.gov/, https://ais.usvisa-info.com/ and https://travel.state.gov/. Information about American Citizen Services can be found at https://gy.usembassy.gov/u-scitizen-services/.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare their own documents and avoid third-party advice. Consular processes change frequently, and non-U.S. government advisors often provide inadequate or inaccurate information. Please contact our Visa Information Service Center using the contact information at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/engy/niv/information/contact_us if you have general visa questions.