Tourist Visa Approval Supporting Documents
Tourist Visa Approval Supporting Documents
Tourist Visa Approval Supporting Documents
Interview
Supporting documents
Approval
Denial. It’s not the word anybody wants to hear at their visa interview while being
unceremoniously handed back your passport with a denial notice and cast aside
for the next applicant. Unfortunately in some cases it’s inevitable, but there are
rules one can follow to make sure the chances of a negative decision are minimal.
You want to do everything you can to ensure that you leave your interview with a
spring in your step and a smile on your face, safe in the knowledge that your
passport is on its way to have the visa put inside, and you are well on your way to
the shopping trip in New York you’ve had planned for months!
Good preparation is vital when applying for any type of visa, but even that is
sometimes not enough to ensure you are approved. You have to remember that
you are asking to be allowed into another country, whether it’s for tourism,
business, or just transiting through. And it’s your responsibility to prove that you
will arrive, behave yourself while you’re there, and ultimately that you will leave at
the end!
Now, proving all of this in one online form is not possible due to the generality of
the forms’ questions, so therefore you have to provide additional documents in
person at your interview along with your DS-160 confirmation page, your
appointment information pack, and your MRV receipt. These documents need to
show certain things – most importantly your ties to the country you actually
reside in.
If you are a permanent resident in Canada and you need a visa to enter the US,
i.e. your native country is not on the visa waiver lis, then you MUST prove that
you have strong ties to Canada and that you will return there. The strongest proof
of all is time spent in your country of residence. It is advisable that you spend a
minimum of a year as a permanent resident or on a working visa before even
thinking about applying for a US visa. You may know people who have applied
within a year and been approved, but it’s very rare for that to happen and usually
there would have to be extenuating circumstances.
People visiting Canada who then want to visit the US are put under as much
scrutiny as residents of Canada, but their supporting documents need to show
evidence of their ties to their home country. So, time in whichever country they
reside is very important. The presence of family such as parents, siblings, and
children are also a very important tie to the applicant’s country of residence.
However, having a cousin once removed living in Canada will not cut the
mustard. Sometimes even a closer relative like a sister or brother won’t be
enough either. The odd relative living in Canada does not mean your ties are
strong enough in the eyes of a US officer.
It can also be a problem if you have family members who are living in the US. Put
yourself in the shoes of the officer conducting your interview. They assume that
every person who applies for a visa intends to stay in the US illegally. It’s their
job to only approve visas for people least likely to do this. If you only have a
cousin in Canada but you have more immediate relatives in the US, it’s likely that
the officer would assume that you plan on staying in the US with them illegally
and not returning to Canada. So, relatives in your country of residence alone
aren’t enough, but when coupled with your time spent there so far, then your ties
become stronger.
Having a job improves your chances even further. A regular income shows that
not only can you afford to travel to the US, but also that you can afford to leave.
It’s a good idea to have at least 3 months’ worth of pay slips and statements from
the bank to show your finances are sufficient for your trip. If you don’t have a job
it’s not the end of the world. Proving that you have the funds or that your trip is
being funded by somebody else or you are of retirement age can be done with
bank statements and an invitation letter from the person you are visiting or being
funded by.
Similarly with truck drivers who need a B1 visa before they can apply
for their FAST card, don’t assume that just because you have a job
offer that you will be approved for your visa. Again, ties and time
spent in Canada are very important factors. People who need to travel
to the US on business with a B1 visa still need to prove strong ties to
their home country.
Utility bills, cable bills, internet bills for the last 3 months that show
your name and address
An insurance policy showing that you are the policy holder OR the
beneficiary (if you have insurance)
So, if you have read everything so far and think that you have everything
mentioned above, your chances of being approved for the US visa are extremely
high. You will probably breeze through a very short interview and may even get a
smile from the officer as he/she inquires about your plans while visiting the US.
Maybe you only have some of the documents above but fit the other criteria. If
this is the case then your chances are also fairly good but you would have to be
stronger in the other areas, for example, married with children.
At the end of the day it’s important to remember that the officer who interviews you has
the final say. There are instances where a person may meet all the requirements but the
officer feels there is something questionable about the applicant and for that
reason they will deny the visa. It’s a setback but it’s not the end of the world.
It is for this reason that if you intend to book tickets for a trip you make sure that
you apply for your visa in good time to cover this possibility Although you don’t
really want to attend your interview fearing the worst, just make sure you are fully
prepared.
Stay positive and trust yourself. You should feel confident that you’ve made sure
you meet all the requirements and therefore you stand an excellent chance of
being approved