US Tourist Visa Applicants: Common Pitfalls to Avoid During the Application Process

US Tourist Visa Applicants: Common Pitfalls to Avoid During the Application Process

When you are applying for a US visa, there are a number of common mistakes and pitfalls that can be made that can either delay the application or result in it getting declined. Therefore, it is really important that extra care is taken when completing the visa application and that the applicant is aware of the full set of requirements. If an error is made on a visa application this could severely impact travel plans, so it is in the applicant’s best interests to make sure they get it right first time.

To help with this we have created some common pitfalls to avoid during the application process:

Applying for the wrong type of visa

There are different types of visa depending on which country the applicant is from and also the purpose of traveling to the US. Applying for an ESTA visa is significantly easier and faster than applying for a US visa, so if you are eligible for an ESTA and you are visiting the US for business, tourism, medical or transit purposes, then this is your best option for travel authorization. Applying for a visa that you are not eligible for is a major mistake that will result in the application getting refused. Make sure you are familiar with the eligibility criteria before you submit a visa application to avoid this.

Providing incorrect information

Another very common error that is made in the application process is providing incorrect information, usually this is done by mistake and by not taking enough care in checking over the details you provide. Any type of information that is incorrect such as passport number, address details, or answering a question incorrectly will often result in a refused application. Therefore, it is really crucial that you double check your application form before you submit it. Depending on which information you supply incorrectly, you may be able to update the information but in some cases, you will need to re-submit the application again with the correct information.

Not providing sufficient documentation

When applying for a tourist visa, you may be asked to provide documentation that proves that you will be visiting the US for short period only. The type of documentation could be return flight tickets, or your accommodation booking. You may also be asked to provide proof of finances to show that you can afford to stay in the US for the period of time you are applying for a tourist visa for.

The most common reason that a visitor visa is refused is because the applicant cannot prove their legitimate ties to their home country, so this evidence is really important in the application process. When the US officials are assessing the visa applications, one of the key priorities is to ensure that the applicant is likely to leave the US, therefore not putting any financial strain on the country.

If you avoid these common pitfalls and take your time to make sure you meet all of the requirements and visa documentation requests, you should have a good chance of having your application approved for your visit to the US.

 

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