What is 214b Visa Rejection: Top Reasons

What is 214(b) Visa in USA?

Under the law of Immigration and Nationality Act of the USA, there is a section in this law denoted as section 214(b) which states that an international student or visitor entering the USA is a potential immigrant and unless he/she proves stronger ties with the home country and shows a willingness to return is granted a visa else, section 214(b) is imposed which is visa rejection. 

Once applicants are granted a visa for studying in the USA, he or she is required to abide by the rules and follow all instructions carefully. In case of infringement, applicants’ visas can be terminated and can be stamped 214(b) before leaving for the country.

US 214(b) Visa Rejection Reasons

Following is a list of 214(b) refusals for those who are unable to get through the US visa interviews or are even rejected at the application submission stage:

1. Unwillingness to return home: 

This is one of the major reasons for 214(b) visa rejection and this is clearly a violation of the visa granting process in the US where those who show the slightest disinterest in returning home are not granted a visa and are rejected.

2. Interview Inadequacies: 

Those applicants who are unable to describe themselves or give accurate information about themselves in the visa interview, are more or less stamped with section 214(b) visa refusal. Thus, it's mandatory to be clear with what the applicant has submitted in the application form and answer accurately. 

3. Improper information communicated on application: 

In case, consulars are unable to understand what the applicant has mentioned or submitted, especially in a local language, plus he/she also fails to explain the details, then there is a chance of 100% visa refusal in the USA. 

4. Financial insufficiency: 

If the applicant has proved the financial ability in the application but fails to explain to the visa officers how they will support their stay and education in the USA, their visas may be rejected as per the 214(b) section of visa refusal. 

5. Economic disparity in a country: 

This is one of the major causes of 214(b) visa denial. There may be cases, where the maximum number of applications may get rejected commonly at large because of large economic disparity in a particular country and students cannot afford to stay and study in the USA. 

6. Unnecessary extended stays in the USA: 

In case the applicants extend their stay in the USA unnecessarily their past record will come into the picture and they may not be able to travel to the USA for their intended study or travel and section 214(b) will be imposed.  

7. Change of visa status: 

Cases where applicants apply for a certain visa supposedly a student visa and then they apply for an H-1B visa and suddenly get their visas upgraded can be considered as fraudulent and may cause 214(b) visa denial. 

8. Close relatives residing in the USA: 

Applicants whose close relatives reside in the USA and whose information has been mentioned in the applications are most likely to be stamped 214(b) visa refusal. In such cases, applicants may be helped to get a permanent visa or may get shelter once their visa expires.

9. Fraudulent travel plans: 

In cases where applicants already hold a visa from another country and still wish to get another country’s visa granted, the USA, in this case, may lead to a rejection based on section 214(b) unless the explanation is not appropriate as to why the applicant wishes to study in the USA. 

10. Repetitive applications for immigration: 

The US consulate is prompt with past records and in case of multiple applications filed for immigration may be finally rejected based on section 214(b) for infringement of rules of multiple applications in the USA. 

11. Student-related issues while studying in the USA: 

At any point in time applicant’s visa can be rejected in case they do not comply with the rules and regulations of the US university like low attendance, non-completion of English language pathway courses’ credits, etc. 

12. Amidst medical emergencies: 

Those applicants who are bearing a child or have any other severe complications may also be denied a visa to the US, maybe because they would get a permanent visa to stay on while they have kids or if they are in the middle of a crisis and there is no other option but to stay on in the country. Thus, this also invokes section 214(b) rejection in such cases. 

Hence, the reasons are more or less limited to the above-given circumstances of the applicant applying for a visa to the USA and these reasons may result in 214(b) denial. There may be other reasons too, but these are more or less summed up for a student visa rejection through section 214(b). 

214(b) Visa Refusal Samples

Following are two recent F-1 visa interviews that have been rejected by the visa officer in the US consulate:

214(b) Visa Refusal Sample 1:

Interviewee: Hello, good morning 

Visa Officer: Good morning, Pass me your I-20 form and your passport, please 

Interviewee: Yes, sir 

Visa Officer: Why are you going to us 

Interviewee: I'm going to the US to pursue my Master's degree in computer science at Cleveland State University in Ohio 

Visa Officer: How many colleges did you apply for?

Interviewee: I applied for Cleveland State University and Pace University 

Visa Officer: How many admits have you got?

Interviewee: I got admitted to both colleges.

Visa Officer: Why these universities? 

Interviewee: The course curriculum offered by Cleveland State University has a dedicated career track in machine learning with the latest subjects of Big Data and Parallel Data processing systems, advanced computer architecture, and artificial intelligence 

I can also add extra certification to the research field under the guidance of Dr. Lin who is working on integrating humans into the loop system in machine learning, which would really add a positive value to my career goals 

Visa Officer: What's your CGPA? 

Interviewee: 6.83 on a scale of 10

Visa Officer: So do you have personal funds? 

Interviewee: No, sir, I don't have personal funds. My parents are my sponsors, and in addition to that, I have taken an education loan.  

Visa Officer: What do your mother and father do? 

Interviewee: Mother is a housewife, and father is a retired government officer.

Visa Officer: What's your father’s annual income?

Interviewee: xyz lakh sir 

Visa Officer: Place your right hand 4 fingers, and your visa is rejected.

The visa rejection reasons in the USA are not usually not elaborated on during the visa interviews, it is for the student to assess the reason and reapply if they wish to but keeping in mind the mistakes that must be avoided at all costs to avoid re-rejection of the visa. 

214(b) Visa Refusal Sample 2:

Visa Officer: Good morning
Interviewee: Good morning.

Visa Officer: Which University you are heading to?
Interviewee: I am heading to the University of South Dakota to pursue my Masters.

Visa Officer: Why this University?
Interviewee: This University offers me an embedded course in Computer Science and Information Science which is directly aligned to my career path to become a data engineer  Also, the university has a high-performance computing centre and network security labs which will be used during the course. Also check out: 221(g) Visa Refusal.

Visa Officer: Which universities have you applied for?
Interviewee: I have applied to four Universities & I named them.

Visa Officer: How many admits have you got?
Interviewee: I got 2 admits - the University of South Dakota and the University of Colorado

Visa Officer: What was your undergrad course?
Interviewee: I have done my undergrad in the computer science department. 

Visa Officer: What was your CGPA?
Interviewee: I have scored 6.8 on a scale of 10

Visa Officer: You had any backlogs
Interviewee: Yes ma’am, I had 3 backlogs in my 3rd year and I cleared them in the next semester.

Visa Officer: Are you working currently?
Interviewee: Yes ma’am, I am working as a software developer in XYZ Company.

Visa Officer: Who is funding you?
Interviewee: My parents are funding me with their savings of 40L and they have net assets worth 1cr.

The same is the case for this interviewee as they are unaware of the reason for visa rejection, thus they will have to reapply but will have to avoid the already committed mistakes. Do read about: What to do after visa rejection?

214(b) Visa Rejection Re-Apply

Applicants who have got a visa rejection under section 214(b) for the USA will have to figure out the reason for visa denial first. The next step is to apply for a visa in the USA again and not repeat the same mistake. Applicants must ensure that they furnish enough proof of their return to their country of origin and not in any case specifically wish to stay on for permanent residency or look for job opportunities to support one’s living in the USA in the application or during their F-1 visa interview.