Getting a visa isn’t exactly easy, but there are usually good reasons for a visa denial to be issued by immigration authorities. If you are curious about what kind of thing can get your application denied or you have already had an application denied, you may want to talk to our Fairfax County immigration appeal lawyers.
What Kinds of Reasons Are Given For a Visa Denial?
There are many reasons why a visa denial may be issued. Some common problems include:
- An application that was not fully completed
- A lack of necessary supporting documentation
- An applicant who has been convicted of a drug crime
- Accusations of fraud
- An applicant who has two or more criminal convictions that resulted in a total of five years or more confinement
- An applicant who has previously overstayed a visa
Obviously, some of these issues are difficult to fix. If you were convicted of a crime, you cannot erase that. Some reasons for denial, like overstaying a visa and staying unlawfully in the United States, can also prevent you from getting a visa for a certain amount of time no matter how many applications are made. However, you may be able to fight against a visa denial if a mistake was made or if needed paperwork was missing.
Can I Appeal My Visa Denial?
In some cases, you can appeal your visa denial by filing a notice of appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals, or BIA. You do not usually have much time to file your appeal, so keep in mind that you may need to act quickly to meet a deadline that could be as little as 30 days. You can then submit your appeal brief and evidence showing that a visa denial was a mistake.
In other cases, an appeal is not an option. However, you can reapply for a visa later. You will likely be forced to pay any fees again though. This is why it’s a good idea to make sure that your application is in order before you try to get a visa. You don’t want to spend more money and time than necessary on this.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
We do recommend having a lawyer if you are making any kind of appeal. This process can get complicated and there are many important deadlines to keep track of. Any mistakes, like misfiled documents or missing evidence, can sink your chances of successfully appealing.
An experienced attorney can guide you through this process and make sure that you are doing everything that you can to get a second chance after a visa denial.
Contact Our Law Firm Today
So if you are applying for a visa or thinking about appealing a visa denial, don’t go it alone. Contact Goel & Anderson and ask to set up a consultation with our legal team. We can tell you more about what we can do to assist people with immigration issues of all kinds.
