Denied B2 Visa under 214(b). What should I do?

[Spotinik 0]

Applied for a US Visa to visit my uncle, as well as visit a couple close friends for a month. I'd amassed as many documents as possible to prove that I do intend on returning, but the consular never bothered looking at or asking for the documents, and instead denied me a Visa based on the interview.

 

I'm 28, unmarried with no children, and am self-employed (I do freelance work as an artist). I am able to afford my expenses, as I have more than enough money in my savings (they'd never asked me how I intend to support myself to begin with). I do not have my own place, and still live with my parents currently.

 

I was asked the following questions:

1. What is the purpose of your trip? "I intend to visit my uncle in Seattle, then fly to Virginia to visit a couple of my friends."

2. Have you been to the US before? "Yes, when I was much younger."

3. What other countries have you been to? "Egypt, Turkey, and Amman."

4. Who do you live with? "My parents."

5. What do you do for a living? "I am self-employed, and I do freelance work as an artist."

 

My best guess is that I was denied because I still live with my parents, and am self-employed which I understand raises red flags. However, I was not expecting to be rejected as I was under the impression having familial ties, a bank account, been to different countries before and have returned every time (Last time I'd been ouf the country was in 2012, is a gap in travel history a possibility for denial?) was evidence for intent to return... Anyway, I would like some advice on what I can do to strengthen my case. 

[Boiler 43,433]

The biggie, which Country?

PS Amman is not a Country

[Unlockable 7,306]

What country?

 

You have traveled to other countries which is a good sign. But a young, single, freelance artist? What's to stop you from using your talents to make it big in the US? That was just a hypothetical question a CO would be thinking when they see your case.

[Spotinik 0]

15 minutes ago, Boiler said:

The biggie, which Country?

PS Amman is not a Country

I should have probably said Jordan. They're very interchangeable over here, at least in my native language. Mix up, I guess. :\

 

13 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

What country?

 

You have traveled to other countries which is a good sign. But a young, single, freelance artist? What's to stop you from using your talents to make it big in the US? That was just a hypothetical question a CO would be thinking when they see your case.

 

[Spotinik 0]

15 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

What country?

 

You have traveled to other countries which is a good sign. But a young, single, freelance artist? What's to stop you from using your talents to make it big in the US? That was just a hypothetical question a CO would be thinking when they see your case.

I forgot to reply to this, sorry!

 

I'm from Israel. That's fair though, the way you word that. How would you strengthen a case like that?

[Unlockable 7,306]

More travels. Buy property/home. Start a family. High profile stable job.

 

Who knows. There is no perfect answer. You could simply apply again next year with no changes to your situation and you may get a visa.

[Boiler 43,433]

I thought Israel and Turkey were not on the best of terms?

 

I am going to guess those countries you have travelled to probably did not help.

Edited October 11, 2017 by Boiler

[Mollie09 1,543]

I thought Israel was a VWP country?

 

I thought wrong.

Edited October 11, 2017 by Mollie09

[Spotinik 0]

2 hours ago, Boiler said:

I thought Israel and Turkey were not on the best of terms?

 

I am going to guess those countries you have travelled to probably did not help.

Not aware of such; and the trip was when I was much younger. My brother had been to the same countries as I have, and had no issue getting a B2 visa. (Interestingly, he was given a B2 visa to attend a conference while also being unmarried and unemployed somehow. Which is part of why this is all confusing to me.)

[NYCruiser 423]

SIngle, young, 'freelance artist' is the reason why

[TamaraN 72]

49 minutes ago, NYCruiser said:

SIngle, young, 'freelance artist' is the reason why

Most likely this is the cause. It would be better if you owned some property of your own, or were at least renting a place, and had a more permanent job, that you would be likely to return to.

[JFH 12,189]

On 10/11/2017 at 10:57 AM, Spotinik said:

 

1. What is the purpose of your trip? "I intend to visit my uncle in Seattle, then fly to Virginia to visit a couple of my friends."

The "friends" in Virginia... must be good friends to go all that way. Even after visiting the uncle over here on the west coast, a trip to Virginia to see "friends" is not exactly round the corner. It's a few thousand miles. Is it more than friendship with any of them? Could be that the CO felt that it was more than friendship and you were looking to marry and stay...

[Spotinik 0]

3 hours ago, JFH said:

The "friends" in Virginia... must be good friends to go all that way. Even after visiting the uncle over here on the west coast, a trip to Virginia to see "friends" is not exactly round the corner. It's a few thousand miles. Is it more than friendship with any of them? Could be that the CO felt that it was more than friendship and you were looking to marry and stay...

You bring up a good point, I wonder if she thought that because of the distance. Even if I just mentioned only one of those two things, I feel like I would have gotten denied anyways. 

 

I have two very close friends who live there and know eachother as well. We have all known eachother online for a few years now, and both of them invited me over to go hang out with them. They wanted to take me sightseeing, try out new foods, and they wanted me to experience Halloween (I love the aesthetic of it all, but we don't do Halloween here) and go to Howloscream. 

 

I'm actually also worried she might have judged me based on my slight stutter (might look like lying? Idk, might be overthinking) I'm hearing impaired w/a cochlear and as a result I stutter sometimes. I was admittedly nervous because her tone through the entire conversation was condescending, and she seemed annoyed I'd ask for her yo repeat something a couple times because I didn't hear her.

[Boiler 43,433]

I think you are over thinking, sounds like a standard denial.