Just in case you are wondering what are the possible reasons why your visa application may be denied. This post will address the possible reasons why your application may be rejected. Visa application denial can sometimes be painful especially when you have made the necessary plans and expenses. Most countries have minimum criteria that you must meet for your visa to be granted. The requirement varies from country to country.
A visa gives you access to enter and exit countries. It is a seal that the embassy or immigration officials provide for individuals who apply to visit their country.
Though there are countries in the European Union that provide their citizens with maximum travel benefits. This includes the opportunity to travel to countries in the European Union without the need for a visa or obtain a visa on arrival when you arrive in the country. This also applies to West African Countries. Countries in West Africa are free to enter any West African country without a visa.
If you do not have access to a visa-free or visa-on-arrival. It implies that you need to get a visa to travel. It is better if you ensure that you do all it takes to get a successful application prompt from the embassy.
Visa processing is done online in most cases, except any country demands otherwise based on specific reasons.
Visa Application Process
There are two major feedbacks you can receive from the embassy after you apply for a visa. This includes:
- Visa Granted / Approved
- Visa Denied / Rejected
Your visa application is approved when you have fulfilled the requirements to get a visa. This means that;
- You have provided accurate answers to the questions you were asked by an immigration officer or consular at the embassy
- You submitted the documents required with full evidence.
- You gave no room for the immigration officer to doubt your moves or reasons for relocation.
- You fulfilled all the requirements for the visa to be granted
There are so many reasons why a visa application process is approved, it could go as far as the decision of the officer to grant approval based on an intelligent overview of your applications. Whatever it is, do well to play your part and await the final decision from the embassy.
Reasons why visa applications are Rejected
Just in case you are wondering why a visa application could be denied. Perhaps you have been denied a visa before. You were confident that you filled the application the right way, followed all instructions and did everything right? Then why was your application denied?
These are the top reasons why applications are rejected by the embassy;
Failure to translate documents to the required language before submission
This is one of the reasons why a visa application may be rejected. If you are applying to a country that speaks a foreign language.
When asked to submit specific documents during your application, you have to make sure that it is translated into the official language of the country. If it was previously in a local or native language. Specific to the requests of the country you are applying to, you could be told to translate to a language different from English or leave it the way it is.
Ignoring this vital step could result in a visa denial. You have failed to do the right thing and also the immigration specialist will not be able to take any step regarding this. Considering a large number of applicants, it is quite tasking even with the aid of technology to review several applications given the time frame. Therefore one cannot overemphasize the importance of keeping to instructions during this process.
To find out what the embassy requires per application, you can make enquiries and be on the lookout for the official language of the country you are applying to.
This is not to say that countries with different official languages asides from the English Language might not inform you to translate all documents into the English Language before submission though, just read all instructions carefully when applying.
Leaving a required field empty when applying
For some websites, when you omit an important question and do not provide answers in the space(s) provided, you get stuck and will not be able to move to the next stage. This is quite different from some online visa applications. Omitting or leaving out a piece of important information may result in the refusal of a visa.
For instance, if you are applying for a tourist visa and an option pops up to enter educational information. Though this information may not relate to your visa type. It is advisable to enter such information.
Before you ignore any required field, be certain that you have checked the other available options and selected your preferences accordingly.
Error or Inaccurate data submission
This is another reason why your visa may be refused. There are quite some things to note in this aspect, a few are:
i. Errors with basic information such as name, age, date of birth, marital status, gender and so on. This implies that you have provided false information and do not show clarity. For example,
a. When you fill in a different date of birth from the one on your birth certificate or your international passport
b. Dissimilar names without documents to back up your claims
ii. Misspellings and insufficient information
A name or detail that was not properly spelt, ignoring the prompt to provide additional information as required. Several presentations of ignorance can lead to visa denial.
While filling out the form, it is good to go over it again till you are sure that no unnecessary letter or information was added.
In a situation where you have entered information and the proof is required, there must be a document uploaded in the right format to genuinely show that you have not submitted the wrong information.
Insufficient Proof of funds.
Countries such as the UK, New Zealand, Switzerland, Netherlands and even Canada request proof of funds along with the documents you are presenting during your application. With this in view, it is necessary to make every attempt to secure the needed amount of money in your bank account.
The evidence of your account statement or balance is a prerequisite for the embassy to know your intentions of returning. Your inability to provide proof of funds could be a reason why a visa application could be denied. This also shows if you are capable of fending for yourself while in the country. When an account balance is lower than expected, the visa application is automatically rejected.
Since you are probably travelling for a reason, it is in your best interest to reveal that you have a life and that you are financially stable for the trip. This is done to avoid being stranded in a foreign land. To also ensure that you have funds to sustain yourself.
This evidence is particular to countries, it is not necessarily fixed or a general amount. Different countries request that you provide a 6 months bank statement and also show that the money you claim to have in your account has been there for 60 days or more.
For some countries, when you even present above the required amount. You will be given the option to present this to an officer on arrival to the country.
Canada for instance calculates this with family size, therefore the financial statement required from a family of 2 will be different from that of a family of 4.
Applying with an invalid or damaged passport
An invalid passport is dependent on your application requirements. It denotes that your passport is either due for renewal or about to expire. This does not end here, as the important section of your passport that allows a visa attachment is needed by the embassy.
Also, applying with a torn, stained or incomplete passport qualifies the process as null and void. This could also be another reason why a visa application could be denied.
When submitting your passport, look out for all of these things to avoid being denied a visa. Because your visa application will take time, at least two weeks or more, it is not ideal for you to apply for a visa with a passport due to expire before the process is done. Most embassies usually require that your passport must have at least 6 months of validity.
Although some countries give a timeframe for the expiration. It ranges from 3-6momths or even longer, as required by the country.
Unfavourable visa interview session
Another reason why a visa application could be rejected is when you are nervous or show some signs of fear. When you are not calm this could lead you to say the wrong things. If you cannot say the correct answers to questions in a visa interview. This can affect your outlook as an immigrant and might result in visa rejection.
This means that you need to be your best and bold since you are sure of what you want. You should know basic details by heart and be able to recite them without traces of uncertainty.
Inability to provide a travel plan or insurance
Another reason why your visa may be rejected is if you are unable to provide a concrete travel itinerary. This consists of a scheduled list of travel activities with tickets, documents and receipts to evidence that you have made reservations. Applying for some country’s visas demands that you have medical insurance.
The plan should cover;
– A flight ticket
– A destination or hotel reservation with receipt.
– Few countries demand a list of activities you will likely engage in during your stay.
When you are not able to provide all these, your visa application could be rejected. You could be wondering how you are expected to book a flight when your application has not been considered, to avoid loss or misuse of funds, in this regard, you can as well make a reservation and get a flight number with the appropriate assistance.
Records of a criminal offence
If you have been apprehended for a crime in the past, it is quite difficult to absolve yourself of the charges that were laid against you. It can sometimes be difficult to come up with a different version of yourself. This could mean that you have once been charged with drug trafficking, murder, violence or any other brutal offence. Though if you can provide a clear record that you have served a jail term. You also have to prove you do not have any existing record with the law enforcement agencies in your country or anywhere else, then you are good to go. A lot of embassies factor in this when considering whether to accept or reject an application.
Applying for a visa from an enemy country
Another reason why your visa could be rejected is if you are applying for a visa from an enemy country. Immigration officials have to ensure that potential terrorists or people who have bad intentions to cause harm are not allowed into the country, no matter the reasons. This could result in visa rejection. Citizens or applicants of the enemy countries pose a threat to their nation. If you are applying for a visa from a country that tags your country as an enemy. Your chance of getting the visa is slim.
Medical conditions
When you do not pass the fitness test or you have a communicable disease such as tuberculosis. This means that you have failed the medical tests and cannot be approved.
Also, since the inception of the Co-VID 19 vaccine and tests, a lot of countries require that you have at least been vaccinated twice and given a booster before you can be allowed to travel to the country. Also, you must present a negative PCR test before you are allowed into the country. Presenting the records of your immunization is a plus in this situation and can aid visa approval. Whereas, if you do not go through these procedures, you eventually do not get a visa.
Petitioner or Sponsor’s history
- When you are applying to a country with a sponsorship, especially family or employer. A list of documents will be demanded from them. Failure to provide these leads to visa rejection. thus ending up with a rejected visa application.
- Most countries demand;
- Sponsors proof of funds or account statement
- Tax history
- Crime records
- License( state or driver)
- Evidence of relationships with you, such as a birth or marriage certificate or any other document. It is vital to gather all these and submit them accordingly as required or requested by the country. Note that the information should be true and precise, as anything contrary disqualifies you from getting a visa.
Travel records and arrival plans
In the past, you have probably applied for a visa and gotten it but you failed to keep to your end of the bargain and had other arrival plans. This history could ban you from getting a visa temporarily or permanently, depending on the conditions attached.
If this is your first time, you need to be clear with your reasons for travelling, and support yourself with evidence if necessary. To add to this, when you are applying for a study visa, show that you have been given admission into an institution of learning. Furthermore, if you applied for a medical visa, show that you have scheduled an appointment with the hospital or health care facility. It is essential to show that have provided all the required processes to prove that you truly know what you are doing.
When you do not state your motives clearly, you will not be taken seriously. You can be suspected of one with criminal intentions or fraudulent activities in mind and you will not be given a visa.
Unable To Prove Ties
Another important factor that is considered is your ability to prove ties to your home country. There are several ways to prove ties, these includes:
Career/Job: You need to be able to prove that you have a lucrative job that you are returning to.
Family Ties: You should be able to prove that you have strong family ties like family members in your country.
Social Ties: Social ties may include your social status and influence.
Membership/Community: Another way to prove ties is to show that you are a member of a prominent institution.
Chieftancy: Some chieftaincy titles are proof that you can not leave your community for a long period. If you can prove to the visa officer that you have strong ties to a community through your title.
College: Your college education is also a great way to prove your ties with your home country.
Business: Having a business is also another way to prove ties to your home country.
Asset: Your ability to show your assets might be a great way to prove ties to your home country. This is often a form of economic ties.
Providing Fake Documents
This is another reason why your visa application could be rejected. In some cases, you can get a ban. Providing a fake document like a travel itinerary, proof of funds, educational qualifications, letters or invite etc should be avoided when applying for a visa.
Applying for the Wrong Visa Category
Applying for the wrong visa category could lead to an automatic rejection. A tourist applying for a work visa should be sure of automatic rejection. Before you apply, always be sure of your visa category. In some cases, each visa category has its code or naming system. Ensure that you are familiar with the naming before applying.
If you do not plan to return to your country
Another reason why an application may be rejected is if you do not plan to return to your country. During the interview, if the Visa Officer should ask about your intentions and you state that you do not have the intentions of returning. It is often best to let them know of your intention to return to your country.
If you overstayed or broke the rules during your last visit.
Another reason why an application could be denied is if you overstay or broke the law during your last visit. When you visit a country, always ensure you do not break the rules. Be a law-abiding citizen.
These are some of the reasons why a visa application may be denied. Ensure that you look out for some of these things when applying for a visa. It should also be a good idea to read through the requirement before applying for a visa to avoid rejection.
