On one of our previous shows, we noted that Consular officers rely heavily on the information contained in the DS160 visa application, and on answers that the applicant gives during the visa interview. So, it is essential that all of the questions on the DS160 be answered accurately and truthfully. There is no need to try to guess what answers are best in order to get the visa. In every case, answering truthfully is the best approach. And applicants should keep in mind that the computer data base resources of the Consulate are almost limitless. An officer can easily and quickly check CIS and State Department records to verify answers that appear on the DS160.
There are no “automatic” denials or approvals based on the information in the DS160. For example, an applicant might have a US citizen parent, sibling or child living in the US. If those family members have never submitted an immigrant visa petition on behalf of the applicant, it might still be possible to obtain a visitor’s visa.
Whether or not there are relatives in the US, it is up to the Consular officer to determine if the applicant has sufficient ties to his home country. Consuls will evaluate occupation, financial resources, home, relationships with family and friends in Vietnam, travel plans, and ties to persons outside of the United States..
A Tourist visa will be denied if the Consul suspects that the applicant will try to stay in the US after the visa expires. There is no appeal possible to a denial of a Tourist visa. The consulate recommends that if the applicant wants to apply again, he should wait about six months and he should have new evidence to overcome the possibility of another denial.
Preparing the DS160 form: These days, the DS160 visa application must be submitted online. Other people can assist with the form, but when the applicant electronically signs the form, he is certifying that all the answers on the DS-160 visa application are true. So, the applicant is fully responsible for the contents of the DS160.
Although the DS160 instructions are available in Vietnamese, some applicants are not computer literate or they are not confident about filling out English language forms, so they go to an agent for help. The agent wants to help the applicant be approved, so he will fill out the form in any way that he thinks will lead to success.
A common practice among dishonest agents is to say that a single or divorced applicant is married, in the hope that this will lead to approval. If this deception is discovered by the Consulate, the applicant will be accused of willful mis-representation and may be unable to obtain any kind of visa at any time in the future. The applicant, not the agent, is always ultimately responsible for the contents of the DS160.
What happens if a tourist visa applicant gets a visa by concealing certain important facts and later attempts to apply for permanent residence in the US? The truth will be known to CIS and the applicant will face an order of deportation.
No denial has ever been overcome because the applicant claimed that an agent filled out the form incorrectly.
Visa applicants in Vietnam can always rely on RMI’s office in Saigon to fill out the DS160 the right way.
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Q.1. Some agents claim to have “connections” inside the Consulate that will guarantee the tourist visa if the price is right. Is this true?
A.1. Occasionally a consulate employee will accept bribes to ensure approval of a visa. The Consulate will always discover this and will keep a close watch on visa issuance. If the Consulate can identify an applicant who offers a bribe, that person will never be able to get a visa to the US.
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Q.2. What does the applicant need to have with him when he fills out the DS160?
A.2. The State Department suggests the following:
· Passport
· Travel Itinerary if the applicant already has travel arrangements
· Dates of the applicant’s last five trips to the US if he has been to the US before and international travel history for the past five years
· Information about current and previous education and work history
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Q.3. How does an applicant sign the DS160 form electronically?
A.3. The DS160 is signed by clicking the “Sign Application” button at the end of the form. The electronic signature signifies that the applicant has read and understood the questions in the application and that the answers are true and correct to the best of the applicant’s knowledge and belief. An application that contains false or misleading statements may result in permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the US.
ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com
Immigration Support Services-Tham Van Di Tru
9070 Bolsa Avenue, Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
Cty Rang Mi: 47 Phung Khac Khoan, Q1, HCM (848) 3914-7638
There are no “automatic” denials or approvals based on the information in the DS160. For example, an applicant might have a US citizen parent, sibling or child living in the US. If those family members have never submitted an immigrant visa petition on behalf of the applicant, it might still be possible to obtain a visitor’s visa.
Whether or not there are relatives in the US, it is up to the Consular officer to determine if the applicant has sufficient ties to his home country. Consuls will evaluate occupation, financial resources, home, relationships with family and friends in Vietnam, travel plans, and ties to persons outside of the United States..
A Tourist visa will be denied if the Consul suspects that the applicant will try to stay in the US after the visa expires. There is no appeal possible to a denial of a Tourist visa. The consulate recommends that if the applicant wants to apply again, he should wait about six months and he should have new evidence to overcome the possibility of another denial.
Preparing the DS160 form: These days, the DS160 visa application must be submitted online. Other people can assist with the form, but when the applicant electronically signs the form, he is certifying that all the answers on the DS-160 visa application are true. So, the applicant is fully responsible for the contents of the DS160.
Although the DS160 instructions are available in Vietnamese, some applicants are not computer literate or they are not confident about filling out English language forms, so they go to an agent for help. The agent wants to help the applicant be approved, so he will fill out the form in any way that he thinks will lead to success.
A common practice among dishonest agents is to say that a single or divorced applicant is married, in the hope that this will lead to approval. If this deception is discovered by the Consulate, the applicant will be accused of willful mis-representation and may be unable to obtain any kind of visa at any time in the future. The applicant, not the agent, is always ultimately responsible for the contents of the DS160.
What happens if a tourist visa applicant gets a visa by concealing certain important facts and later attempts to apply for permanent residence in the US? The truth will be known to CIS and the applicant will face an order of deportation.
No denial has ever been overcome because the applicant claimed that an agent filled out the form incorrectly.
Visa applicants in Vietnam can always rely on RMI’s office in Saigon to fill out the DS160 the right way.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.1. Some agents claim to have “connections” inside the Consulate that will guarantee the tourist visa if the price is right. Is this true?
A.1. Occasionally a consulate employee will accept bribes to ensure approval of a visa. The Consulate will always discover this and will keep a close watch on visa issuance. If the Consulate can identify an applicant who offers a bribe, that person will never be able to get a visa to the US.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.2. What does the applicant need to have with him when he fills out the DS160?
A.2. The State Department suggests the following:
· Passport
· Travel Itinerary if the applicant already has travel arrangements
· Dates of the applicant’s last five trips to the US if he has been to the US before and international travel history for the past five years
· Information about current and previous education and work history
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.3. How does an applicant sign the DS160 form electronically?
A.3. The DS160 is signed by clicking the “Sign Application” button at the end of the form. The electronic signature signifies that the applicant has read and understood the questions in the application and that the answers are true and correct to the best of the applicant’s knowledge and belief. An application that contains false or misleading statements may result in permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the US.
ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com
Immigration Support Services-Tham Van Di Tru
9070 Bolsa Avenue, Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
Cty Rang Mi: 47 Phung Khac Khoan, Q1, HCM (848) 3914-7638