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Nonimmigrant Visas

General Information

Opening Hours

Arrival-Departure Record (I-94)

Our Service Commitment

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Voluntary Departure/ Bond Returns

How to Read Your Visa

Application Process

Renewal of Lost, Expired, or Mutilated Visas

What to Expect

Additional processing

Visa Refusals

Visa Types

Business/Tourist

Student/Exchange

Work

Diplomatic/Official(A/C3/G)

Petition-based (H/L/O/P/Q)

Specialty Position E-3

FAQ

Immigrant Visas

American Citizen Services

visa Refusals

The majority of visa applications at the Embassy in Tel Aviv are approved. However, it is the duty of the consular officer who conducts your interview to determine whether or not you are qualified for the type of visa you are requesting. If during your interview the consular officer finds you ineligible for a visa, the officer will return your passport to you will a stamp in the back showing that you applied for a visa but will keep the application. You will not be refunded the $100 processing fee.

There are many reasons that an applicant may be found ineligible for a visa under U.S. law. These reasons are detailed below, as well as the section of the law (the Immigration and Naturalization Act) that details this ineligibility. The consular officer will tell you at the time of your interview why your visa application has been denied and will mark the reason for the ineligibility on the back of your passport.

Request for More Information (221g)

If the consular officer requires more documents from you to make a decision about your qualifications for a visa, the officer will return your passport to you, your visa application will be temporarily suspended, and you will be asked to return to the Embassy again with additional documents. You may return with the requested documents any Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday that the Embassy is open at 2:00 p.m. After security processing, please go to Window 12. At that time the officer will determine whether or not you are eligible for a visa based on the additional documents that you have provided.

Some applicants require additional processing before their visa application can be approved. In this case, your application will be temporarily suspended, and the Embassy will contact you as soon as we have received clearance to issue you a visa.

Insufficient Ties (214b)

The most common reason for a visa application being denied is under the U.S. law (INA section 214b) stating that every applicant for a tourist visa must prove that he or she is intending to travel only temporarily to the United States and then return to his or her home country. As an applicant, you must demonstrate to the consular officer that you have significant ties in Israel that will bring you home after a short visit. "Ties" are the various aspects of life that bind you to Israel, such as your family relationships, employment and possessions. In the case of younger applicants who may not have had an opportunity to establish such ties, U.S. law considers educational status and long-range plans in Israel. As each person's situation is different, there is no single thing that shows compelling ties to Israel. You must also prove that you intend to travel to the United States for the reason you have stated. For example, if you are applying for a tourist visa but the consular officer suspects that you plan to work in the United States, your application will be refused.

Please keep in mind that no one document “guarantees” that you will receive a visa. The recommended documents listed on this Web site under each visa type are a guide of the type of documents that will help the consular officer make a decision regarding your case. If the officer feels that a decision cannot be made based on these documents, the officer will ask you to bring in more documents. However, the officer’s decision is not based only on the documents you present but rather on your current situation in Israel.
Section 214(b) ineligibilities are not permanent. If you have new information or if your overall circumstances have changed significantly, you may reapply. We generally recommend waiting at least six months before you reapply for a visa.

There is no way to appeal an officer’s decision to refuse your visa application other than to apply again.

Other Ineligibilities

Most visa refusals are based on 214(b) ineligibility. However, some applicants will be found ineligible based on other facts, such as an arrest and conviction in Israel or the United States, immigration violations or overstaying a previous visa in the United States, or submission of fraudulent documents.

If you are refused a visa based on one of these ineligibilities, the consular officer will explain why you are ineligible and how long you will need to wait before you can reapply for a visa. In some cases you may be eligible to request a waiver of the ineligibility, especially if the crime or overstay occurred long ago.

If you believe that you may be found ineligible based on an arrest or overstay, it is best to bring documents related to the arrest to your interview and to be honest with the consular officer regarding the details of your case.