Discovering the ease and challenges of obtaining a US visa – an intriguing journey.

Exclusive revelations from Mr. Pham Anh Khoa, Director of Yola Academy, specializing in English language training and study abroad consultancy, surrounding the intricacies of applying for a US visa.

Mr. Pham Anh Khoa, a co-founder of VietAbroader (an organization established and operated by Vietnamese students in the US), is dedicated to supporting students heading to the US for study. Mr. Khoa himself has applied for a non-immigrant US visa 6 times (for study, tourism, and business).

Due to subjective factors, loosely described as luck, the process of applying for a US visa can be inexplicably challenging at times, as Mr. Khoa begins his narrative.

Applying for a US visa... a game of chance.

I know of a director representing a US company in Vietnam, with a substantial income. He has spent a considerable amount of time working for the company, frequently traveling to the US for both business and leisure.

However, the daughter of the gentleman faced visa rejections, be it for tourism or education in the U.S., a total of 5 times. Surprisingly, she is still residing in Vietnam!

On the flip side, there's a unique case of a university student who delayed enrollment by 5 years. Both parents are farmers in the countryside, and there's an elder brother currently studying in the U.S. The student failed in the first visa attempt but succeeded in the second.

When I applied for a U.S. study visa for the first time, everything went smoothly as I had a full scholarship from an American university.

In subsequent visa interviews, it took me less than 30 seconds. Sometimes, the conversation on both ends revolved more around casual chit-chat rather than anything related to the visa process.

There's no guarantee of a 100% success rate in obtaining a U.S. visa

One of the reasons making the U.S. visa application a game of chance is that, unlike applying for a visa to Australia or the U.K., where financial documents and relevant paperwork must be submitted upfront, consular officers have relatively more time to scrutinize and analyze the documents.

Contrastingly, for U.S. visas, the preliminary application is done online, while all financial documents need to be presented in person during the interview. Consequently, U.S. visa interview officers face immense pressure to make decisions swiftly with unverified family and financial information.

During the interview, visa applicants have only a few minutes, and every aspect of body language (gestures, attitude, etc.) is closely scrutinized. Any suspicious signs, whether intentional or unintentional, significantly raise the chances of visa rejection.

Moreover, to obtain a visa, applicants must prove that they have no intention of settling in the U.S. To demonstrate this, evidence of ties to Vietnam in terms of family, finance, employment, education, or future career must be provided. Each individual, based on their unique circumstances, must provide answers and evidence distinct from others.

Due to these two reasons, the decision to grant a U.S. visa is subjective and unpredictable. Any individual or organization claiming guaranteed U.S. visa approval is either misleading or vague, as seen in a recent visa 'selling' case.

Short-term tourist visas are facing increased scrutiny

According to information outlined in a 28-page document accusing Mr. Michael Sestak, ongoing investigations involve violations related to tourist visas. Specifically, some individuals attempt to enter the U.S. on tourist visas with subsequent plans to evade immigration controls.

Therefore, in my opinion, the current scenario for short-term tourist visa applications will undergo stricter scrutiny, while study visas are likely to face fewer impacts.

From my personal evaluation, when Vietnamese individuals travel or study in the U.S., they contribute significantly in terms of both foreign currency and talent. Hence, despite potential short-term complications, the U.S. Department of State and consular sections in Vietnam will make every effort to ensure that deserving visa applicants receive approval, as it aligns with the interests of the U.S.

Based on my observations, the issuance of non-immigrant visas in Vietnam for the U.S. has shown optimistic growth over the past three years. According to statistics provided by the U.S. Department of State, the number of B1 and B2 visas (for business, tourism, and other non-immigrant purposes) granted to Vietnamese citizens increased significantly from 31,679 cases in 2010 to 41,730 cases in 2012.

If your application is accurate and sincere but still gets rejected, there's still a chance to reapply for the second or third interview.

However, if you deceive, like nearly 100 individuals in the Michael Sestak case, the door to the U.S. will be permanently closed.

The number of F-1 visas (for students planning to study in the U.S. for more than 1 year) also increased from 8,681 in 2010 to 10,343 in 2012.

Before the visa fraud case involving Mr. Sestak, instances of visa fraud occurred at U.S. consulates in various cities worldwide.

And yet, one certainty remains – the regulations and terms for applying for a U.S. visa remain unchanged.

However, a potential change in Vietnam is that consular staff will scrutinize and examine applications more thoroughly, and their supervisors will manage and supervise them more closely.

Therefore, I advise all those preparing to apply for study or tourist visas to discard any thoughts of deception or falsifying documents.

For every 3 applicants, 1 faces rejection

Thanks to the investigation into Mr. Michael Sestak's visa fraud case, interesting statistics regarding the previously well-guarded visa rejection rates at the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City have been disclosed.

Specifically, from May 1, 2012, to September 6, 2012, the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City approved 20,362 non-immigrant visas and rejected 11,024, indicating a rejection rate of approximately 35.1%.

Contrary to many rumors that most U.S. visa applicants face rejection, the 35.1% figure reveals a truth that, when viewed fairly, for every 3 individuals applying for a U.S. tourist or study visa, approximately 2 are approved, and 1 is rejected.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the total number of non-immigrant visas granted to Vietnamese citizens increased from around 13,000 cases in 2000 to about 58,000 cases in 2012. Continuously rising over three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012, the total non-immigrant visa numbers were 46,000, 50,000, and 58,000, respectively.

So, everyone, stay calm, confident, and sincere when applying for a visa, advises Mr. Pham Anh Khoa.

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Source: Travel guide Mytour – Via: Youth.