Tourist Visas
As you may be aware, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 delegates the sole responsibility for tourist visa issuance to Consular officers of the U.S. Department of State. In addition, under current United States laws and regulations, certain applicants require additional administrative processing before a visa can be issued. The State Department is engaged with other United States government agencies in an extensive and ongoing review of visa issuing practices as they relate to the security of our borders and our nation.
My office receives frequent requests for assistance in tourist visa issuance each week. All of these requests contain unique and compelling justifications to warrant attention. However, only the Consular officers at the United States embassies worldwide are authorized to make the final determination on the issuance of non-immigrant visas.
Consular officers have an important and difficult job abroad to determine who may be permitted to travel to the United States for tourist, business, educational or medical purposes. Officers interviewing applicants for non-immigrant visas to the United States have increased their scrutiny in the interest of enforcement of our immigration laws. State Department officials have measures to ensure the safety and security of Americans abroad and at home.
In an effort to be of assistance to you, I refer you to the State Department website at http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors.html that details procedures for the issuance of tourist visas. If your friend or family member did not qualify for visa issuance under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, please note that section of law presumes all applicants to be intending immigrants until they establish their eligibility for a specific nonimmigrant visa category.
No third party assurances of a timely return will be considered in the application process.
To qualify for a nonimmigrant visa, applicants must demonstrate their compelling social, economic or family ties outside the United States in their home country. Consular officers must deny visas to those applicants who fail to meet the requirements of Section 214(b). Each nonimmigrant visa denial is reviewed by a supervisory Consular officer. Persons who have been denied nonimmigrant visas are eligible to reapply, but it is recommended that they reapply only if they are able to present new evidence which addresses the previous grounds of ineligibility.
I would encourage you to share this information with your family/friends abroad as every applicant must be fully prepared to overcome the presumption of the intent to immigrate by demonstrating strong ties to the applicant's home country. Evidence of strong ties varies from country to country and family to family.
