Six Easy Steps to Visa Rejection

When it comes to applying for a visa, there is no margin for error. The slightest mistake could lead to visa rejection, and even minor infractions can result in lengthy bans from a country.

Immigration laws are extremely inflexible and must be followed to a tee. Authorities can use any excuse to turn down a visa, often with no appeals process.  

So just how easy is it to be rejected by a country? The following are some of the most common, simplest reasons for a rejected visa.  

Just one mistake

Misspelled a word? Ticked the wrong box? Bad luck. Visa rejected. Even a miniscule, insignificant mistake can result in a rejection. Very rarely will you be given the opportunity to correct your error. More often than not, your application will be turned down, forcing you to start the entire application process again.   

A slip of the tongue

Many visa applications will involve a face-to-face interview. The applicant is asked tough questions as the interviewer studies their every word, looking for any signs of doubt. The process is designed to scare fraudsters into admitting a lie, but many genuine applicants will fall down at this hurdle. All it takes is one slip of the tongue to put doubt into your interviewer’s mind.    

Miscalculated funds

Most visa applications require the applicant to show they have enough money to support themselves when they arrive. When you factor in exchange rates, calculating funds can become very tricky. A visa will be refused even if the applicant is one dime short of the threshold.    

Missing documents

Forgot to include a simple bank statement in your application? Bad luck. Visa refused. Immigration authorities don’t waste time. Often they will not give you a chance to correct your mistake and send in the correct documentation. Your visa will be refused and you will be forced to re-apply and pay your application fees again.    

Fraudulent documents

This seems obvious, but countless visas are rejected every year due to fraudulent documents. Maybe you didn’t know they were fake. It doesn’t matter. Fraud is taken extremely seriously, and it is highly likely that the visa applicant will be banned for life.    

The last hurdle

So you have received your visa and you are travelling to your new country. You step off the plane and approach an immigration officer at the gate. You show your visa. Then the questioning begins. The officer will ask all the tough questions, studying your every word and facial expression for signs of a lie. If the officer has any reason to doubt you – any reason at all – he has the power to put you back on a plane and send you home. Is it fair? Of course not. But those are the rules.     

The wrong visa

 Immigration laws are complex and confusing. Some countries have over 100 different categories of visa, each with slightly different rules and eligibility criteria. One of the most difficult parts of a visa application is sifting through the countless different categories of visa to find the right one for you. Choose the wrong one and you will have wasted your time and money making an application.