All Mexicans need a B1 / B2 visa to travel to the United States for tourism purposes. The process is not complicated, but it is long and attention to detail must be paid when filling out the application. It is also better to prepare for the interview with the consular officer.
Making one of the following mistakes can lead to a rejected visa application . We explain why.
1. Not understanding what the DS-160 application asks for
The first step to apply for the visa is to fill out the DS-160 form . It is the most important step in the process because the consular officer's interview will be based on the information you provide there.
The DS-160 application is in English, but you can activate the Spanish translation to understand all the fields. When entering the page you must click on the tab "Select Tooltip Language" located in the upper right corner and select "Spanish".
Once you've done that, you'll need to hover over any phrase on the page to see the translation. This will prevent you from misunderstanding a field and making a mistake when filling out the application.
2. 'Finger' errors on the DS-160
The United States Embassy in Mexico listed the most common mistakes when filling out the form.
They point out that 60% of corrections in visas are due to errors in the name! Check well what you wrote before sending it. 20% of the errors are in the date of birth, 10% in the gender and the remaining 10% in the passport number.
One of these errors can be detected in the Applicant Service Center (CAS) and delay your application for a few days.
3. Give incomplete or inaccurate information on DS-160
The DS-160 form page will notify you if you need to fill out one of the fields. However, it will not alert you to inaccurate information.
It is Important for you to fill the detailed that they ask for. For example, if they ask you for the address where you will stay, don't just put the state, write down the street name, number and even the zip code. Research that data to give clear and accurate information .
Help yourself with the following documents to complete the DS-160 application:
1) Passport.
2) Your possible travel itinerary.
3) Dates of your last five visits or trips to the United States.
4) Curriculum vitae to write down your current and previous employment history.
4. Neglecting personal presentation in the interview
Ideally, the way you dress should not be an obstacle to obtaining the visa. But it is better to dress formally . A shirt and dress pants are enough for both men and women. Don't fall for an extreme either.
5. Not being prepared for the interview
The consular officer will rely on the information you provided on the DS-160 form to conduct the interview for you. He will verify that your answers match.
For example, if he asks you where you will go, you must answer the destination that you wrote down on the form. If you give another place, it will start to question you about the details of your trip. If there are contradictions , he can deny you the visa.
The questions change depending on the case and the answers that the applicant begins to give. However, there are some that are very common. Have an answer ready for the ones we list because it is very likely that they will ask you.
- Where in the United States are you traveling?
- What is the purpose of your trip?
- How long will your stay be and when do you plan to leave?
- With whom do you travel?
- Where he works? How long have you been working there and what activities have you done?
- Who will pay for your travel expenses?
Where will you stay?
- Do you have relatives in the United States?
- Have you traveled or been to the United States before?
6. Give more information
Answer only what they ask you. Stay attached to your DS-160 form and don't dwell on stories that can get you tangled up.
If you have not been asked who will pay for your trip or if you have acquaintances in the United States, do not insist with that information. You could give the impression of being nervous and wanting to divert attention.
7. Provide false information
They deny the visa to those who present erroneous or false information or try to deceive consular officers when obtaining a visa (Section 212 (a) (6) (C) (i) of the INA). They declare ineligible those who violated the immigration law years ago. For example, those who crossed the border without documents.