Official figures from the United States government show the odds of getting a tourist visa approved vary according to the country in which the individual applies from. This article mentions the percentage of B-class visas that were denied last year in Uganda and some neighboring states.
It also explains the causes or rejection. The B Class visa to many is the tourist visa, which could also be known as the B1/B2, which is a combination of the business and tourist visa.A B visa is one of a category of non-immigrant visas issued by the United States government to foreign citizens seeking entry for a temporary period.
The two types of B visa are the B-1 visa, issued to those seeking entry for business purposes, and the B-2 visa, issued to those seeking entry for tourism or other non-business purposes. In practice, the two visa categories are usually combined together and issued as a "B-1/B-2 visa" valid for a temporary visit for either business or pleasure, or a combination of the two. Citizens of certain countries do not usually need to obtain a visa for these purposes.
When it comes to the US, not even prominent members of the society are spared. In March, The US denied Visas to women from Africa and the Middle East hoping to attend the UN's Women Conference, on the status of women. The Commission on the Status of Women is an annual conference, that was held from March 11–22, where representatives from member states, NGO workers, and women’s rights activists gathered to evaluate the global progress on gender and equality.
The International Service for Human Rights, a UN-affiliated organization, reported it was aware of at least 41 women had been denied visas to attend the conference this year, but this figure was said to be only "the tip of the iceberg" and likely to increase.
According to the data gathered by ISHR, more than 50 visas were rejected for CSW in 2018 but this final number was tallied after the event, as individuals came to know later that ISHR was gathering data on visa denials.
Reasons for Visa Denial?
A tourist visa could be denied for several reasons and all of them fit into two categories: ineligibility and inadmissibility. As I have mentioned in the UK visa post and as shall do in more other posts to come, one of the most common cases of ineligibility in not being able to prove enough economic, social or family ties to the country the applicant resides in.
The latter is always worth remembering. In those cases, the consular officials could suspect the individual has the intention of staying in the United States. That problem affects both young and older people. If the problem is caused because of ineligibility then the applicant cannot request a waiver.
Common causes of inadmissibility include a penalty from 3 to 10 years because of having overstayed in the US illegally. Individuals who are applying for a green card could also face trouble, since consular officials tend to deny tourist visas to people that are going through a permanent residency procedure, due to the request of one of their relatives.
US Non-immigrant Refusal Rate for B Visas only 2018.
Country/ Nationality | Adjusted Refusal Rate |
Uganda | 42.29% |
Kenya | 41.59% |
Tanzania | 19.87% |
Rwanda | 44.51% |
Burundi | 74.39% |
South Sudan | 41.29% |
Ethiopia | 41.74% |
Somalia | 90.16% |
Djibouti | 82.96% |
DR Congo | 50.56% |
In the fiscal year 2018, 10,182 Non-immigrant visa were issued by the Kampala post. Of these, 7230 were B visas, which is a representation of 71.1% of the visas issued.
Hillary is the Founder of hillarykbainny.com. He is also the Uganda Youth Leader to UN. He is a Debate and Speech Protagonist. He is also the Founder of Public Policy Forum Uganda. He is a Sexual Revolutionist
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