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In our previous blog, we highlighted the worldwide B visa refusal rates. But those DOS published rates do not convey the entire picture. As any politician knows, when making any tally, the actual number is not important, but how one determines that number that is. The Department of State is no different. The Department of State publishes adjusted refusal rates. The actual refusal rates are not published. In all likelihood the actual refusal rate is higher, and perhaps in some circumstances, substantially so. So how does the DOS «adjust» its statistics? It does so by only counting the last consular action on a particular applicant in a fiscal year. For example, if a businessman applied for a visa and was denied two times in 2015, and on his third attempt, he receives a visa in 2015, only the issuance will be counted; the two refusals will not be counted. If…

The Department of State recently published its 2015 refusal statistics for B visas. Several countries exceed the 60% mark: Syria, Gambia, Federated States of Micronesia, Mauritania, Liberia, Laos, Haiti, Somalia, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Cuba, and Afghanistan. Among the most populous countries, the refusal rates greatly vary: China — 10.03%; India — 23.78%; Indonesia — 8.71%; Bangladesh — 59.96%; Pakistan — 40.4%; Nigeria — 32.56%; Russia — 10.24%; Philippines — 27.96%; Turkey — 13.88%; and Ukraine — 34.03%. These 2015 refusal rates represent an increase over 2014 for most of these populous countries: for example, the refusal rate for India jumped nearly 4%; in Turkey — more than 6%; in Ukraine — more than 6%; the Philippines — more than 3%; in Pakistan — more than 2%; in Russia — more than 2%; and China — 1%. While on the surface these percentage increases may not seem significant, for these countries -…

Previously, USCIS overseas offices had responsibility for reviewing I-601 immigrant waiver applications. This led to inconsistent adjudications among various overseas offices and extreme variations in processing times. We first discussed the patent unfairness of this system on this blog back in November 2011. To remedy these problems, in June 2012 USCIS centralized the processing of I-601 waivers at the Nebraska Service Center in the United States. The impact can now be seen, and should give those who had been previously denied by a USCIS overseas office hope. As noted in our 2011 blog, the approval rates at certain USCIS overseas offices were dismal at best. For example, in Accra, Ghana, which had jurisdiction and reviewed waiver applications from numerous countries in Africa, its approval rate in 2010 was 22%. The Rome USCIS Office had an approval rate of 25%. Moscow and Athens hovered around 40%. Contrast that with the approval…

With the DV–2016 registration period in full swing, this is a good time to raise awareness about potential pitfalls encountered by DV applicants. Perhaps the most seemingly innocuous requirement — submission of a photograph with the entry — is the one most easily overlooked. The Diversity Lottery has several rules relating to the photograph submitted with the entry: 1) it must be on a neutral, light-colored background (dark or patterned backgrounds are not permitted); 2) it must be in focus; 3) no decorative items such as sunglasses or other items can detract from the face; 4) non-religious head coverings or hats are not permitted; and 5) the person must be looking directly at the camera. But as is usually the case, the Kentucky Consular Center does not disqualify the entries at the time of intake during the registration period or after selection: it is only after the visa applicant is…

Last year we wrote about a student visa applicant in Russia going through 7 interviews to receive a US visa. Not to fall behind their brethren in Russia, US consular officials in Nigeria are no slouches in running Nigerian students through the visa gamut, a veritable Lagosland of adventure, obstacles, and consular vengeance. Consider the case of Yvonne. Yvonne comes from a well-to-do family of professionals and is an honors science student at a US university. During her junior year, she was caught shoplifting at a store, with the value of the merchandise less than $100. She was convicted under the state’s 1st time shoplifting statute. When she returned to Nigeria and filled in a visa application, she failed to indicate that she had been cited for shoplifting. The initial consular officer at the consulate in Lagos orally approved the application. Upon discovery of the shoplifting, the same officer called…