BEEN DENIED, BEEN TOLD THAT YOU ARE NOT IN SEVIS? 

IF ANY APPLICANTS TO AUBURN UNIVERSITY ARE DENIED A VISA OR ARE TOLD THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR APPLICATION FOR A VISA PLEASE READ THROUGH THE MATERIALS ON THIS PAGE AND:

1. SCAN AND EMAIL OR FAX A COPY OF THE DENIAL OR ADVISORY NOTICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE US CONSULATE WHERE YOU APPLIED FOR THE VISA.  SEND US A COPY OF THE ENTIRE CONSULATE EMAIL IF THIS NOTIFICATION WAS DONE BY EMAIL.
    
2. EMAIL OR FAX OIE (INTLEDU@AUBURN.EDU OR FAX 334-844-4983) YOUR NAME, NAMES OF ANY DEPENDENTS WHO ALSO APPLIED, THE DATE AND TIME OF YOUR VISA INTERVIEW AND THE LOCATION OF THE CONSULATE, YOUR AU APPLICATION ID NUMBER AND SEVIS ID NUMBER ON YOUR I-20 OR DS-2019 (IT STARTS WITH THE LETTER "N" RIGHT ABOVE THE BAR CODE ON THE LEFT SIDE).
    
3. PLEASE BE AWARE WE CAN ONLY REVIEW YOUR CASE AND ACTION TO BE TAKEN IF WE RECEIVE THE LISTED INFORMATION.  WE CANNOT TAKE ACTION BASED SOLELY ON AN EMAIL WITH YOUR COMMENTS ON WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE INTERVIEW.  EVERY CONSULATE HAS SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN REASON FOR YOUR DENIAL OR REFERRAL FOR MORE INFORMATION, WE MUST SEE THIS SO WE DETERMINE HOW TO ASSIST YOU.

READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY, although you may be from a different country please note the information IS relevant to all countries:

From NAFSA Association of International Educators web site:

        Advice for Students and Scholars applying for non-immigrant visas.

Reminder regarding visa refusal procedures. June 12, 2001 DOS cable reminding consular posts of current rules that must be followed by consular officers when they are considering refusing a visa.

Student and exchange visitor refusals: a quick overview. February 26, 2001 DOS cable reminding consular posts of Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) guidelines on granting and refusing F, M, and J visas, and advising consular officers to avoid improper visa denials.

Additional information on visa denials and other questions are provided on the State Department Visa Office's "FAQ" page at: http://travel.state.gov/vo_faq.html.

NOTE 7/02/2003: The following information should be read with great care as visa issuance procedures are changing however the information provided will give you invaluable background into the process and history of visa issuance.

Please note that this information although compiled a year or more ago remains generally informative at this time.  Read the references and other links for background and advice on both the application policy as well as denials and refusals.  Often information may be located at different embassies or consulates around the world rather than in the specific country where the problem is occurring, in general ALL consulates use the same approach to evaluating visa applications and making denials/refusals.  Read the information carefully on how to apply and prepare for the visa application and interview, understand what the applicant must do to prove eligibility for the visa.

• Summary of visa problems in India (11/23/02)
   
• added 5-30-02
  VISA Denial Information from State Department (DOS Foreign Affairs Manual, US Consulate sites Moscow, Australia, United Kingdom) The guidelines for visa issuance are detailed in the United States law governing visas, the Immigration and Nationality Act. A person is eligible for a nonimmigrant visa if he or she meets the criteria for one of the 18 visa categories. When the applicant does not meet the criteria he/she is refused under a specific section of the INA. While there are several types of refusals which the consular officer may use, the two following are the most frequently used. Questions like the following are answered on the abovementioned sites and sites below: "WHAT IS SECTION 214(b)? WHAT CONSTITUTES A "PERMANENT RESIDENCE" OR "STRONG TIE"? WHO CAN INFLUENCE THE CONSULAR OFFICER TO REVERSE A DECISION? WHAT IS SECTION 221(g)?"
   
• Other sources of valuable information for everyone:

                From US embassy China but relevant to all: Five Secrets of Applying for a U.S. Student Visa
             From the US Embassy in China (possibly relevant to all as well):
                   Guidelines prepared to help applicants understand the application process in the People's Republic of China.
             From the US Embassy in China regarding visa denials: U.S. Visa Officers Dispel Rumors

• Information from the US State Department

Student visas to come to the USA
First time applicants for US student visas
What consuls look for
VISA denials - US State Department information
HOW TO APPLY FOR A VISA AT A BORDER POST IF YOU ARE A THIRD COUNTRY NATIONAL PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES OR VISITING CANADA