Applicants who do not qualify for a nonimmigrant visa will receive a blue letter from the consular officer at the end of the interview. This letter indicates that you do not qualify under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
This law states, in part, that every applicant for a nonimmigrant visa “shall be presumed to be an immigrant until (s)he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for a visa, . . .that (s)he is entitled to nonimmigrant status.” This statutory presumption of immigration may be overcome by demonstrating sufficiently strong familial, social, professional, and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after a temporary stay in the United States.
Ties are various aspects of your life that bind you to your country of residence, like your profession, employment, social and family relationships, and properties. All of these factors are considered in the process, and U.S. immigration law requires that the visa application be refused if these strong ties are not apparent.
If the consular officer determines that you are not qualified for a visa under 214(b), you cannot appeal this decision or receive a waiver for your ineligibility. If you feel that you do qualify under the law, you may reapply and speak to a different consular officer. Please note, however, that all consular officers apply the same immigration law to their decisions.
For more information, see our blog post “Social, Family, and Economic Ties.”
The US Embassy will be temporarily closed on Monday, August 27, 2012, to observe the Philippine National Heroes Day holiday.
Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, August 28, 2012.
The embassy will observe Eid il-Fitr from August 20 and Ninoy Aquino Day on August 21. American citizens with non-visa-related appointments will be contacted by our American Citizens Services section when we reopen. Visa applicants can reschedule appointments by visiting Embassy Manila’s Visa Information and Appointment Service online at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph or by calling (632) 982-5555 or (632) 902-8930.
The call center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on U.S. and Philippine holidays. You must have the case number, passport number, and passport expiry date for each applicant (principal applicant and derivative family members) ready when requesting a visa appointment.
Callers in the U.S. should call (214) 571-1600, from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time).
Thank you!
In general, companions of nonimmigrant visa applicants are not allowed to enter the U.S. Embassy compound. A person whose name does not appear on the gate access list will not be allowed to enter the premises. Only nonimmigrant visa applicants with interview appointments are allowed access into the interviewing area.
Applicants with special needs or conditions will be assisted by the Embassy staff. Parents of minor applicants (17 years old and below) and adult children of elderly or disabled applicants are allowed to accompany the applicants to the interview. Upon request, parents of adult applicants (18 years old and above); caregivers or yayas of minor applicants; and sons- or daughters-in-law, relatives, lawyers, or caregivers of elderly or disabled applicants may be allowed to accompany the applicants to the interview, if the request is approved.
The Embassy attempts to expedite the processing of the nonimmigrant visa applications of minors, the elderly, and those with special needs.
Please note: American citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) may not accompany nonimmigrant visa applicants to their interviews, except for applicants who fall into one of the special categories above.
The Consular Section will reopen as normal on Friday, August 10. Appointments will go on as scheduled.
For those applicants whose appointments on August 7, 8, or 9 were canceled: American citizens with non-visa-related appointments will be contacted by our American Citizens Services section when we reopen. Visa applicants can reschedule appointments by visiting Embassy Manila’s Visa Information and Appointment Service online at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph or by calling (632) 982-5555 or (632) 902-8930.
The call center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on U.S. and Philippine holidays. You must have the case number, passport number, and passport expiry date for each applicant (principal applicant and derivative family members) ready when requesting a visa appointment.
Callers in the U.S. should call (214) 571-1600, from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time).
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
The Consular Section is CLOSED Tuesday, August 7, Wednesday, August 8, and Thursday, August 9.
The embassy will not be able to accept applicants on August 7, 8, or 9 due to storm conditions. American citizens with non-visa-related appointments will be contacted by our American Citizens Services section when we reopen. Visa applicants can reschedule appointments by visiting Embassy Manila’s Visa Information and Appointment Service online at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph or by calling (632) 982-5555 or (632) 902-8930.
The call center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on U.S. and Philippine holidays. You must have the case number, passport number, and passport expiry date for each applicant (principal applicant and derivative family members) ready when requesting a visa appointment.
Callers in the U.S. should call (214) 571-1600, from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time).
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Consular services at the U.S. Embassy in Manila will resume on Thursday, August 2, at 10:00 am.
Visa appointments that were canceled by the August 1 closing can be rescheduled through the visa call center at (02) 982-5555 or (02) 902-8930. Applicants for U.S. passport, citizenship, and notary services will be contacted by the Embassy in the coming days for assistance with rescheduling appointments. Alternatively, applicants are welcome to visit our website and book any available appointment online.
All appointment times for August 2 have been re-arranged and will take place three hours later than scheduled:
–06:30 appointments will take place at 09:30
–07:00 appointments will take place at 10:00
–07:30 appointments will take place at 10:30
–08:00 appointments will take place at 11:00
We urge all clients to check the Embassy website before traveling to the compound for updates on the situation.
The Consular Section is CLOSED today, Wednesday, August 1, due to storm conditions that have blocked access to the compound. Applicants for visa services can reschedule their appointments by visiting Embassy Manila’s Visa Information and Appointment Service online at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph or by calling (632) 982-5555 or (632) 902-8930.
The visa call center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on U.S. and Philippine holidays. You must have the case number, passport number, and passport expiry date for each applicant (principal applicant and derivative family members) ready when requesting a visa appointment.
Callers in the U.S. should call (214) 571-1600, from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time).
Applicants for U.S. passport, citizenship, and notary services will be contacted by the Embassy in the coming days for assistance with rescheduling appointments. Alternatively, applicants are welcome to visit our website and book any available appointment online.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
We invite you to continue to access our social media outlets, including Facebook, VISAtisfied Voyager, and the Embassy website, for up-to-the-minute information regarding operations.