If my F-1 student visa application is denied, can Walden University get it approved?

Unfortunately, Walden University cannot intervene at the U.S. Embassy on a student’s behalf. It is entirely at the discretion of the consular officer whether to issue a visa or not. You can learn more about visa denials at the U.S. State Department website, U.S. Visas – Visa Denials, http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/denials.html. If you intend to apply again, we have a few suggestions. Please understand that these suggestions have been learned from our observations of student experiences and cannot guarantee that you will be granted a student visa on your second try.

Other options for you may have included attending your residency abroad since Walden’s residency calendar for many doctoral programs includes at least one academic residency outside the U.S. each year. PhD students also have the option to attend residency 2 and residency 4 virtually. If you are interested in these alternative options to U.S. residencies, please contact your Student Success Advisor to see how they may fit into your degree progress. For tips on successfully applying for a student visa, please read on.

The two most important things a consular officer looks for are proof of ties to your home country and honesty in the applicant. Proof of ties often means a job that you will return too, immediate family in your home country, and financial stability shown in the ownership of a house, car, savings account, etc. Honesty is important as the consular officer must trust that the applicant isn’t hiding any information that could potential harm American people while the applicant is visiting the U.S.

In addition, you may have issues if you:

• Try to bring your entire family with you on your F-1 student status
• Apply for the visa in a country that is not your country of citizenship

Finally, during the interview make sure to dress professionally, speak politely, smile and make eye contact with the consular officer. Walden can also send a letter of verification with your specific program information explaining the purpose and validity of Walden’s academic residencies within your degree program. Please email [email protected] if you feel you need a verification letter for support.