Visa trap: why Ukrainians are denied a US visa even with perfect documents

After some Ukrainians in the United States received emails with erroneous deportation orders , the topic of legal residence and obtaining visas became even more acute.

In this article, we find out why even a perfect package of documents does not guarantee a visa. How behavior during the interview, activity on social networks and even subjective impressions can influence the consul's decision. Visa expert Galina Perederiy explains to LIGA.Life what nuances you should pay attention to in order to reduce risks and not lose the chance for a positive answer.

Main reasons for US visa refusals

— What are visa refusals most often associated with, when it would seem that everything is fine with the documents ?

— Unfortunately, documents are only part of the story. Often the reason lies in the general impression, the discrepancy between what is written in the questionnaire and how a person behaves or answers questions. The consul evaluates the whole picture: the logic of the trip, the connection with the homeland, previous trips — even if the documents are "perfect", the general puzzle may not work. For example: refusal — all documents are "perfect", the woman indicated that she was going to her brother, a US citizen, although her husband is also there, but under the password U4U.

— Does it happen that a person is rejected because of their behavior during an interview, even if the package of documents is impeccable ?

— Yes, and it happens more often than you think. Confidence, sincerity, calmness are no less important than bank statements. If a person is confused in their story, looks too nervous or, conversely, too self-confident, this can be alarming. We always talk through the "script" of the interview, because this is a key stage. You don't need to tell what you weren't asked for, add about a great job and high earnings.

— How big a role does the "subjective factor" play — for example, the impression you made ?

— Huge. The human factor is not a myth. The consul makes a decision in a few minutes, and often intuitively. It is important that you not only have documents, but that everything looks organic: your story, goal, plans, communication style. I always advise you to prepare as if you were preparing for an important job interview.

— Can personal social media pages influence visa decisions ? If so, how ?

— Yes, of course they can. This is not always checked, but there are cases when the consul sees discrepancies — for example, in the application form the applicant writes that he works as an accountant, and on Instagram — a full-time travel blogger, or indicates that he works as a fitness trainer, but in reality — a development coach, or simply makes posts about how they dream of getting to the USA, joining many groups about immigration. This raises questions.

I always recommend checking social media for compliance with the questionnaire and avoiding excessive displays of luxury or double messages.

— Are there any "red flags" that immediately raise suspicion, even if all the documents look convincing ?

— Yes. For example: too short a period of work at the current place, newly opened sole proprietorship, recently obtained passport, traveling alone without a logical purpose, weak connection with the country of residence. This does not necessarily lead to a refusal, but it is precisely such moments that we bring to the surface and reinforce through other evidence.

— What "invisible" risks are most often underestimated by applicants ?

— Incorrect dates in the application form, questionable travel history, previous visa refusals, even if they were 10 years ago. And also — when the story looks "fixed". We always conduct a full audit of the client's history to find and neutralize these "invisible" moments.

Typical applicant mistakes

— What are the main mistakes Ukrainians make when applying for a visa?

— First of all, this is an overestimation of one's capabilities — and at the same time an underestimation of the importance of preparing documents and filling out questionnaires incorrectly. People often provide incomplete or contradictory data, for example, indicating that they are going to visit US citizens, and their loved ones, say, a spouse/parents, are in the US on political asylum.

Another common mistake is to provide too large packages of documents without structure, which complicates the verification and arouses suspicions of the consul. I would also like to note that people often do not fully understand the requirements for a particular type of visa, and trying to "adjust" real circumstances to a favorable scenario looks very fake and unnatural.

— What documents most often raise doubts among consuls?

— Although consuls do not officially require any documents when applying for a visa, the applicant must be prepared to prove their strong ties to their homeland. The biggest questions arise when the documents provided look unconvincing or contradictory. For example, financial documents with unrealistically high amounts can arouse suspicion, especially if they do not correspond to the applicant's general standard of living. Doubts also arise due to unstable bank statements, sudden movements of funds before applying for a visa, poorly executed employment certificates without signatures, seals or with unclear contacts.

The influence of past experience

— How can previous trips help in obtaining a visa?

— Having a history of travel to countries with strict visa regimes (e.g. UK, Canada, Japan, Australia...) significantly increases the credibility of the applicant. This demonstrates that the person returned home after traveling abroad and did not violate the rules of stay. In my practice, candidates with a rich "clean" travel experience had a higher percentage of successful decisions.

— Can problems with previous visas affect new applications?

— Yes, absolutely. Past refusals, canceled visas, overstays — all of this is reflected in the system and affects further decisions. Even if at the time of the new application a person already has different circumstances (for example, a new job or family), past violations will still be considered critically. It is very important to submit a new case correctly and provide explanations to minimize risks.

Current situation for Ukrainians

— How has the visa policy for Ukrainians changed after 2022?

— After the start of the full-scale war, the United States and other countries showed greater openness in many humanitarian and immigration programs, in particular, programs such as Uniting for Ukraine were launched. However, at the same time, for non-immigrant visas (tourism, study, work), the approach remained quite strict: consuls more carefully assess the potential immigration risk. It is important for Ukrainians to clearly demonstrate the temporary nature of their intentions when applying for non-immigrant visas.

Tips before the interview

— What are some tips for successfully passing an interview with a consul?

— The most important thing is to be honest, clear, and confident. Answer the questions directly, don't try to "make up" the story. It's good to understand your purpose of the trip and briefly explain it. It's worth avoiding unnecessary emotions, demonstrating a connection to Ukraine (work, family, property), and being ready to justify why you'll return home. From experience, I can say that persuasiveness and sincerity are often more important than documents.