I will be attending a well-known (obviously not YC) accelerator in US in the fall. But my B1 visa was just denied under section 214b, for apparently "not having convincing reason to returning". What are my options here? Would appreciate help from any immigrant entrepreneurs out there.
Accepted to a well-known accelerator in Fall, but B1 visa to the US denied
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Re: Accepted to a well-known accelerator in Fall, but B1 visa to the US denied
#2Unfortunately after a denial it is much harder to apply again as they'll check your previous application and look for alterations (i.e. lies or additions).
A business accelerator doesn't really fall into any one visa category well. Is it a 2-3 month "business meeting" (i.e. B-1), is it educational (i.e. F-1), or even a "short course" eligible under a travel visa (B-2)? All of the above?
The reason you got denied is as it says, and while you can re-apply providing more evidence it will be an uphill battle. You just have to show WHY you'll be returning home (e.g. family, a job, other obligations)? By any chance did you list yourself as self-employed, rather than an employee of your own company? They hate self-employed people and often treat them as "unemployed."
Re: Accepted to a well-known accelerator in Fall, but B1 visa to the US denied
#3Sorry to hear that. You are better off talking to the accelerator and see if they could move you to another batch. B1 visa is a tricky visa. You need to have clear reasons for returning back to your country. You can show them any liquid and non-liquid asset that you own, maybe an inc. company,etc.
Re: Accepted to a well-known accelerator in Fall, but B1 visa to the US denied
#4What country are you from? Is the visa waiver program available to you?
Re: Accepted to a well-known accelerator in Fall, but B1 visa to the US denied
#5They want to see ties to your current country, i.e., reasons why you NEED to leave the US to return after your accelerator program is complete. Do you have a lease? Are you a current student? Do you have family remaining in your home country? Do you have other non-negotiable responsibilities in your home country?
B1 is a non-immigrant visa; you need to convince them that you are not going to attempt to immigrate.
Re: Accepted to a well-known accelerator in Fall, but B1 visa to the US denied
#6Where are you from? Why did you apply for a B visa instead of taking a tourist visa (or visa waiver)?
Re: Accepted to a well-known accelerator in Fall, but B1 visa to the US denied
#7They want to see ties to your current country, i.e., reasons why you NEED to leave the US to return after your accelerator program is complete. Do you have a lease? Are you a current student? Do you have family remaining in your home country? Do you have other non-negotiable responsibilities in your home country? B1 is a non-immigrant visa; you need to convince them that you are not going to attempt to immigrate.
Interesting. So if you decide to immigrate with B1, you have to do so illegally, right? And in this case your only option is blue collar jobs. But someone with enough knowledge and skills who is able to get into some accelerator program obviously won't go for these kind of jobs...
But in case if it is possible to legally immigrate with B1, then what's the problem?
Re: Accepted to a well-known accelerator in Fall, but B1 visa to the US denied
#8They want to see ties to your current country, i.e., reasons why you NEED to leave the US to return after your accelerator program is complete. Do you have a lease? Are you a current student? Do you have family remaining in your home country? Do you have other non-negotiable responsibilities in your home country? B1 is a non-immigrant visa; you need to convince them that you are not going to attempt to immigrate.
Interesting. So if you decide to immigrate with B1, you have to do so illegally, right? And in this case your only option is blue collar jobs. But someone with enough knowledge and skills who is able to get into some accelerator program obviously won't go for these kind of jobs... But in case if it is possible to legally immigrate with B1, then what's the problem?
If you decide to immigrate with a B1, you generally have to return home first and apply for an immigrant visa, unless you fall into a category whereby you can immediately file for an Adjustment of Status (which is almost certain to cause red flags to go up at USCIS).
There are certain visa classes that are considered "dual-intent"[1], meaning that you can have the intent to immigrate while obtaining a formally non-immigrant visa. One such visa is the K-1 fiance(e) visa, which allows one to enter the United States for the purpose of marrying one's US Citizen fiance(e) within 90 days and subsequently applying for an Adjustment of Status (i.e. green card). The B class is not one of these, so you need to overcome the immigration / CBP officer's presumption that you intent to immigrate[2].
OP: Note that you are free to reapply for the visa; make sure you read the instructions on the form and fulfill the evidence requirements as much as possible.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_intent
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_visa#Requirement_to_overcome_...
Re: Accepted to a well-known accelerator in Fall, but B1 visa to the US denied
#9Where are you from? Why did you apply for a B visa instead of taking a tourist visa (or visa waiver)?
B is the tourist / work visa class, and not every country is on the visa waiver program.
Re: Accepted to a well-known accelerator in Fall, but B1 visa to the US denied
#10What country are you from? Is the visa waiver program available to you?
Even if your country is a participant in the VWP program, once you got denied a visa you're no longer eligible for entry under the VWP