Can You Reapply After a US Visa Rejection? Complete Guide

Yes, You Can Reapply – There is no official limit on how many times you can apply for a U.S. visa after a rejection. However, reapplying without addressing the initial reason for refusal will likely lead to another rejection.

1. Understand the Reason for Rejection

• When your interview is finished the officer should give you a letter that says which part of the Immigration and Nationality Act the decision is based on. The Immigration and Nationality Act is what they use to make these decisions. The letter should tell you exactly which section of the Immigration and Nationality Act applies to your situation.

• Section 214(b) is usually the reason they give. This is when you do not show that you have ties to your home country like a job your family or a house. The officer thinks that you might just stay in the United States forever so they say you failed to prove your ties, to your home country like your job, your family or your property.

• Section 221(g): This is a "soft refusal." It means your application is incomplete or needs "Administrative Processing."

2. No Appeal for Tourist/Student Visa Rejections

For non-immigrant visas (like B1/B2 or F1), there is no formal appeal process. You cannot ask a court or a higher authority to overturn the officer’s decision. Your only recourse is to submit a brand-new application.

3. When Should You Reapply.

• You can try to apply the next day if you want to but most of the time it is not a good idea. Applying for something again soon is usually not the best thing to do. The thing is, reapplying for something the day is rarely a good plan.

• Wait for Change: If you were rejected under 214(b) you should wait until something big happens in your life. This could be getting a job making more money finishing your degree or owning a new property. When you have something like this it can make a difference. So wait until you have a change, in your life like a new job or a higher salary or you have completed your degree or you own a new property.

• Timeline: Many experts suggest waiting 3 to 6 months unless you have a clear error to correct or a time-sensitive reason (like a rescheduled university start date).

4. Do You Have To Pay For The Visa Fee .

• Yes. Every time you submit an application you have to pay the MRV fee. The MRV fee is, for a Machine Visa. So when you apply you need to pay this MRV fee each time.

• The cost now for the year 2026 is that, for B1 and B2 and F1 visas the basic fee is still 185 dollars.

• India Update: Note that for certain 10-year visas from India, a "Visa Integrity Fee" may now apply, though the base application fee for the interview remains the standard non-refundable amount.

5. Should you fill out a form called the DS-160

• You have to fill out a brand DS-160 form. The old one will not work. You need to do a new DS-160 form.

• Do not try to reuse the old confirmation number.

• Important: You must be honest on the new form. There is a question asking if you have ever been refused a U.S. visa. You must answer "Yes" and provide a brief, factual explanation.

6. Is Second-Time Approval Possible

Absolutely. Many people are approved on their second or third attempt. The key is to address the specific concerns the first officer had. If they doubted your finances, bring better bank statements. If they doubted your job, bring a letter from your employer confirming your return date.

7. Special Case: 221(g) Administrative Processing

• If you get a 221(g) letter this does not mean you are rejected. You still have a chance with your application. The 221(g) letter is, like a wait list. You are not rejected yet you just have to do something for your application to move forward with the 221(g) process.

• Action Required: Normally you do not need to fill out the application or pay another fee. You just need to provide the documents that the letter is asking for. The letter will tell you what documents you need to give, which are the documents requested in the letter.

• The wait time, for this is really unpredictable. It can take a weeks.. It can take several months. The wait time is different every time.

• The 1-Year Rule: You typically have one year to submit the missing documents before the application is officially closed and you are forced to start over from scratch.

Good Luck.