How to apply for or renew a US visa after a refusal

If your US visa application has been refused, you cannot appeal the decision, but you may submit a new application at any time. A refusal is not a permanent ban, and many people secure approval on a later attempt after improving their profile and supporting documents.

You will need to begin the entire application process again. In practical terms, this means completing a new DS-160 form, paying the visa application fee again and making fresh appointments at the Visa Applicant Service Centre (CASV) and for the consular interview.

According to the United States Embassy in Brazil, there is no minimum waiting period before submitting another application. You can reapply at any point after the refusal.

The procedure starts by completing a new DS-160 form through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). The form used for the previous application cannot be reused.

In addition, the MRV fee, which is required for the application to be assessed, must be paid again regardless of the reason for the previous refusal.

What changes when you apply for a US visa for the second time

Although nothing prevents you from reapplying immediately, the US Embassy warns that submitting precisely the same information and applying under unchanged circumstances is likely to lead to the same outcome.

For this reason, applicants are advised to show concrete changes to their circumstances in a new application. Examples include a new job, a higher income, stronger ties to Brazil or a more convincing reason for travel.

The consular authorities also stress that any previous refusal must be declared accurately. The DS-160 includes a specific question about visa refusals received in the past.

In this situation, you should answer directly and state that your visa was previously refused. Leaving out this information or providing inaccurate details may affect the new assessment.

The Embassy also advises applicants not to use emotional justifications or attempt to challenge the earlier decision while completing the form.

Errors that can result in a US visa refusal

US consulates also emphasise the importance of carefully reviewing the information submitted. Typing mistakes, conflicting dates and inconsistencies between the form and the documents provided are among the issues frequently identified.

You should check every detail before submission and ensure that all declared information can be supported if additional documents are requested during the process.

Once the new form has been completed and the fee paid, the applicant must book new appointments at the CASV and for the consular interview.

US authorities will assess the application again using the information supplied in the new submission.

According to the US Embassy, every visa application is considered individually and according to the circumstances in place at the time of the interview.

How to apply for or renew a US visa: step-by-step guide

Before starting the process to apply for or renew a US visa, you need to gather certain documents. Most importantly, check that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure date from the United States.

At the US Consulates General in Porto Alegre and Recife, visa applicants must provide one printed colour photograph measuring 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inches) for each applicant. At the other consular posts, the photograph can be taken on site.

If your US visa has expired, you may be able to renew it without an interview, provided it expired no more than 12 months ago. Find out more here.

You do not need to show airline tickets when applying for a visa, and applicants are advised not to buy tickets until they receive their passport containing the visa.

Below, we explain how to apply for a first US visa and how to renew one.

1 – Choose the visa category

Before beginning, it is important to identify which visa category you need. The United States offers around 180 visa types for different purposes. The most common are:

• B1/B2 (Tourism/Business)
• F1 (Students)
• J1 (Exchange programme)
• H1B (Temporary work)

Visit the US Embassy in Brazil website to check which visa is appropriate for your travel purpose.

2 – Complete the DS-160 form

The DS-160 form is mandatory when applying for or renewing a US visa. You must:

• Visit ceac.state.gov
• Complete all requested information carefully. The form must be completed in English, but the page itself provides a tool that translates the questions into Portuguese. Simply click it and select “Portuguese”.
• Write down the confirmation number generated at the end.

Tip: keep this number, as it will be needed during the next stages. It is advisable to print it or take a photograph of it.

3 – Pay the visa fee (MRV)

After completing the DS-160, you must pay the visa application fee, known as the MRV fee. The amount depends on the visa category, but the tourism/business visa (B1-B2) costs US$ 185. Payment can be made by bank payment slip or credit card through the Visa Applicant Service Centre (CASV) website.

4 – Book the appointments

Once the fee has been paid, you need to arrange an appointment to submit your passport. To do so, visit https://ais.usvisa-info.com/pt-br/niv/users/sign_in and select the Visa Applicant Service Centre (CASV) in your area for photograph and fingerprint collection.

The Brazilian cities with US consulates are São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Porto Alegre, in addition to the Embassy in Brasília.

5 – Attend the appointments

On the day of your CASV appointment, take:

• A valid passport and the passport containing your previous visa, if applicable;
• The DS-160 confirmation page, which is important to bring in printed form;
• Proof of MRV fee payment.

For the consular interview, be ready to answer questions about your trip and your ties to Brazil. Take additional documents such as:

• Financial evidence;
• An employer’s letter or proof of student enrolment;
• An income tax return, if you have assets;
• A travel booking, which is not compulsory.

If the visa is approved, your passport will be retained so that the visa can be inserted.

6 – Wait for your passport to be delivered

Following approval, the passport containing the visa will be sent to the registered address or made available for collection at the CASV. The average delivery period is up to 10 working days, although this may vary according to demand at the consular post.

Important tips

• Always provide truthful information in the form and during the interview;
• Book appointments in advance, as demand is high at certain times;
• A US visa does not guarantee entry into the United States, but it makes visiting the country easier.

Now that you know how to apply for or renew a US visa, you only need to start the process and plan your trip!