What does my visa refusal letter mean?
Pick the country and the reason on your letter. You get what it means in plain words and what to do next.
Schengen letters since 2 February 2020 use a form with 17 numbered reasons. Older letters had 11, numbered differently: match those by the wording.
Every reason, in plain words
The official wording comes from the EU's standard refusal form (Visa Code Annex VI ↗), the US Immigration and Nationality Act, and the UK's Appendix V: Visitor ↗.
Schengen refusal form, reason 1
“a false/counterfeit/forged travel document was presented”
The consulate believes your passport or travel document is not genuine.
What to do
This is serious: it is recorded in the Visa Information System that every Schengen consulate can read. Get legal advice before you apply again.
Schengen refusal form, reason 2
“justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not provided”
They could not see why you are going or what you will do there.
What to do
Send a day-by-day plan, bookings that match it, and the invitation, conference or business letter that explains the trip.
Schengen refusal form, reason 3
“you have not provided proof of sufficient means of subsistence”
Your financial evidence did not show enough money for the trip and the journey home.
What to do
Send 3 to 6 months of bank statements, explain any large recent deposit, and if someone else pays, include their letter and their statements.
Schengen refusal form, reason 4
“you have not provided proof that you are in a position to lawfully acquire sufficient means”
They were not convinced your income is real and regular.
What to do
Add payslips, an employment letter, tax returns, or business registration and accounts.
Schengen refusal form, reason 5
“you have already stayed for 90 days during the current 180-day period”
You have used up your 90 days in the last 180.
What to do
Count your days with the 90/180 counter and apply again once enough days have freed up.
Schengen refusal form, reason 6
“an alert has been issued in the Schengen Information System (SIS) for the purpose of refusing entry”
A Schengen country has entered you in its database to be refused entry.
What to do
Ask that country's data protection authority what the alert says; you have a right to see it and to ask for it to be corrected. Get legal advice.
Schengen refusal form, reason 7
“one or more Member States consider you to be a threat to public policy or internal security”
A Schengen country considers you a security risk.
What to do
Rare and serious. Get legal advice before applying again.
Schengen refusal form, reason 8
“one or more Member States consider you to be a threat to public health”
A health concern under the Schengen Borders Code.
What to do
Rare. Ask the consulate what evidence would address it.
Schengen refusal form, reason 9
“one or more Member States consider you to be a threat to their international relations”
A diplomatic concern.
What to do
Rare. Get legal advice.
Schengen refusal form, reason 10
“the information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable”
They did not believe the reason you gave for the trip.
What to do
Make every document consistent and easy to check. Bookings that look made only for the application raise doubts.
Schengen refusal form, reason 11
“there are reasonable doubts as to the reliability of the statements made”
Something you said or wrote did not match the rest of your file.
What to do
Check your form, cover letter and documents against each other before you reapply.
Schengen refusal form, reason 12
“there are reasonable doubts as to the reliability, as to the authenticity of the supporting documents submitted or as to the veracity of their contents”
They doubted that a document was genuine, or that what it says is true.
What to do
Send only originals or certified copies the consulate can verify. A false document can lead to a ban.
Schengen refusal form, reason 13
“there are reasonable doubts as to your intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa”
The commonest reason: they were not convinced of your intention to leave and go home.
What to do
Show your ties at home: an employer's letter approving leave, your business, family, property, and earlier trips you came back from.
Schengen refusal form, reason 14
“sufficient proof that you have not been in a position to apply for a visa in advance justifying application for a visa at the border, was not provided”
You applied at the border without showing why you could not apply earlier.
What to do
Apply at a consulate in advance next time.
Schengen refusal form, reason 15
“justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended airport transit was not provided”
Your airport transit was not explained.
What to do
Show the onward ticket and the visa or entry right for your final destination.
Schengen refusal form, reason 16
“you have not provided proof of possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance”
No travel medical insurance, or not enough cover.
What to do
Buy cover of at least €30,000, valid in the whole Schengen area for your whole stay, and send the certificate.
Schengen refusal form, reason 17
“revocation of the visa was requested by the visa holder”
You asked for your own visa to be cancelled.
What to do
Nothing to fix. This one cannot be appealed.
US refusal under INA 214(b)
Not convinced you will return
The officer was not persuaded that you will leave the US at the end of your trip. It is a judgement about your situation, not a finding that you did anything wrong.
What to do
You can reapply at any time and pay again, but only change helps: a new job, more travel, stronger ties. The same file rarely gets a different answer.
US refusal under INA 221(g)
Application incomplete or under review
A 221(g) is not a no: your application is missing a document or needs more checks.
What to do
Send exactly what the slip lists. You have one year; after that you must reapply and pay again.
US refusal under INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i)
Misrepresentation
The officer found that you lied or used a false document to get a visa or entry. This ineligibility is permanent.
What to do
Only a waiver can overcome it for a visitor visa. Get advice from a US immigration lawyer before applying again.
US refusal under INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)
Unlawful presence bar
You overstayed in the US before. More than 180 days brings a 3-year bar; a year or more, a 10-year bar.
What to do
Wait out the bar, or ask a lawyer whether a waiver applies.
UK refusal under Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(a)
Not satisfied you will leave
The officer was not satisfied that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit.
What to do
Show what brings you home: your job and approved leave, business, family, property, and earlier visits you returned from.
UK refusal under V 4.2(b)
Living in the UK through visits
Your past or planned visits suggest you would live in the UK for long periods or make it your main home.
What to do
Explain your pattern of visits and show your life is based at home.
UK refusal under V 4.2(c)
Purpose not genuine or not permitted
The officer did not accept that you are visiting for a purpose the Visitor route allows.
What to do
State the purpose clearly and back it with the invitation, booking or event letter.
UK refusal under V 4.2(d)
Prohibited activities
The officer thought you might work or do something else visitors may not do.
What to do
Make clear what you will and will not do; a business visit must stay within the permitted activities.
UK refusal under V 4.2(e)
Not enough money
Your evidence did not show enough funds for all reasonable costs of the visit.
What to do
Send bank statements that show the money has been yours for a while, explain any large deposit, and show your income.
UK refusal under V 4.3
Third-party support not shown
Someone else is paying, but the officer was not satisfied they can and will.
What to do
Include their letter, their relationship to you, proof of their status in the UK, and their bank statements.
UK refusal under V 3.1 (Part Suitability)
Suitability
A suitability refusal, for example for false information or not declaring a previous refusal.
What to do
This can lead to future applications being refused for several years. Get advice from a regulated immigration adviser before applying again.
After any refusal
- Schengen: you can appeal (the deadline and the authority are on your letter) or apply again with the weak point fixed. How appeals work →
- US: there is no appeal. You can reapply; only a real change helps. What to do next →
- UK: a visitor visa refusal has no appeal or administrative review. Apply again with evidence for each point the letter raises. What to do next →
Questions people ask
What is the most common Schengen refusal reason?
Doubt about your intention to leave before the visa expires (reason 13 on the current form), followed by an unclear purpose and not enough money.
Is a US 221(g) a refusal?
Technically yes, but it means your case is incomplete or under review. Most 221(g) cases end in a visa once the requested document is sent.
Can I appeal a UK visitor visa refusal?
No. There is no right of appeal or administrative review for visitor visas. You can apply again with stronger evidence.