One common fear you may have after applying for a visa is the fear of visa rejection. Many visa applicants get a couple of things wrong when applying for a visa.
In this article, I will guide you on how to improve your chances of visa approval.
Key takeaways:
How to improve your chances of visa approval:
- Choose the right visa type and know the documents needed.
- Prepare all your visa application documents.
- Demonstrate that you have enough money to fund your trip and stay through documents.
- Show you have reasons to come back to Nigeria.
- Prepare and practice for your visa interview.
- Apply for your visa on time and review your documents before submitting.
What are the reasons why visas get rejected?
Here are the 7 most common reasons why visas get rejected.
- Incomplete or wrongly filled application forms
- Expired or invalid passport
- False documents
- Insufficient proof of funds
- Weak connection to Nigeria (home country)
- Unclear purpose of travel
- Bad criminal record or previous visa violations
How to improve your chances of visa approval
Here are 6 ways to improve your chances of visa approval on your next visa application.
Choosing the right visa type and understanding its requirements
Before applying for a visa, carefully research what visa category matches your purpose of travel.
For example, if you are traveling to Canada to further your education, you would need a student visa, which, for a country like Canada, you would need your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL), which is a letter from the province or territory where you plan to study, and your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Canadian school.
When you are going for something like a music festival, you would need a tourist visa.
You need to research the right category and its requirements, or contact a visa agent. This ensures you don’t submit a mismatched or incomplete application.
Prepare a Clear and Complete Application Package
Gathering all the necessary documents needed for your visa application is how to improve your chances of visa approval.
- Valid passport
- Completed application form
- Recent passport photos
- Detailed travel itinerary (Schengen visa, US visas, such as B1/B2 tourist types, and other visa types)
- Accommodation and travel bookings
- 6-month bank statement with a balance that covers your trip and extra
- Other relevant supporting documents
Having all the needed documents is essential for your visa application to be approved.
Demonstrate Financial Stability & Ability to Support Your Stay
Getting your bank statement and financial records can go a long way in ensuring your visa is approved.
This will prove to the visa officer that you are capable of footing the bills for the trip and don’t have any ulterior motive. This statement must be from a recognised bank.
If a huge amount of money was paid into your bank account just before you started the application, it could be deemed suspicious and seem like borrowed money. If you are an employee, showing your work leave from your employer can also help get your visa approved.
Show Strong Ties to Nigeria and Clear Intent to Return
Always include a copy of your marriage certificate and birth certificates of your family members, or even your employment letter, when applying for a visa, as they give assurance to the visa officer that you are not an immigrant but a visitor and would stick to your visa.
You should provide your employment letter that shows your job title, salary, start date, leave approval, or expected return date to prove that you will return to Nigeria.
Prepare and Practice for Your Visa Interview (If Required)
You may be put through an interview at the consulate of your desired country of visit in Nigeria or at their embassy in their own country. This is an important process that determines if your visa will be approved, so it has to be taken seriously.
You need to research the common questions they ask, and practice answering them honestly and confidently.
You should be confident and prepared, and your answers should be consistent and polite. Don’t forget you need to dress well and arrive on time.
Apply on time, review all your documents, be patient, and submit with confidence
Ensure you always apply on time, as it reduces pressure on you and reduces mistakes. It also allows you to appeal denials if you get denied your visa.
Review all your documents carefully, and ensure all the necessary documents are included without any mistakes. Then submit your documents confidently.
Bonus tip: Build your travel history before applying for visas
Your travel history is an important part of getting your visa approved or not.
You should build a good travel history by visiting visa-free countries like Ghana or easy visa-on-arrival countries like the Maldives.
This tells the visa issuing officer, you will come back to Nigeria, and you are going there for the purpose you stated.
How to get your Canada visa approved
To get your Canadian visa approved, you must prove strong ties to your home country (job, family, assets) to show you’ll leave, demonstrate sufficient funds, have a clear purpose for visiting, and provide honest, complete documentation like a valid passport, bank statements, and employment letters, all submitted via the IRCC online portal for review by immigration officers who look for consistency and truthfulness.
Key Steps & Requirements
- Determine Eligibility: Ensure you meet basic criteria: a valid passport, good health, no criminal record, and intent to leave Canada.
- Create an IRCC Account: Start your application online through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
- Gather Strong Documentation:
- Identity: Valid passport, old passports showing travel history.
- Financial: Bank statements (6+ months), salary slips, employment letter with earnings, or business registration, proving you can afford your trip.
- Ties to Home: Employment letter, property deeds, family documents (marriage/birth certificates), showing reasons to return.
- Purpose of Visit: Flight/hotel bookings (reservations are fine), and a detailed Cover Letter explaining your trip.
- Write a Convincing Cover Letter: Directly address the visa officer, clearly stating your purpose, financial stability, and strong ties (family, job, property) that ensure your return.
- Submit & Pay: Complete online forms, pay fees, and upload documents.
- Biometrics: Book and attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) for fingerprints and photos if required.
- Medical/Police Certificates: Get these if requested by the visa office.
Tips for Approval
- Be Honest & Consistent: Mismatched dates or exaggerated claims can lead to refusal.
- Show Economic Stability: Prove you have a good job or business in your home country.
- Strong Ties are Key: Emphasize family, property, or ongoing employment to convince officers you’ll leave.
- Address Red Flags: Use the cover letter to explain any bank statement issues or name discrepancies upfront.
How to know your visa has been approved?
To know if your visa is approved, check the official government website (like ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx for U.S. visas) using your case or receipt number, track online via the Visa Application Centre (VAC) with your reference number (like VFS Global for some), watch for email/SMS updates, or contact the embassy/VAC directly for status updates. Approval often shows as “Approved” then “Issued” on the status tracker.
How to increase your chances of getting a us visa?
To increase your US visa chances, prove strong ties to your home country (job, family, property), show sufficient funds/financial stability, be honest & accurate, have a clear purpose & itinerary, and be confident & concise in your interview, focusing on your intent to return. Organize documents well and research your specific visa category thoroughly.
Before the visa Interview
- Research Visa Type: Understand the requirements for your specific visa (tourism, study, work).
- Complete DS-160 Accurately: Fill out the online form with truthful, detailed, and consistent information; download a copy for reference.
- Gather Strong Evidence of Ties:
- Employment: Letter from employer, pay stubs, tax docs.
- Family: Marriage/birth certificates.
- Assets: Property deeds, business ownership.
- Prove Financial Stability: Show consistent bank statements, not large recent deposits; have funds for your trip.
- Create a Clear Plan: Detailed itinerary, confirmed hotel bookings, and valid addresses.
During the Interview
- Be Honest & Direct: Answer truthfully and briefly; avoid lengthy or confusing explanations.
- Demonstrate Intent to Return: Emphasize your stable life, commitments, and reasons to go back home.
- Show Confidence: Maintain eye contact, have a slight smile, and present clearly.
- Speak for Yourself: Answer questions in your own words, especially if you’re a student.
- Bring Organized Docs: Have originals and copies ready, organized for easy review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Be honest, clear, and confidently explain your purpose of travel with proof to back it up.
That’s what impresses a visa officer the most.
Submit complete, truthful documents that clearly prove your purpose of travel, your financial ability, and your strong ties to Nigeria.
Show clear proof that you have enough money to fund your trip and strong reasons to return to Nigeria after your visit.
Incomplete or false documents, weak financial proof, and a lack of strong ties to Nigeria.
Provide complete, honest documents that clearly show your purpose of travel, your financial ability, and strong ties to Nigeria.
Avoid mistakes or inconsistencies in your application by being truthful, submitting all required documents, and proving you will return after your trip.
CONCLUSION
Before you submit your visa application, ensure you are prepared to answer possible interview questions confidently and have included all the documents to answer questions on the visa officer’s mind.
Finally, you have to be patient as it could take a while. If all your information and details are correctly put together, you have a great chance of getting your visa approved, as your approval depends more on your preparation than luck.
