For those planning to travel or live in the United States, the American visa application is the first step. But this stage requires a lot of attention, as a simple detail can turn your dream into frustration.
Those who choose to do this on their own often make mistakes such as lack of important documentation, poorly done translations, among others that can result in the refusal of your visa.
Today you’ll understand what are the most common errors in visa applications and why relying on a company specialized in international planning can make all the difference. We always recommend consulting with properly licensed attorneys in the United States to handle visa-related matters.
Why Details Matter in a Visa Application
In a visa application, every detail counts because USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) evaluates each document with meticulous rigor. The agency requires clear evidence, compatible dates, and totally coherent information across all forms.
In the case of visas like EB-2 NIW, for example, a simple discrepancy between the issuance date of a diploma and the period stated in the resume is enough to raise suspicions. Similarly, literal translations of technical terms can distort the original meaning of a report or article, causing the immigration officer to question your experience and knowledge.
In times of artificial intelligence, many people think that making a visa application with the support of AI tools can make the process easier and more economical. However, these tools don’t deeply understand the subtleties required by USCIS.
This false sense of practicality often generates errors that are only noticed late, and correcting documentary inconsistencies in the final stretch can cost much more time and money than having relied on a planning company for those wanting to live abroad.
Ensure a journey without surprises. Visit D4U Immigration’s website and talk to our team.
Main Errors in Self-Prepared Petitions
Inconsistencies in Documentary Evidence
It’s common to find cases where the completion certificate of a postgraduate course has an issuance date later than the period of academic activities described in the resume. This causes the immigration officer to question whether the candidate really completed the program or if there was an attempt to “adjust” the dates.
Similarly, professional experience letters that declare two years of work in a company, but whose dates don’t match the official employment contract or FGTS (Brazilian severance fund) proofs, raise doubts about the veracity of the information.
Another classic example involves bank statements and income proofs. Imagine someone who declares a monthly average of R$ 8,000 to prove financial capacity, but only attaches three statements, all with transactions below R$ 4,000.
This discrepancy leads USCIS to question whether there was omission of accounts or use of third-party documents, a scenario that often results in immediate denial.
Inaccurate Translations
Translation tools or even artificial intelligence usually translate technical terms literally, without considering legal or professional jargon.
For example, when the concept of “business incorporation” is reduced to “incorporação de negócios”, the immigration officer is unsure if you actually founded a company or just participated in a merger process.
Similarly, converting “equity stake” to “apoio de capital” might give the impression that you received a loan, instead of having acquired equity participation in a startup.
In the field of research, the literal translation of “field trial” as “teste de campo” often obscures the fact that it’s an advanced clinical trial, essential for visas related to the health field.
In D4U Club, our translations go through technical review stages ensuring that your visa application accurately reflects your skills and avoids any misunderstandings about your experience.
Incomplete or Disorganized Documents
When a package of documents arrives without any organization, the immigration officer wastes time looking for the right evidence, and this time counts against you.
In self-prepared petitions, we’ve seen cases where the applicant sent recommendation letters mixed with rent receipts, without indicating which document proves employment and which was just a proof of residence. Without a clear index, the evaluator needs to flip through dozens of pages to find what’s relevant.
In another situation, a candidate scanned bank statements in reverse chronological order and didn’t even label which bank account each file represents. Result: the officer didn’t know if the transactions corresponded to the personal account or the company account, and ended up requesting new documents, delaying the process by months.
There are also those who send complete academic project reports, often with 30 or 40 pages, without highlighting the sections that prove their contributions or without separating attachments by subject.
A careful presentation is crucial. Create a simple index, number the attachments, and include quick notes on the relevance of each item. This attention to detail conveys professionalism and avoids rework.
At D4U, each document is organized into thematic folders and reviewed before being sent, ensuring that the visa application is evaluated quickly and clearly.
Rely on D4u and Avoid these Mistakes
Completing a visa application requires much more than gathering documents: it requires strategy, precision, and an informed vision that connects each piece of information to the desired goal.
When you try to do everything on your own, you risk missing subtle details that can result in denial, delays, and unexpected costs.
With the popularization of AI tools, many try to automate complex processes, which, in the case of visas, can be a big risk and turn into a series of errors, corrections, and rework.
At D4U, each step of your process is reviewed by those who understand the nuances of USCIS, such as the organization of attachments.
Here, we’ve already helped many professionals avoid these pitfalls, and we can do the same for you. Talk to our team and discover the difference D4U makes.
