Hello Nairalanders,

I am writing this as one who once obtained my 1st US visa in 2015, then comes Trump in 2017 and I got denied twice after. I was then schooled on a critical mistake I was making while completing my DS-160 form and I realized that a lot of us make same mistake. I recently corrected my mistake and to God be the glory, I have just gotten my 5-year visa to the US, valid till 2028.

Now you must be asking what is this critical step in the DS-160 form? After completing all the necessary details in the DS-160 form, just before the end of the application, there is provision to write any additional information in the DS-160 form about yourself and your reason to travel. The best thing to detail here is to provide concrete and multiple reasons showing your ties to your home country and reason to return. So what are valid reasons you can include here? The following are possible suggestions I was given:
1. Ties to real estate property and show management of same in country (rental collection, on-going rent, mortgage payments, property in development etc.) - show photos, receipts, titles, statements etc as evidence.
2. Business ownership and current running of the business. Show how US trip can influence the local business. If you are meeting with partners in the US to improve US trade, also highlight that here. Show engagements with US business (emails, call logs). Show evidence of day-to-day operation of your local business, incorporation documents with your name, photos of you working in the business and improtance of the trip to your business.
3. Are you in the civil service? do you have an upcoming promotion exam? have you enrolled for a professional exam? (not IELTS, TOEFL as these show japa tendencies). Exams that will promote working locally. Show evidence of enrollment, previous certifications obtained, CV etc.
4. Support to a relative needing continuous medical care. Though sad but this is an option to include to show ties.
5. Married with kids, show evidence of kids in school, in the middle of the term, results etc.

Please all these above are just suggestive examples and be sure to provide evidence of the above. Properly filling out this section of the DS-160 form is what will ensure that the interviewer has a basis to discuss with you during the interview on your ties to the country. Also note that that if you are buoyant, you can also include a refundable airline return ticket.

Remember, the goal is to ensure that you have a proper interview. The visa officers use this section to determine if it is worth speaking to you during the interview or not. If you don't fill anything in this section, on the day of the interview, expect to hear something like you have not shown enough ties to your home country and at this point they are not at liberty to issue you a visa.

I am curious to read about your success once you improve your applications.

Have a fulfilling weekend.

Cheers everyone.