In many countries, you are required to get a visa if you wish to travel to the United States. In certain countries, it is generally easy to acquire this visa as long as you can prove that you will only be in the U.S. for a short period of time and are coming to America with a very specific purpose. The American government is very wary to allow some foreign nationals into the U.S. if they suspect that the traveler intends to stay in the country.

Every year, many individuals come into the U.S. on temporary visas, but then outstay their visa and lay low, hoping to stay under the radar. Part of the most recent immigration reform bill suggests implementing higher security measures and monitoring all visa carriers in the U.S. closely. This way, the U.S. can identify individuals that may have violated the terms and the duration of their visa and are planning to remain in the U.S.

There are also some countries where the U.S. has simply chosen to restrict visas in hopes that they will be able to limit immigrants from those countries. In February, the U.S. Department of State released statistics showing the percentages of applicants from various countries that have been denied tourist or visitor visas within the past few years. The refusal rates in some countries are overwhelming, and the majority of applicants in various countries receive a "no" when they apply for a visa.

For example, Micronesia, Serbia, and Montenegro residents are not allowed in the United States. The refusal rate for visas in this county currently rests at 100%. Anyone from that country that simply wants to visit the U.S. or come as tourist is not allowed in. Part of the reason for this strict enforcement is the concern that individuals from these countries will overstay their visa because they are from impoverished nations. If many visa applicants were approved for travel, they may all remain in America and the immigration populations would surge.

Other countries may not have a 100% refusal rating, but they certainly don't have a lot of travelers coming into the U.S. in Somalia, 65.8% of all applicants are denied and in Afghanistan 62.7% of all applicants are not allowed into the country. As well, 62.6% of all visa applicants from Djibouti and 61.8% from Ghana are denied. 61.4% from Laos, 61.1% from Cuba, and 59% from Liberia are told that they cannot enter the U.S.

In addition, 53.7% of applicants from Tajikistan and 52.7% from Burundi are denied applications. In Mauritania, only 50% of all applicants are allowed a visa. If you are petitioning for a visa to the U.S. from a different country, then you may want to hire a lawyer to assist you with the process. Also, if you are in the U.S. and are facing issues with your visa, contact a local immigration lawyer for help resolving these complications.