Visa denied, help
Hello,
I am a U.S. citizen currently petitioning for my mother to immigrate to the United States through consular processing. She recently attended her immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in France with all required documentation, but the case was denied within minutes because they stated that my income did not meet the financial requirements.
I am an active-duty service member and spent most of last year deployed in a combat zone, meaning a large portion of my income was tax-free and therefore not fully reflected on my tax return. My tax transcripts only show around $13,000 in taxable income, but I provided a full year of LES/pay statements along with a letter explaining that my actual earnings exceeded the minimum income requirement. Unfortunately, the officer refused to review those documents before issuing the denial.
I’m now trying to understand what options I have to challenge or overcome this decision, whether through an appeal, submitting additional financial evidence, or another step in the process. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.