Artwork by Jaime Vasquez. - http://www.jaimevq.com/
Now that you’ve gotten your artist visa approved by Immigration, it’s time for processing at a U.S. Consulate!
First word of advice: Use the U.S. Consulate in the country where you actually live. This would be where your last apartment or home is located.
There is also a provision in the law permitting you to go to any U.S. Consulate -- that will have you.
Whatever you do, consult with your attorney before you go to be sure you have the 2 required forms filled out correctly, two passport photos, a full copy of your file and whatever the U.S. Consulate requests.
After a Consular approval, the Consulate places a stamp in your passport. You show this to enter the U.S. Without it you can't enter.
So you were refused...If it’s because of ineligibility (overstay of visa, criminal record, contagious disease, etc.), you may file a form called “Waiver of Ineligibility.”
BUT: If the Consular Officer believes (and he/she has all the discretion in the world) that you’ll never be able to explain away your “Ground of Ineligibility”, your passport will be stamped “Application Received”, along with the date of refusal.
This is not a good thing…
At that point, try another Consulate. Still, you'll have to do a lot of explaining...
BTW: At the end of it all, if you are denied, you may not appeal this decision. Try to go back and attempt to overcome whatever the Consul claimed your problem was…
