Title 6 — Domestic SecurityRelease 119-73not60

§237 Information on Visa Denials Required to Be Entered Into Electronic Data System

Title 6 › Chapter 1— HOMELAND SECURITY ORGANIZATION › Subchapter IV— BORDER, MARITIME, AND TRANSPORTATION SECURITY › Part C— Miscellaneous Provisions › § 237

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

When a U.S. consular officer denies a visa, the officer must record the applicant’s name, the denial, and the reason in the government’s shared electronic database. If a person was denied a visa, they cannot get another one unless the new consular officer checks that database, marks on the application that they checked it, and explains on the record why they will issue the visa or recommend a waiver despite the prior denial. The person cannot be admitted to the United States without a visa issued following those steps.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §237

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whenever a consular officer of the United States denies a visa to an applicant, the consular officer shall enter the fact and the basis of the denial and the name of the applicant into the interoperable electronic data system implemented under section 1722(a) of title 8.

(b)In the case of any alien with respect to whom a visa has been denied under subsection (a)—

(1)no subsequent visa may be issued to the alien unless the consular officer considering the alien’s visa application has reviewed the information concerning the alien placed in the interoperable electronic data system, has indicated on the alien’s application that the information has been reviewed, and has stated for the record why the visa is being issued or a waiver of visa ineligibility recommended in spite of that information; and

(2)the alien may not be admitted to the United States without a visa issued in accordance with the procedures described in paragraph (1).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

6 U.S.C. § 237

Title 6 — Domestic Security

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60