Refusal of B1/B2 visa due to no travel history and self-employment ties

United States (B1/B2)
1

Hi everyone, I recently had my B1/B2 visa application refused, and I am trying to figure out the best strategy for my next interview in January.

My passport is fresh with no prior international travel, and I suspect this might have been a major red flag for the consular officer. I am also a solopreneur, which makes proving “strong ties” to my home country more complicated compared to someone with a standard corporate job. The officer did not look at many of my documents before handing me the refusal slip.

I am looking for advice on a few specific things:

  1. Is the lack of travel history a designated reason for refusal, or is that a myth?
  2. For those who are self-employed, what specific documents (contracts, tax returns, client lists) actually made a difference?
  3. If you were refused and then approved, what concrete changes did you make to your application?

Any insights on how to present my case better next time would be greatly appreciated.

2

Realizing this is not about the blank pages in your passport but rather the perceived risk of overstaying, I wanted to clarify the regulatory stance on travel history.

3

Has anyone from the freelance sector used specific client retainers to successfully prove income stability for a B1/B2?

4

I was subjected to a similar refusal two years ago. I was informed by the officer that my ties were insufficient, despite my position as an educator.