Having a US visa denied is frustrating, but it does not mean you can never apply again. The most important thing is to understand the reason, because what you do next changes completely. The State Department explains the main reasons for denial, and the most common one for tourist and business visas is section 214(b).
What a 214(b) refusal is
Section 214(b) applies only to nonimmigrant visas, such as the B1/B2. The refusal means the consular officer decided you did not show that you qualify for the visa category, or did not overcome the presumption that you intend to immigrate. To overcome that presumption, applicants must show strong ties to their home country. The examples the government gives are a job, a home, and relationships with family and friends.
H-1B and L applicants, and their spouses and minor children, do not have to show these ties.
Can you appeal?
No. A 214(b) refusal applies to that application and there is no appeal process. What you can do is apply again, with new information or significant changes in your circumstances. Repeating the same application with the same arguments tends to produce the same result.
When to reapply and what it costs
After a refusal you may apply again. Except for a 221(g) refusal, each new try requires a new application and a new fee. The fee is a processing fee and is not refundable, even if the visa is denied.
Other reasons for denial
- 221(g): the application or documents are incomplete, or administrative processing is required. You have one year to send what is missing. After that, you must apply again and pay the fee again.
- 212(a)(4), public charge: the officer decided you are likely to depend on government benefits. This can be overcome, for example with proof of sufficient financial support.
- 212(a)(6)(C)(i), fraud or misrepresentation: this is a permanent ineligibility, and a waiver may be available.
- 212(a)(9)(B)(i), unlawful presence: people who overstayed are barred for 3 years if the unlawful presence lasted 180 days to under one year, or for 10 years if it lasted one year or more, counted from the departure.
If a waiver may be available, the consular officer will tell you and explain how to apply.
What matters for your next application
Reread what the officer said and the paper you received at the interview. If it was a 214(b), think about what has changed since last time: stable employment, a property, family in Brazil, a trip already taken with an on-time return. Do not bring false documents or invent stories, because a false statement can become a permanent ineligibility. And remember that the B1/B2 visa, even when approved, does not allow you to live or work in the US. See the article B1/B2 visa: can I legally live in the US?