How to obtain US Visa fairly quickly?

Arcana

We are going to NY on 7th April, so I thought there was plenty of time to get visa. Just spoke to the US embassy and first available appointment is....hold on for this.... 8th April. :mad:

We are not British - I'm from EU though, but wife and child is from the Carribean. I don't know if that makes a difference.

So, what's the best way to approach this? I can't believe we won't be able to go. I can't imagine being able to afford to go for at least another 2-3 years.

Amys

There is an embassy in Dublin that can haver appointments much sooner than London, it may be worth getting a cheap RyanAir flight there if they have a quicker appointment.


Can you use the visa waiver program, that would avoid the need for a visa. It is open to a lot of EU countries, http://dublin.usembassy.gov/nivwaiver.html, but this is not open to Caribbean countries.

Arcana

Thanks Amys.
Going to Dublin is an option I suppose. Although I could imagine that could be a bit costly, but I'll have a look for Ryan Air tickets.

Visa waiver won't work but neither my son or wife as you pointed out, and as I don't have an e-passport, neither for me.

Voyager2002

Don't they have an office in Belfast? Dublin is in another country, so they may not be able to deal with your application.

Otherwise, see if a visa agent can help you.

Amys

Yes, I meant to say Belfast! sorry about that

Arcana

Great. Looks like we're going to Belfast. They only have around 8 days waiting list where as the London office has around 46 days. Crazy.

Actually, does anyone have any agents they would recommend? And how much would they cost? I reckon for the 3 of us to go to Belfast could easily be £150, unless of course Ryan Air do one of their £1 promotions within the next couple of days. So if an agent would charge less than £150 that might be worth considering.

getmore4less

Don't forget ESTA if you are eligable for the visa waiver

http://www.esta.us/travel_authorization.html?gclid=CJXk97W99ZgCFRUFZgodYlIj6g

luci

DON'T use the link above if you need to apply for an ESTA. That site charges and it's absolutely free to do yourself

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html?_flowExecutionKey=_c551D8B3A-E73F-055B-7F68-3A4549AD586B_k9C9BD956-FD3D-B2AC-F4F9-945AD5407A80

trickytrolleys

you can also call the london embassy to check for cancellations but at £1.20 p/m its probably cheaper to go to belfast!

Also, be careful with your dates as they dont just give you a stamp in your passport, you have to leave it with them and they post it back to you with the visa in it so allow a few days for this - you also have to pay for this service - about £15 is cheapest.

My experience is with the london embassy so may be slightly different in Belfast

HTH

Arcana

Thanks everyone.
I'm still not sure I am able to use the Visa waiver program, as I don't have an e-passport. I think my passport was issued in May 2006. Will have to check when I get home.

Cancellations... I suppose for £150-ish you can call quite a few times, even at £1.20 p/m, but if it's anything like going to the doctors, people don't cancel - they just don't show up. And if they cancel, it's probably with 1 or 2 days notice in which case it might be difficult getting time of work with that short notice.

luci

You don't need an e-passport to get an ESTA. It only has to be machine readable, it with the chevrons on the photo page >>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

You only need a visa if you have committed a crime of moral turpitude. There is a Visa Waiver Wizard on the US Embassy site which will tell you if you need one or not.

However your wife and child may need a visa is the country they are from is not part of the visa waiver programme.