USA visa difficulty

rutsnuts

I applied earlier this week for a trip to New York in August - it only takes a few minutes and it gives confirmation instantly...here's the link:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

socks_uk

ginjaflux wrote: »

As i no longer qualify for the Visa Waver Program & to enable admission to the States i need to acquire a visa from the American Embassy in London. How do i go about this? What does it involve? What reasons could i be refused a visa? How much does it cost? Do i need an appointment? Hope you can help

Has someone actually told you that you can't re-apply for an ESTA? It might be worth trying to apply on-line if you were planning to give it another go. The only way I knew about ESTA was through this website! Well done MSE!!! :T

foxy-roxy

I went to New York in Nov last year, I can't remember if I was asked at Manchester or not but I know I was definitley asked at Brussels (we had a change over there).
I just presumed they know when they scan your passport as you have to put in your passport details on the ESTA form and it has to be the new chip and read passport. Not sure though.

foxy-roxy

socks_uk wrote: »

Has someone actually told you that you can't re-apply for an ESTA? It might be worth trying to apply on-line if you were planning to give it another go. The only way I knew about ESTA was through this website! Well done MSE!!! :T

I think once you have been refused entry to the USA then you don't qualify for the visa waiver program anymore, you have to go the embassy.

moonrakerz

ESTA Question:

"Have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage or sabotage; or in terrorist activities; or genocide"

What a farce !

dzug1

foxy-roxy wrote: »

I went to New York in Nov last year, I can't remember if I was asked at Manchester or not but I know I was definitley asked at Brussels (we had a change over there).
I just presumed they know when they scan your passport as you have to put in your passport details on the ESTA form and it has to be the new chip and read passport. Not sure though.

The airlines should have access to the US govt computer to check - but not all have yet.

And it does NOT have to be the new chip passport - not yet. That's only if your passport was issued after - well I forget the date, but it wasn't that many years ago. Older ones with lesser security features are still fine.

Cardew

moonrakerz wrote: »

ESTA Question:

"Have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage or sabotage; or in terrorist activities; or genocide"

What a farce !

Actually the reason is that having been involved in espionage etc might not be something that is an offence and can get you deported from the USA if it was discovered.

However lying on the I 95W Visa waiver form is grounds for deportation.

Actually the OP is correct that once having been refused entry to the USA you do not qualify for entry under a visa waiver.

To be quite honest I cannot see failure to complete ESTA being the sole reason for being refused entry. I suspect that the Immigration officer had other doubts about the OP; he would have needed to clear his decision with his superior.

What reasons could i be refused a visa?

The main reasons are:

That you have committed a crime.

That you have been/are involved with drugs

Intend to seek employment.

Do not have sufficient funds for you visit

Will not return to UK within 90 days(insufficient ties to UK)

lfc321

SnowWhiterThanWhite wrote: »

I disagree! I've travelled many many times to the USA after the ESTA became mandatory & have never been asked at check-in. Whether this be face to face at the airport, or checking in on-line.
Even when booking flights, the ESTA is not mentioned??

OK!
You've obviously had different experiences to me, that's all.
Does anyone else get those people screening the check-in queues for US flights and making sure you have done ESTA etc? From the comments of everyone else on here it sounds like they only appear when I rock up at the airport!

ferf1223

we've been asked before in a queue to check in if we had applied for ESTA, but not for the last few trips.

AA at least can see on their screens if you have a valid ESTA when they swipe your passport (the fact that the E stands for Electronic kind of points out that it's not something you have to show - and why they don't have to mention it to you if you have it) - the check-in clerk said if you didn't their system would not allow them to check you in...you would have to go to the internet cafe and hope that it's approved without any difficulty.

I'm quite surprised that anyone was able to board a flight without it.

As for people not knowing about ESTA, that's just down to people not bothering to read the info on the airline's site/their e-ticket/emails sent to them...the info is (in my experience) very clearly displayed a number of times. Sure, we're all in the habit of clicking to say we've read this or that, but I'm not sure what more the airlines could do short of telephoning each person until they get through to say 'hey, you know about ESTA, right?'

Stephb1986_2

I'm going to NYC on Saturday my OH had to go to the embassy for a visa as he has a criminal record. Have you got a criminal record that you haven't declared? Thats the only reason i can see why you would be turned around, I know alot of people who have travelled to the US who have filled in the ESTA but still had to fill in the green form?

Steph x