Immigration Question UK > America

spurious_2

This is a bit of a weird one, but I'm hoping somebody might be able to help. The wheres and whys isn't something I'm going to discuss, before anyone asks

In 2003 I visited Los Angeles and ended up staying there beyond the terms of the three month visa. I left in 2005, so it was well over. While I was there, I thought I had lost my passport, and cancelled it, but subsequently found it again and flew back on it, despite it being cancelled - no one said anything about it being a problem. When I got back to England I ordered a new passport.

There are penalties for overstaying your visa in America. To my understanding, based on pretty thorough research, these are a three year ban on re-entering the country for an overstay of less then 180 days, and ten years for over 180 days. However, I would like to have confirmation of whether or not this is the case.

In short, my question is: how can I find out if I can re-visit America without having to board a flight and get turned away at immigration?

skr80

how about applying for a US visa?

knithappens

you can call the US Enbassy, or email them if you google search US Embassy London, they have all their contact details there.

Doublespresso

didn't passport control question your overstay upon exiting the US?

My friend, who's British, once travelled from US to Canada with a group of Canadian workmates, and they didnt check his papers at the border. When he retunred to the US a year later, he was questioned at the airport as the Immigration officer thought he overstayed on his previous visit.

spurious_2

No, they don't quesiton overstays on exiting the US. You're supposed to give them the bottom half of the visa-waiver form you give them when you come in, and that's sent to the immigration department to match with the bit they took on entry. From that, your length of stay is determined. I didn't give them my bit when I left though, because I'd lost it.

Anyway, thanks for the tips. I'll email the embassy I think.

Amba_Gambla

if you don't give them the bottom part of the visa waiver, you might be in trouble if you go back again....

I didn't overstay, but they didn't take my visa waiver form from my passport one year, and had to post it back to them with a letter explaining why it wasn't collected to avoid possible rejection/delays on my next visit....

alanrowell

Well first the good news - generally the US won't shackle you or make you wear an orange coverall when they refuse you entry, detain you and throw you out of the country at your own expense.

Bad news - you need a visa if you intend going to or passing through the US in the future.

So follow the process in this link and hopefully they'll let you in again.