Do i need a Visa for USA

patterdale2000

Hello All,

Please can you help me, i'm traveling to new york in march and i have been told that i need a visa. I only staying for 3 nights and i have allready filled in a ESTA and been approved.

Does anyone know if i have to apply for a visa aswell.

Regards

Patterdale200:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

dzug1

patterdale2000 wrote: »

Hello All,

Please can you help me, i'm traveling to new york in march and i have been told that i need a visa. I only staying for 3 nights and i have allready filled in a ESTA and been approved.

Does anyone know if i have to apply for a visa aswell.

Regards

Patterdale200:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

No you don't - you will be using the 'visa waiver' scheme - the whole point of which is you don't need a visa

The idiot who told you you needed a visa doesn't understand what a 'waiver' is.

HXDave

dzug1, bit unfair really.

Whilst you dont effectively need a visa (provided you qualify for the visa waiver), you still need to apply to be granted exemption for having a visa.

Really, they should call it a holiday visa or something similar, so that people were aware that whilst it is simple, free and painless, you still need to make an application.

It's a little like vehicles that are exempt from road tax. you still need to apply for a tax disc (sorry, Road Fund License disc), although it is free.

HXDave

Voyager2002

Just in case...

Some people do need a visa: obviously those who do not have British (or other developed-country) passports, and also anyone who has been arrested for a crime involving "moral turpitude". It is possible that the person who told the OP to get a visa believed that s/he might have been arrested for something.

lfc321

HXDave wrote: »

Really, they should call it a holiday visa or something similar, so that people were aware that whilst it is simple, free and painless, you still need to make an application.

But it isn't just for holidays - you can enter as VWT or VWB. Visa Waiver Program seems pretty clear.


To the OP - the answer isn't as obvious as some of the replies have suggested. Who told you that you needed a visa and on what grounds? They could have known something that we don't. You haven't given us enough information about yourself (as Voyager2002 points out). The fact that you got an ESTA approval does not mean that they'll let you in. (Although provided you answered the questions on the application honestly then you should be OK.)

phatbear

HXDave wrote: »

whilst it is simple, free and painless, you still need to make an application.

Simple yes, painless oooh yes, however its not free!

HXDave

Phatbear,

Oooop, my bad.

They used to be though............. Lol.


Lfc, the holiday visa was only a suggestion. All i would suggest is to not use the word 'waiver', as it gives some people the impression that they might just be able to turn up without doing anything, which is not really the case.

HXDave

dzug1

HXDave wrote: »

Really, they should call it a holiday visa or something similar, so that people were aware that whilst it is simple, free and painless, you still need to make an application.

But IT'S NOT A VISA - that's the whole point. And with an ESTA you don't need to make an application (well other than verbally on arrival)

There IS a holiday visa already (OK a tourist visa) - having a holiday visa AND a tourist visa seems a recipe for even more confusion


Unfair?? Well maybe. I could have been a lot ruder though.

HXDave

Dzug1

And with an ESTA you don't need to make an application (well other than verbally on arrival)

Really?

I thought you had to go through to the US Customs & Border Protection agency website, put all your personal details in, together with passport numbers, and then pay a fee!

But, hey ho, i could be wrong you know...............

HXDave