You must apply for an ESTA online to enter the USA after 12 Jan 2009

ferf1223

I agree with Steph, dinkydog...I've really liked reading your posts on the subject and have learned a lot from them...it's not a subject that directly affects me (I have a US passport) but it's interesting to me nonetheless and you've been a huge help to so many people.

I hope you'll rethink and continue to offer advice to those who need it.

nickiebabe35

yeah i agree too dinkydog!!! you really helped me and have put my mind at rest now so please please just carry on helping those that are genuine and deserve it and the other idiots can just .... go away!!!
xx

cindyhove

Stephb1986 wrote: »

They did say it would take about 6-8 weeks, and they would email him to send his passport to them to grant the visa. She said that he had a really good chance because it was so long ago and he hasn't done anything since.

Steph xx

Currently this is taking about 3 months.....

Fortran

Little update on my visa application.

Attended the interview today and it was refused under Section 214(b) which is the inability to show strong ties to the home country. The officer did not request or check any of the additional documentation which I brought with me which proves my ties to the UK, ie my bank account, debts (under debt management) my business (self employed), student loan outstanding, my family etc. He really wasn't interested in any proof whatsoever.

It pretty much began going downhill when I mentioned I was hoping to visit my girlfriend and it crash landed shortly after I informed him that my business does not make a huge turnover each year. Even though I do not make much of a profit each year it does however support me and has financed my planned trip.

I am too sad for words right now, my dream of spending xmas and new year with my girlfriend and her family has gone up in smoke, not to mention that I have no way of travelling to the US until I finally manage to obtain the mythical visa, thus creating a huge dent in my relationship with her.

Being arrested even though I was completely innocent and was not charged, cautioned or convicted of any crime has literally prevented me from ever entering the USA ever again until I can obtain the visa, which from the looks of it (not to mention the vast amount of other refusals I have read about), is going to be a near impossibility.

I am planning to reapply in the next couple of weeks (yet another £80 + travel) and can only hope I do not get the same officious little Hitler who interviewed me today. I am hoping next time they may actually bother to evaluate my documentation which proves my ties to the UK....having been born and spent my entire life here and having no prior instances of overstaying any other admission to any other country (including the US twice before) having my own business and my entire family here it saddens me that I am believed to be planning on immigrating illegally when all I want to do is spend 2 weeks with my girlfriend. Will update again once I reapply for those interested.

Stephb1986_2

Sorry to hear about your decline but just a thought my cousin is a travel agent and he has said that if you go to the US for 7 days and need a visa that they can not decline you on this, maybe worth a shot for you? just go for 7 days instead of 2 weeks? I know it's not exactly what you planned but I guess it's better than nothing.

There isn't really a update for me it's just come into our 6th week of 8 and not got anything yet (fingers crossed) but we go in just short of 3 weeks I really hope we get something back soon. I mean we go at the end of the 8th week so what if we haven't heard anything do we just go and risk it because we have to send his passport down to london and get it back before we go, I'm really worried about not getting it in time but my OH doesn't seem that worried. Men eh!

I wish you luck in your application please keep us updated.

Steph xx

Voyager2002

Fortran wrote: »

Little update on my visa application.

Attended the interview today and it was refused under Section 214(b) which is the inability to show strong ties to the home country. The officer did not request or check any of the additional documentation which I brought with me which proves my ties to the UK, ie my bank account, debts (under debt management) my business (self employed), student loan outstanding, my family etc. He really wasn't interested in any proof whatsoever.

What a sad outcome!

Could you invite your GF to spend Christmas with you on a nearby island? Cuba springs to mind as a delightful destination, and so long as you paid for everything she would not bread US law by going there (US citizens are not allowed to spend any money in Cuba.)

thatsfabulous

Hi
Some advice please if anyone knows. I am going New york on thursday for a few days then am back just over a week and I may be going back again for another few days- both times on holiday. Can anyone please tell me if this is ok? you enter the US twice within a a couple of weeks without having any problems at immigration?
thank you.

dzug1

thatsfabulous wrote: »

Hi
Some advice please if anyone knows. I am going New york on thursday for a few days then am back just over a week and I may be going back again for another few days- both times on holiday. Can anyone please tell me if this is ok? you enter the US twice within a a couple of weeks without having any problems at immigration?
thank you.

It shouldn't cause you any problems - you are breaking no rules by doing so.

thatsfabulous

Thank you, I didnt think so either but just wanted someone elses opinion as I know how strick they can be.

Stephb1986_2

Well, no update as such but we rang the dhs on friday to see what was going on and they said we can't tell you anything ring the embassy so we rang the embassy and they said we don't know anything and basically that we should of heard from them last week to get the visa in time as it takes 14 working days to process it? And it was going to take 8 weeks from the date of the interview which we were told 6-8 weeks which we are going on the 8th week. So now with 13 days to go till we're supposed to go we don't know what more we can do.

Any advice?

Steph xx