[VIMALKM9]

Hi Guys,

I applied for a tourist visa through the US emabassy in London in Jan 2012 and was denied saying i do not have enough international travel under by belt(I am was an Indian citizen).

Now i have got my British Passport i understand i can apply for the ESTA but my research shows that's i will defn be refused and would have to go for a visa interview as i have been previously denied a visa.

Now here is my question:
1.Ok so if i do go for the visa interview will this be just a courtesy procedure? and the visa will be approved without any hassle?? I don't have any criminal records or anything.

2. Say once my visa is approved this will be usually a 3month valid one right? so what happens say in a year i want to go to the US. If i apply for the ESTA i will be asked to go for the interview again!?!?!?! when does the cycle end? ESTA is only 14 dollars but if i have to apply for a visa every time then thats the visa + travel every time.

Does any one have an experience like this before?

Do help!

Thank You,
Vimal

[materialcontroller]

Originally Posted by VIMALKM9 Hi Guys, I applied for a tourist visa through the US emabassy in London in Jan 2012 and was denied saying i do not have enough international travel under by belt(I am was an Indian citizen). Now i have got my British Passport i understand i can apply for the ESTA but my research shows that's i will defn be refused and would have to go for a visa interview as i have been previously denied a visa. Now here is my question: 1.Ok so if i do go for the visa interview will this be just a courtesy procedure? and the visa will be approved without any hassle?? I don't have any criminal records or anything. 2. Say once my visa is approved this will be usually a 3month valid one right? so what happens say in a year i want to go to the US. If i apply for the ESTA i will be asked to go for the interview again!?!?!?! when does the cycle end? ESTA is only 14 dollars but if i have to apply for a visa every time then thats the visa + travel every time. Does any one have an experience like this before? Do help! Thank You, Vimal

Now you have a British passport, your first step should be to apply for an ESTA but you must declare the prior visa denial. You are wrong to think that the ESTA will definitely be denied. It may be or it may not, depending on a number of factors and a little bit of luck. The only way you will know is to try. If you're are authorised through ESTA then great! You can travel on the VWP using your British passport and no need for a visa.

Only consider going for another visa application once you are absolutely certain that ESTA is not an option, but be aware that this course of action carries significant risks. I doubt that the interview would be a "courtesy procedure" or that the visa would be approved "without any hassle". You will be subjected to the same scrutiny as any other applicant and you should be prepared for questions regarding your previous visa application and rejection. It may well be that you will face the same problems as you had when applying on your Indian passport and these will still need to be addressed - the fact that you are now a British passport holder does not necessarily change those factors.

There are no guarantees or certainties in the US visa process. You may be approved or not as the case may be. The actual visa could be valid for any length of time up to 10 years and good for single entry, a specified number of entries or even multiple entries to the USA. The duration of each entry would be determined by CBP at your POE and could be anything from a few days up to several months, although 180 days is typical.

If you are denied ESTA and the visa, although you may still be eligible for VWP, then you just have to accept that you can't travel to the USA immediately but wait a good few months before trying for ESTA approval again. A common rule of thumb applied among members here is at least 6 months.

Good luck

[GeoffM]

Originally Posted by VIMALKM9 I applied for a tourist visa through the US emabassy in London in Jan 2012 and was denied saying i do not have enough international travel under by belt(I am was an Indian citizen). Now i have got my British Passport i understand i can apply for the ESTA but my research shows that's i will defn be refused and would have to go for a visa interview as i have been previously denied a visa.

Having a visa denial does not necessarily mean ESTA will be denied forever. Some people have applied after a couple of weeks and been approved; others have to wait 6-12 months.

I'm not quite sure this is what you're asking but FWIW my wife, a Filipino who, due to her nationality, would otherwise have had great difficulty getting a US visa but never applied for one, was approved for ESTA just a couple of months after getting her first UK passport, and we went to the US a couple of months after that with no issues.

[VIMALKM9]

Thanks again very helpful. Well i will apply for ESTA see what happens. if i have to go for the interview well will ust have to deal with it and should work out ok !

Thanks again for the replies

Vimal

[VIMALKM9]

Guys planning to do the ESTA soon.Have a question

i am planning to go in Feb can i apply for the ESTA now?
if called for a interview can i go for the interview in Dec even though the plan would be for Feb?

thank you,
vimal

[lisa67]

Originally Posted by VIMALKM9 Guys planning to do the ESTA soon.Have a question i am planning to go in Feb can i apply for the ESTA now? if called for a interview can i go for the interview in Dec even though the plan would be for Feb? thank you, vimal

Yes you can apply for ESTA any time. It lasts 2 years if approved.

[Noorah101]

Originally Posted by VIMALKM9 I am planning to go in Feb can i apply for the ESTA now?

Yes. ESTA remains valid for 2 years, unless your circumstances change (i.e. you end up getting arrested for a CIMT, or you get denied some kind of visa).

if called for a interview can i go for the interview in Dec even though the plan would be for Feb?

There is no interview associated with an ESTA application.

Rene

[VIMALKM9]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for that.

But since i was rejected a US visa (in my Indian passport) cause of this my IF ESTA does not get approved i will have to attend an interview right? and my question was can i attend that interview right now or do i have to wait closer to the travel date?

thank you,
vimal

[Noorah101]

Originally Posted by VIMALKM9 But since i was rejected a US visa (in my Indian passport) cause of this my IF ESTA does not get approved i will have to attend an interview right?

Only if you decide to apply for a B-2 visa.

and my question was can i attend that interview right now or do i have to wait closer to the travel date?

You can attend the interview whenever you want, but keep in mind that you might only get a limited-time visa. But since your travel is coming up in Feb 2013, I'd say now would be a good time to apply.

Also, keep in mind that if you ARE eligible for VWP travel (which you seem to be, if you are now a UK citizen), it might be very difficult to get a B-2 visa approval. If the B-2 gets denied, you have one more visa denial on your record.

Rene

[VIMALKM9]

Thank you very much for that. very helpful

ok say i do get the visa for 6 months validity. What happens when thats over? do i have to apply for a visa again or a ESTA?

And what are my choices? if the visa refusal is going to be high. what am i to do if my ESTA is rejected? wait 6 months and apply for ESTA again?

thanks again Rene. Just all this seems to unbelievably confusing!

[Noorah101]

Originally Posted by VIMALKM9 ok say i do get the visa for 6 months validity. What happens when thats over? do i have to apply for a visa again or a ESTA?

If you do get a B-2 visa, then whenever that expires, you will either need to apply for ESTA again, or apply for another B-2.

And what are my choices?

You only have 2 choices to visit the USA. Apply for ESTA and then travel on the VWP if approved, or apply for a B-2.

what am i to do if my ESTA is rejected?

Either wait 6+ months and try for ESTA again, or try for a B-2.

wait 6 months and apply for ESTA again?

That's one option, yes.

Just all this seems to unbelievably confusing!

It's not really confusing. Evidently you were not eligible for VWP travel before, because you were not a UKC, is that correct? So you applied for a B-2 and got denied (presumably for lack of ties to either India or the UK, correct?)

So now that you are a UKC with a UK passport, you are now eligible for VWP travel. You should apply for ESTA to travel on the VWP. If that gets denied, then you have two options: wait 6+ months and try ESTA again, or apply for a B-2 visa, if your situation has changed from when you applied before (i.e. you can now show stronger ties to the UK).

Rene

[jeffreyhy]

Yes, you apply for a new B visa or you apply to use the VWP.

Regards, JEff

Originally Posted by VIMALKM9 ok say i do get the visa for 6 months validity. What happens when thats over? do i have to apply for a visa again or a ESTA?

[VIMALKM9]

Thanks guys.

Last time when i applied for my B2 visa (in my indian passport) they said i did not have enough international travel!!! there is was no problem with ties to india and UK.

Any way have travelled bit more in this one year so hopefully the visa should be ok!

will let you guys know how the ESTA application goes. Thanks again for your help.

vimal