Pulaski

I most definitely read it - and IMO your planned course of action is making what is already "a long shot" considerably less likely to succeed.

Fred16

To put this in perspective
Has anyone here in this forum seen a post where kids are VWP eligible and a B2 visa applied for them

If B2 is denied, will they have to mention this on all future applications for the rest of their life?

You could still be lucky to get a B2 and POE only let you in for 2 weeks

People on here are just giving realistic opinions, call is ultimately yours, and you should tell your kids the risk

petitefrancaise

By my count, you've had 4 very, very experienced people advising you on what you want to do, none of it encouraging you to go down the B visa path.

Honestly, maybe you should go to where they are posting "positive outcomes" if that's what you want.

Mercyknight

Really appreciate your experience. I'll come back and let you know what happens. Thanks again.

scrubbedexpat099

The correct visa to go to school in the US is a F1.

Nobody seems to have mentioned that VISA is a credit card.

Noorah101

Yes.

Exactly.

Rene

Noorah101

I'm curious to read those, now. Can you please post a link?

Thanks,
Rene

BritInParis

A couple of quick points:

1) As you have already been advised it would be a very good idea for your wife to become a British citizen. Residency in the US aside you have probably noticed how difficult it is to travel anywhere on a South African passport so this would be a good idea regardless. As someone who holds ILR and is married to a British citizen there is no further waiting period so she can apply immediately regardless of when she received her settlement visa. It is expensive (£1282) but the cost only rises every year and it is a lifelong investment. More information is available here. South African citizens however will automatically lose their citizenship upon voluntarily acquiring another citizenship unless they apply for permission to retain it first. More information on how to do that at the South African High Commission's website.

2) A (very) long shot option but as a South African citizen your wife is eligible to enter the lottery for a Diversity Immigrant Visa, aka the Green Card Lottery. As a British citizen you are not eligible but as her spouse you will be able to accompany her should her number be drawn. The entry date is every year for a month starting at the beginning of October and the results are announced the following May. Keep checking back here over the next month for next year's lottery.

ian-mstm

Just so Mercyknight knows... this quoted bit here - it's mostly a lie. It is entirely likely that a decision to approve/deny will be made before he even approaches the Consular Officer for the interview. More often than not, people who are eligible to use the VWP are denied without the opportunity to present any evidence which they feel supports their application.

Ian

tom169

The lottery is based on birthplace, not citizenship.

Noorah101

And, as the spouse of someone who qualifies, the OP can also apply. It's called cross-chargeability.

Rene

Pulaski

Per advice from S Folinsky, actually he can apply in the green card lottery as the spouse of someone who is eligible in their own right, under the principle of "cross chargeability".

The odds of "winning" are about 2% for anyone person in any one year, so for a couple it is about 4%.

shiversaint

A statement like that is nothing short of belligerent, and on the facts, utterly untrue.

I feel you haven't read the responses you've been given. You're in an unique situation that makes a certain visa class available to you - the R class - yet you are repeatedly banging the drum for a B visa which is clearly not meant for what you are trying to achieve, and frankly, you'll be lying if you get through on such a visa.

You or your family are not tourists, nor are you in the US to perform short term business related activities.

BritInParis

I was assuming the OP is born in the UK (and not NI) but that is true.

I did not know that. Top tip, thanks.

scrubbedexpat099

Assuming the Lottery does not get chopped as part of Comprehensive Reform.