B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
#1
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Joined: Mar 2014
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B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
Hi,
My wife moved to the UK in 11/2008 and was not a British citizen.
We applied for B2 visa to US to go see her parents in 11/2009 which was refused for not strong enough ties to UK.
We applied again in 10/2011 after birth of our daughter in 02/2011. Again refused for same reason. I would have thought husband & child would constitute strong ties to UK.
She gained UK citizenship in 08/2012.
We had a gap in April to travel, few months before our 2nd is born. So we thought we'd be ok using ESTA.
We applied for ESTA for 3 of us yesterday and wife's one was refused. I had a feeling it might be refused when we selected 'Yes' to Q about denied previously.
My question is - is there any point in applying for ESTA again? Or is it even allowed?
I have since found this: http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/dhs_...q_03jun08.html
1. "Q: If I am not approved for travel through ESTA, may I reapply?
A: You may reapply for an ESTA after a period of ten days, but please note that unless your circumstances have changed.."
2. "Q: If I was previously denied a U.S. visa, can I apply for an ESTA authorization and travel under the VWP?
A: Travelers who have been denied a U.S. visa are not eligible for VWP .."
Q 2 implies that ESTA would not work due to B2 being refused in the past. So it was never going to work? However other posts indicate people have got approval.
Q 1 - not sure our circumstances would ever change in the eyes of US immigration. I work, she's a stay at home mum, with savings a/c, bills, child (soon to be x2) & husband.
We'd like to try again for next April. Should we try ESTA again or is B2 the only way in now?
My wife moved to the UK in 11/2008 and was not a British citizen.
We applied for B2 visa to US to go see her parents in 11/2009 which was refused for not strong enough ties to UK.
We applied again in 10/2011 after birth of our daughter in 02/2011. Again refused for same reason. I would have thought husband & child would constitute strong ties to UK.
She gained UK citizenship in 08/2012.
We had a gap in April to travel, few months before our 2nd is born. So we thought we'd be ok using ESTA.
We applied for ESTA for 3 of us yesterday and wife's one was refused. I had a feeling it might be refused when we selected 'Yes' to Q about denied previously.
My question is - is there any point in applying for ESTA again? Or is it even allowed?
I have since found this: http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/dhs_...q_03jun08.html
1. "Q: If I am not approved for travel through ESTA, may I reapply?
A: You may reapply for an ESTA after a period of ten days, but please note that unless your circumstances have changed.."
2. "Q: If I was previously denied a U.S. visa, can I apply for an ESTA authorization and travel under the VWP?
A: Travelers who have been denied a U.S. visa are not eligible for VWP .."
Q 2 implies that ESTA would not work due to B2 being refused in the past. So it was never going to work? However other posts indicate people have got approval.
Q 1 - not sure our circumstances would ever change in the eyes of US immigration. I work, she's a stay at home mum, with savings a/c, bills, child (soon to be x2) & husband.
We'd like to try again for next April. Should we try ESTA again or is B2 the only way in now?
#4
Re: B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
Question 2 has an incorrect answer. Annecdotally we hear that ESTAs are approved typically 6-12 months after a visa denial. In your wife's case, it doesn't sound likely though.
ETA. Reading more closely I see that she only became a British citizen 7 months ago. It is possible that she stands a better chance as a British citizen. My tip would be to try again after 12 months or more of British citizenship.
ETA. Reading more closely I see that she only became a British citizen 7 months ago. It is possible that she stands a better chance as a British citizen. My tip would be to try again after 12 months or more of British citizenship.
Last edited by Pulaski; Mar 17th 2014 at 12:54 pm.
#5
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Joined: Mar 2014
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Re: B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
She gained citizenship in August 2012 - 19 months ago. When you say try again -do you mean try ESTA?
#6
Re: B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
Sorry, yes, I misread. Yes, I meant ESTA. .... The longer she is resident in the UK with a British passport, the more ties she might be seen to have to the UK. Of course I have no idea if she will ever have enough ties. ..... But the "ties" issue is a matter for visa applications, not for ESTA, so ESTA is probably her best hope.
#7
Re: B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
Any possibility of parents visiting her in the UK?
#8
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Re: B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
Yes, she has had family come over. I want to go there on holiday as well as the family visit reason. Will try for ESTA again next year.
#9
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Re: B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
It looks like the last B2 denial was over 2 years ago so it might be worth applying for B2 again. What does she have to lose? She has already been denied ESTA. Another B2 denial just means waiting again which is the same situation she's in now.
#10
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Re: B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
We've decided we're going to try ESTA again next year as I really hate going to the US Embassy in London because they treat you as if you were the dirt on the bottom of their shoe. It starts with the security guys right out on the footpath.
Before my wife gained citizenship we travelled to Germany and South Africa and needed visa for her in advance for both. The experience was very courteous on both occasions.
If ESTA fails next year we'll try B2 for a final time and then write it of as a destination she will ever be able to travel to.
Before my wife gained citizenship we travelled to Germany and South Africa and needed visa for her in advance for both. The experience was very courteous on both occasions.
If ESTA fails next year we'll try B2 for a final time and then write it of as a destination she will ever be able to travel to.
#11
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,598
Re: B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
We've decided we're going to try ESTA again next year as I really hate going to the US Embassy in London because they treat you as if you were the dirt on the bottom of their shoe. It starts with the security guys right out on the footpath.
Before my wife gained citizenship we travelled to Germany and South Africa and needed visa for her in advance for both. The experience was very courteous on both occasions.
If ESTA fails next year we'll try B2 for a final time and then write it of as a destination she will ever be able to travel to.
Before my wife gained citizenship we travelled to Germany and South Africa and needed visa for her in advance for both. The experience was very courteous on both occasions.
If ESTA fails next year we'll try B2 for a final time and then write it of as a destination she will ever be able to travel to.
#12
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Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: B2 refused and now ESTA denied, what to do now?
If ESTA fails next year we'll try B2 for a final time and then write it of as a destination she will ever be able to travel to.
Ian