gbm1992

Hi all,

I am currently in the process of applying for a B2 visa to visit the US for a holiday at the US consulate in Belfast. I have a conviction for possession of ecstasy (class A) in 2004, I paid a fine of £100 and served no jail time. I now have two successful business' and own 4flats which I rent out, and have learned my lesson the hard way. I was hoping for some information from everyone about their experience and wait times for their visa to be finalised if they were granted it. I realise there is a high possibility I will not be granted a visa but as I have already booked a trip to NYC, Orlando and Miami for the 1st September with my girlfriend I am hoping for the best.

Thanks

Pulaski

The process as I understand it from the many who have posted here with their questions and experience is that the initial visa process takes 3-4 months, and if your conviction is determined to be a CIMT, you will be denied and have to apply for a waiver, which can take a further 4-6 months.

So far as I can tell, simple possession of an illegal drug might not be a CIMT, however I think it highly unlikey that you can get a B1 visa in time to travel on September 1st. .... And if the drug offence is found to be a CIMT, you won't get your visa before next spring.

materialcontroller

CIMT doesn't come into this as far as I can see. I think it's fairly safe to assume that you are inadmissible for life under INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II) which is the category for "Controlled Substance Violators".

You will almost certainly be denied the visa. If the consulate decide to recommend you for a waiver of ineligibility it will potentially add several months to the process. We don't hear about wait times for waivers in Belfast too often, but they've been taking approximately 6 months to process through London.

With all of that in mind, I'd suggest you won't be making that trip as planned on September 1st.

civilservant

Agree with MT above, it's not a CIMT, it's a more serious issue altogether. You might be struggling for September.

ian-mstm

The US will not base its decision on the penalty that you received... but on the maximum penalty you could have received had they decided to throw the book at you.


With respect, none of this will matter as far as US immigration is concerned.


With respect, you're unlikely to make that date... and it was foolish to book a trip prior to receiving a visa. The US is pretty draconian where drug convictions are concerned.

Ian

materialcontroller

One very important question needs to be answered here, and that is how old were you at the time of the conviction in 2004?

gbm1992

I would have just turned 20. Thank you everyone for your responses. I am hoping for a waiver of ineligibility but I doubt it will be processed in time. Does anyone know anywhere to sell a holiday!!!

materialcontroller

Too bad. Had you been under 18 years of age you would've qualified for an exception to the ineligibility.

gbm1992

I already read that on their website. Even if I lose out on this holiday I will need to go through the process anyway to go another time.

civilservant

Correct, however it may possibly be that the B2 (if you continued and did get a waiver this time) may only be valid for a specific, one time, entry. If this is the case you will need to go through the process each time you want to visit the US until you build up a positive history - as time goes on they tend to get longer in validity duration and perhaps multiple entry.

gbm1992

Yeah I know you have to re-apply every time. Its a pain but i can only blame myself!!

Noorah101

You only have to reapply when your visa expires. You don't have to reappy for each trip, if you are within the validity dates of the visa.

Rene

gbm1992

Thank you everyone. I will post after the interview, fingers crossed!

Lb1875

See when u say that if he was under 18 he wouldve qualified for an exception of ineligibilty, Does this mean the conviction date or the charge date. ?

Mines were pre 18 and you know the palava ive had recently.

wait times in Belfast are exactly the same as london, its just a nicer place to go and wait,

audio

Just a suggestion, do you really need the B2 visa?
Is it possible to apply for the ESTA which gives a stay of 90 days