Whymewhyme

I posted this in May 2009: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=610249

I had applied for a visa at the US Embassy in London in April, got denied and then went on the esta website to apply for that because I wanted to go on holiday to LA for 3 weeks. - That was promptly denied.

In April of this year it will obviously be one year since I applied for the visa and in May it will be one year since I applied for the esta.

Since I applied for the visa my savings have dropped drastically, so much so that I am down to a fraction of what they were, so reapplying for the visa wouldn't really look good since I have pretty much zero savings, no job and not many ties to the UK (I work for myself online).

I just want to go to the USA for a couple of weeks holiday, does anyone know if there is like a "reset" time with esta denials or is it likely I'll have to go through all this crap again with the visa application? I would like to think that having not tried to go the America for a little over a year (I plan to go in June) it would look better, but obviously I don't know what the deal is with that.

Just curious if anyone knows what the deal with esta is and how to go about it. I don't really want to have to spend $150 to apply for a visa (not to mention show pretty much no savings/living at parents) when I am not planning to use it more than ONCE, to go on a small vacation with my friends for a couple of weeks.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, if anyone has experience or knowledge of the esta system.

EDIT: Also, can I check my esta status without booking a flight? Obviously if I book a flight I could potentially lose the money.

Elvira

There is nothing to stop you from trying ESTA again, but don't bother trying to get a visa as it will almost certainly be denied.

meauxna

Yes. That would seem like the most obvious way to get your answer.

Whymewhyme

Is it likely though that given a year of waiting that my chances will be improved?

meauxna

No idea, sorry.

DanielMDQ

Apply for ESTA again, u don't need to enter flight number or anything, u can leave those spaces in blank.

Keep us updated

Whymewhyme

Done.

I'll keep you updated.

DanielMDQ

try the status in some hours, It took like 1 hour and half for me

good luck!!!

Whymewhyme

Thanks!

henryh

Disagree

crg

I have to go with henry on this one. Both the ESTA and the visa could be problematic. An ESTA approval may even be harder to get than the visa because ESTA has already been denied.

The remedy for a denied ESTA is supposed to be a visa application.

The remedy for a denied visa application followed by a denied ESTA is supposedly another visa application.

Whymewhyme

Travel Not Authorized.

Travel Not AuthorizedYou are not authorized to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. You may be able to obtain a visa from the Department of State for your travel. Please visit the United States Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov for additional information about applying for a visa.

- This is so frustrating.

henryh

Try for the visa, if it's worth it to you. I think you have a good chance: somewhere between 10% and 90%. i.e. not a sure thing, but also not totally pointless to apply.

scrubbedexpat099

More like 1% and 9%

But your only option.

dbj1000

According to your previous thread, you lived in the US for 50% of the time over a 4 year period. Whether or not you had any illegal overstay, that is pretty clearly an abuse of the VWP system, don't you think?

Clearly the US immigration system has simply marked you as someone who should no longer be given the opportunity to abuse the system further. You say you just want a holiday, but I don't believe you and apparently neither does US immigration.

There are many other places to holiday. At this stage, it's time to pick one.