scrubbedexpat099

Yes to presentations

No to Newspapers

No to blogs

Better to include than exclude.

S Folinsky

I am not saying why you would be denied, if at all. I don't know.

You have already been told how to approach the problem: apply for a visa.

For reason doing with the legal structure of the US immigration laws, the ESTA program is not a "visa." That said, it is in layman's term an electronic visa which allows one to board the plane and fly to the US.

The ESTA clearance is a part of the visa waiver process and therefore not within the purview of the Department of State. Unlike the ESTA process, the visa process involves a face-to-face interview with a live consular officer.

FWIW, you can find an example of the electronic DS-160 here.

As a parting note, do not expect clarity in the law. Yes, it ain't fair, but that is the system.

HelenaS

Got it! Thanks everyone for your advice. Looks like it'll be one hell of an application, because to list all the countries I've been to, and all the places I've presented will be a nightmare.. I hope to God the processing won't be too long.

BTW: Mr. Folinsky, the sample you posted is missing many questions which we now have to answer on the form, such as the list of countries visited, educational institutions attended, and the organizations contributed to. This one seems outdated!

Marocco

Ramadan hadn't done that either. However, he was banned for contributing money to organisations which, in turn, had contributed some funds to Hamas (at least, according to the US government).

Note that, at the time Ramadan made those donations, those organisations were not yet considered terrorist funding organisations by the US government. They were added to the list later.