Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Only a year since is probably not long enough. If you don't have a pressing need to go to the US right now, and you aren't inclined to risk the money it costs, I'd be tempted to hang on for another year or ideally two. Especially if the drug was cannabis or a Class A (aka anything Schedule 1 in the US).

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Heard anything back yet?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

The status page is often wrong and doesn't ever give any useful information outside of telling you when the visa has been issued. It'll say Denied until that point. If I remember correctly, mine wasn't updated until after I got my passport back.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

My case was last updated on 24th April as Refused. Is there a maximum wait time?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

my interview was in may the status still says refused but dated in June. thou from memory I think I had see it update like that before.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Theoretically, probably not. The process doesn't really "time out" or have to meet an upper limit in terms of processing time.

Given you were April, you're probably going to be hearing in the next few weeks.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I've kinda given in to the fact my holidays buggered in Feb so anything earlier that makes me go is a bonus, I've already spoken to BA and they were really helpful so kinda go a plan B

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Having been granted my waiver and having my passport back in hand with the visa in it, it's a 5 year multiple entry. I have just booked a trip to New York. What can I expect when I arrive, and do I need to bring loads of paperwork relating to my conviction? Should I expect an interview or deep questioning, or should the visa and the waiver be enough and I should get through border control with relative ease?

Obviously after all this time, stress and expense I don't want to fall at the last hurdle and not bring some required paperwork or something...

Also, do I go to the normal queue and additionally, what do I fill in on the form on the plane? I think it asks about what I'm bringing into the country as well as convictions, so what do I tick here?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

You do not need to take any additional paperwork with you beyond your passport. Fill in your landing card like any other passenger.

You cannot go through the electronic ESTA machine - just goto the normal visa queue.

You will be taken aside for an interview in Secondary Inspection. You cannot use a phone or anything electronic (kindles may be okay but I wouldn't personally gamble it). Bring a book. Quickest it has been for me is 30 minutes or so, slowest it has been in secondary inspection is about 4.5 hours. Just depends how many people are in there and how long the line is and how complex the other cases are. Waivers are generally straightforward, they might ask you typical questions about why you are there, where you are staying etc. Same as always, just be honest, compliant, and don't start volunteering information unless asked. These are the guys that can turn you round home so it's not the place to get cocky or smart. Just treat everyone with respect, be patient, and you'll be fine.

It's a stress free experience as long as you just go with the flow and stay relaxed. Go in knowing you're going to be waiting for a long time, and you'll probably come out pleasantly surprised. You will get pulled aside to secondary inspection upon every entry into the USA, FYI. Permanently.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

The landing card doesn't ask about it.

They might ask you about it. I've only been asked what the crime was, and nothing more. So remorse etc doesn't tend to come up in my experience. But you know the drill if it does.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Interested to hear from other people around their experience/average time spent in secondary inspection. F.e. if anyone who travels regularly has noticed any differences between airports.

I've had one trip to the US on my visa waiver and spent around 2.5 hours at Las Vegas McCarran International airport. As mentioned, wasn't allowed access to my phone or any way to notify those I was traveling with. Once I was finally called, just some very basic questions and lasted around 5 minutes. Seems the main delay is the queue of people in front and how complex their cases are - it goes in order of arrival from what I could see.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

My husband got taken to secondary inspection when we landed in Orlando for first time using L1. Me and the kids went ahead to claim luggage and 15 mins later were all heading out of the airport. Was really not a big deal at all for us.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

What does L1 mean?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

an L1 is a type of non-immigrant employment visa

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Although I'm the same person as earlier, I can fill out my experiences a little bit.

The delay is pretty much solely to do with how many people are also in Secondary. I have on one occasion been in there for an incredibly length period of time (nearly 5 hours) because it would appear the CPB officer who was reviewing my case either a) didn't know what to do or b) forgot he picked my passport out of the rack and started doing something else or c) decided to do a length review of my circumstances

I have come to the conclusion that USCs always get jumped to the front of the queue, which is why some people who appear to come in after you, leave before you. Either that or they are in first class and are under pressure to get a connecting flight. If the CBP make you miss your flight, my understanding is they have to front the cost of putting you on another plane.

LAX is where I have had most experience. The main Tom Bradley International Terminal is by far the worst simply because of the volume of people. You are basically guaranteed to be in there for a long period of time. The smaller terminals that have some international flights (United T7 and Virgin Atlantic T3) are much better due to the reduction in quantity. With VA, I have been in and out within about 20 minutes before. United was about 45 minutes but we'd landed at the same time as two other planes from Asia - all in, that's still pretty good.

My experiences at JFK have actually been really good but I think it's just chance that they haven't been very busy when I've been there. The CBP officers at JFK are by far the most relaxed, and often have a bit of a laugh with me about it.

The description you have given is totally standard. Once you actually get reviewed, it's in and out. They aren't interested in keeping you there any longer than you need to be. One caveat is that the CBP are a unique organisation in that they collectively have no grasp of urgency. The shift times on the desks are hilariously short. I think it's a pretty soul destroying job though, and most are in it for the exceptionally good long term benefits rather than the work life balance. To that end, I'm always very gentile with them.

I have seen someone be deported for getting back on their phone after being told to get off it, and then proclaiming that they were bored and that her situation was "ridiculous".

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I only have two experiences of going through secondary processing with a waiver of inegibility. First time was at Houston IAH in 2011. The place was busy and I spent around 45-60 minutes waiting, followed by being questioned for 15 minutes or so (they pretty much asked every question I'd faced at my visa interview in London, and I got the impression they had my previous answers on screen and were comparing to see if my story/circumstances stood up or not). Second time was last summer at preclearance in Dublin and I had a ten minute wait there before beimg stamped straight in, no questions asked.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thanks for these experiences. Is it silly of me to worry that something will go wrong and they won't let me in? Surely the waiver shows that an applicant has followed the full and proper process and the DHS has pre-approved entry, although I appreciate border control have the final say. Can they refuse entry for the circumstances involved (i.e. a conviction) despite the fact you have specifically got a waiver and visa for this reason? Or should I stop worrying and just deal with the (further) inconvenience when I get there, and be polite and answer the questions, for them to then let me through?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Well, CBP have the authority to act with impunity. So in theory they can turn you around, and they can also choose to not give you a reason why.

On the balance of probabilities, however, I think you should stop worry and just relax. You're well rehearsed in how to cope with this people now, it's pretty much out of your hands, and you're on the home straight with a frighteningly low probability of something going wrong, especially if you behave yourself.

People come on here and get very, very worked up about the Secondary inspection process. It's just a bunch of waiting, answering what's asked of you, and moving on. At the end of the day there are hundreds if not thousands of waiver entries every day into the US, and I bet the amount that get turned around is barely in the double digits, and it's almost certainly because they've done something stupid.

You'll be fine.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

The best you can hope for is they ask the airline to rebook you, CBP certainly are not liable for the cost. It would be a very rare occurrence if the airline didn't do so. In 10 years at Heathrow I only personally know of one occasion when an airline refused to rebook a passenger in those circumstances.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Just another update

I received my Visa back and its valid for 5 years 2023.

Thanks everyone for your help. Until next time....

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi, I wonder if anyone has a recent experience similar to ours. ~My husband applied for a visa in July and got an appointment in London for Sept, they recomended him for a waiver or ineligibility but subject to a medical (he had a drugs posession offence from when he was 20). We went for the medical 3 weeks ago and we have just had confirmation through that this was satisfactory so the recomedation for a waiver has gone to Dept for Homeland security. I just wondered if anyone else has had this same process and how long it took to come back after this? We are hoping to go to Florida for Easter. Many thanks in advance

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I have heard of medicals being required in the past, but not for some time, so it's interesting to read that they are starting to do them again in reaction to drug offences.

As for timings, I'd expect the normal 5-6 month sort of range from the confirmation that the waiver recommendation has been sent to the DHS.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thanks for your reply, looks like Easer away is unrealistic then... I'll try not to think about it until its back.
Yes another man my husband spoke to at the Embassy in London got the same outcome - just a shame its adds a further 6/7 weeks onto the application process because of the availabilty of medical appointments. Quite pricey too - around £500!

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Yes, it's a lot of money and a long time to wait for a decision; but, if the visa is granted, it's likely to be valid for a number of years and useful for multiple visits.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I had my interview on the 6th and after submitting some more information by email have received an email today that I'm being recommended for the waiver program and the wait is 3-6 months. I have a holiday to Florida booked for the 6th May (5 and a half months away)
So I'm really hoping everything can come back by than, I can always shift my flights back but just will be a real hassle to do it.

It's a shame there isn't any way to check where you are in the system.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Not trying to worry you but keeping you informed I'm in the same boat, but mines, even worse, be aware that once you get the email saying submit passport it'll be another 10- additional on top as to when you send the passport off and receive it back with your visa inside.... I'm going in Feb so I've given in to the fact that I aint going.... Just hoping really I get confirmation nearer to 3 months, my interview was on 5th Oct

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Tell them the truth. What have you got to hide?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I'd ring the embassy in London 02074999000 if I was you dooble check, good luck tc

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I'm also interested in the answer to this.... Could you please feedback on here if you get a response from the embassy. My husbands visa was sent off at a similar time to yours and we are hoping to travel for Easter. I think it would make all the difference if we were able to travel down to London with the passport

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

According to previous posts on this thread, you can't take the passport in personally, only via courier or post. There is a search function, top right of the thread, if you want to find the relevant posts.

HTH.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

:goodpost:

There is no way to physically attend the US Embassy in London to deliver your passport and then hang around for it to be processed. A courier or overnight delivery system will get it there the next day and it will go into the pile set aside for processing. It might not be gotten to for 2 or 3 days or longer. Then it goes to the courier for return to your husband.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Ah ok, thanks. I thought it was too good to be true :-)

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi! Has anyone who had a consular visa appointment in July hear back? I had mine July 13 and haven't heard back yet. Thanks.