Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi All,

I am following this thread and have been since my first successful waiver in 2016.

My current visa is due to expire in Feb 2028. I now travel to the US at least 4 times a year for trade events so therefore timings have become more critical.

I have looked at the spreadsheet and it seems 12-15 months is the likely wait so I had planned an interview for September this year to give some time but I've since read of some having their existing visas void at interview - I have a work trip in October and a family trip in May 2027 which my existing visa cover - is there a risk my existing visa is void at interview?

Thanks!

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi ChrisMorts and welcome to the group. As you will have seen from the recent postings by Annettew89, her husband was in exactly the same situation and had his current Visa cancelled at the interview, impacting family trips. I do recall earlier postings by others who have reported that they have managed to persuade the consular official not to cancel their existing visa, but could not offer any advise as to whether and how to address this.

All the best

jools

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi bimbango50, I have travelled on a visa waiver since 2016 and the longest wait in secondary was in LAX 2 years ago - 6 hours! it was busy. However, I have found it to become less onerous, i recently travelled to Charlotte where the secondary was some seats in the immigration hall and processed within minutes and more recently in Austin was the first time I went through without secondary processing. From experience it depends which airport, but I know avoid JFK and LAX if possible.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thanks jools, I will keep monitoring over the next few months before making a call - surprising that they void visas even when a recommendation is made - I would understand if they were denied.

Best,

Chris

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

A recommendation can still result in a denial though.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi, has anyone ever received anything like this before ?


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...f2082140b.jpeg

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

no. In all the time on this forum, personally I have never seen this. Someone else may have.

Have you already had one interview?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Yes, it’s on the spreadsheet. Interview was 12/05/2025. Attached Email received 07/04/2026. Then that one received today.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...c55a17a622.png
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...a5628cf12b.png

Applying for work visa with previous arrest for CIMT
 

Hi,

I know most people on this thread seem to be applying for visitor visa waivers, but I am wondering if anyone has experience applying for a working visa and declaring a previous arrest for a 'CIMT'. Does the process work the same as a visitor visa waiver? If I am asking this on the wrong thread then I'd appreciate direction to the right one!

Thanks.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

bimbango50
Just travelled through JFK last week. Was taken to secondary, kept waiting for around 30 minutes and then asked a couple of standard questions (trip purpose, length etc) and sent on my way. Good luck :)

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

An invitation to a second interview is definitely not something I have seen reported in this group before. So all the best.

jools

Re: Applying for work visa with previous arrest for CIMT
 

Yes, as long as you are applying under a non-immigrant working visa category, e.g. H-1B, L, O etc.

Visas in the EB category are immigrant-based visas, for which few if any waivers for CIMT are available I believe.

jools

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi both,

My previous response to this question:

>I did the same thing for my last application. I previously had a 5 year C1/D which I need for work and my most recent one issued in 2024 was only for 2 years, so I applied for a new one last year, 1 year after it was issued, giving it 1 year for the waiver process for the new one so I >would hopefully not be without a visa and work for any significant amount of time when my current visa expires later this year.

>I had researched this beforehand and read on the embassy website that it was possible to apply for a new visa before the current one expired.

>At the interview they were initially confused as to why I was applying so early but I just explained that the waiver process would take approx 12 months and I required the visa for work so wanted to avoid a gap without one.

>I can see them cancelling your existing visa if the new one will be issued straight away (without a waver requirement) but in our case I think they were incorrect in saying initially that they would have to cancel your current one.

At my interview there was no question of them cancelling my current visa and the only info I can find on this is that they are required to do this if the visa is issued straight away, as you cannot hold 2 of the same visas, which makes sense - however not in the case of a waiver reccomendation - so I think when they have cancelled previously on waiver recommendations they have been mistaken and this has been an error on their part - just my opinion and if I remenber correctly I had called the embassy to verify this before my appointment (as well as online searches) so you could also give them a call for peace of mind.

Hope this helps.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re my earlier post on the cancellation of my existing visa.
My interview went very smoothly and just as the CO was about to conclude the interview she had the cancellation stamp in her hand and above my passport. She casually mentioned that they would have to cancel my existing visa. I immediately said I would withdraw my application and was told that this was not possible and it was standard procedure. I started to explain I had existing travel plans etc.At this she said she would check with someone else. She went away and after a while came back and said that her superior has said in view of the processing time for waivers they would not cancel the existing visa .It was made very clear that this was standard procedure to cancel any existing visas.
When I applied for a previous visa (when the processing time for a waiver was a few months and my visa had three months to run) the CO actually praised me for thinking ahead and applying when I did..When I did send my passport for visa issue the old visa was stamped "cancelled without prejudice".

I can only think that maybe the CO was new in post and was not fully up to speed on the issue of waiver processing times and when she checked she was given more up to date information.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thanks both - I will contact the embassy in the first instance. It's a balance of risk but if they can confirm they won't cancel my visa on recommendation of a waiver I will get an appointment later this year.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I’m really confused too but thanks anyways.