Originally Posted by movida

I have an active visa after receiving a waiver of ineligibility due to a c. 17 year old conviction in the U.K. for theft from employer. It expires in 2024. The visa is a B1/B2. I’ve travelled 4 times with it and no issues (not that I’d expect any) bar additional processing on arrival.

I had only travelled for tourism purposes but have been invited to a work conference later this year. I was worried I’d need to apply from scratch for another visa type but a quick Google shows the B1 part is valid for a business trip including a conference/event.

So can I travel using this same visa granted after the waiver for my conviction and tell them on arrival I’m there for a conference? Being refused entry or told my visa isn’t valid for this purpose would be hugely embarrassing and disruptive.

Originally Posted by LondonAlb

Have you heard anything regarding your application? I've also passed the 2-3 weeks estimated timeframes they gave at the start of April

Originally Posted by graham8219

Hi All,

After a bit of advice.

Attended interview for 2nd Visa - referred for Waiver on 17th Feb
Emailed on 9th March to send Passport for Visa Issuance
Handed into DX on 11th March
Received at Embassy on 16th March

And nothing since, the website states 3-7 days for visa issue but mine has exceeded this. I've checked the status from DS-160 and still shows refused and the last action on 23 Feb.

Just wondering how long other people have been waiting recently when they have submitted their passports?

TIA

Originally Posted by CL51REL

Hi all…

just on doing application for another visa. Had multiple in past. (Waivers)
last one was 5 year and expired during lockdown 2020.

can anyone advise on timeframes for current recommended visa waivers. Either attending London or Belfast embassy?

also… in past we found going to Belfast was a quicker turn around than London. Is this still the case?

Thanks

Originally Posted by graham8219

Still awaiting my passport back from the Embassy. I have emailed twice but I get a standard response without actually answering my questions.

The https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/niv site says to "send documents" which I did on 11th March following my email asking me to submit my passport for visa assurance on 9th March.

Its been a total of a month without my passport, the emails from the webform team say my case is under review, but surely if asking for my passport it would appear my case has been reviewed. I get a feeling its "lost" in the process somewhere and without the ability to speak to someone, I keep getting this response.Embassy records show that your application remains under review at this time. Please note, no expedite service is available and there is no mechanism for routine status updates while a review is underway. You can expect to be notified as soon as the review is complete. No additional information or documentation is requested or required from you at this time.

As there is no set period of time that a review may take, we cannot guarantee an outcome by any set date. This is one reason why we advise all applicants against booking tickets or making final travel plans unless they have received their passport containing a valid U.S. visa appropriate for their purpose of travel.


Any advice anyone?

Originally Posted by LondonAlb

Have you recieved your passport back? If so, how long did it take? I sent my passport on Tuesday and we go on holiday in three weeks to Spain. I emailed asking what the timeframes are for the passport process and I've received the same response as you twice now.

Originally Posted by sevorg

Just a theory of the timeline for waivers of ineligibility. Before the pandemic ,the backlog wait time was almost six months. Then we had a total lockdown.

What I think is happening now(having that backlog cleared or cancelled during lockdown) is that those waivers granted Jan Feb were processed without little or no backlog(ie two weeks or less).

Now as more applications are made slowly that backlog will creep up, already we are seeing three weeks to a month.

I think anyone currently applying now should start looking at longer and longer periods of waiting as time goes on and the days of two week turnround are long gone.

I hope I am totally wrong but I think as time goes on my theory will prove correct.

Originally Posted by FeMcD

My partner went for his appt in London on 25th April. This was his 3rd time. First he got a multiple entry 1 year and 2nd was a 5 year. He was again recommended for a waiver.
he received his email on Friday 20th May at 8.15am to ask him to send his passport. It was at the couriers for 11.30am.
so 25 days from appt to email.
We are going on 11th june although he’s not booked on a flight yet. Fingers crossed it comes early enough for us to get him a decent price. Currently can get one for £199! Which is amazing.
I’ll update when he receives his passport back.
thanks to this forum it gave up some hope that he may be able to come, so thanks for everyone’s updates.

Originally Posted by LondonAlb

I got the email on 9th May. Dropped it off on 10th and DX confirmed it was delivered on 11th May. We go away to Greece in 10 days and still waiting for my passport. Really hope it is sorted next week so I can stop panicking.

Originally Posted by LondonAlb

I got the email on 9th May. Dropped it off on 10th and DX confirmed it was delivered on 11th May. We go away to Greece in 10 days and still waiting for my passport. Really hope it is sorted next week so I can stop panicking.