Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

sorry to hear. I'm guessing AP stands for Administrative Processing?

Any idea why they are making you wait so long? Every forum/thread I've read says the average time taken is 20-25 weeks. I have never come across a case where it took more than 1 year.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

marbella-james is applying in madrid rather than London, so adjudication times might be different. He also has a previous visa violation (overstay) which could be affecting the AP still further.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Several of the long-time members have come across cases where AP took close to 2 years to complete... although, to be fair, that is rare! But, it does happen.

Ian

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I received my email on Friday the 12th of July, about 18 and 1/2 weeks after interview, asking me to send my passport in within the next 30 days. This leaves me with something of a dilemma. My 10 year bar for overstaying actually expires on the 9th of August this year. So potentially if i held off on returning my passport until towards the end of the 30 day period, i might be granted a waiverless b1/b2 visa.

I can think of a couple of potentially positive side effects of delaying return of my passport, in that i might potentially no longer have to automatically get sent for secondary processing at POE and that those visas issued with a waiver tend to have shorter validity than waiverless visas. The only downsides i can see from waiting is that interrupting the process by which a waivered visa is issued might break something in the embassy's work flow and introduce some kind of delay, or that i could potentially be asked by my employer to travel to the US in the next month.

Can anyone shed any light on the risks involved in delaying return of my passport for issuance of visa, or on the benefits of being issued with a waiverless visa?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

In my opinion, you have nothing to gain by delaying sending your passport. You've been found ineligible, recommended for a waiver and are being asked to provide your passport for that visa to be issued to you.

Your ban may lapse on 9th August but that doesn't mean you will be issued with a regular visa if you send in the passport after that date.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

At my initial interview, the consular officer did mention that if the decision from the states took so long that it came back after August 9th, he would simply issue a visa without a waiver, but i agree this is not the same as the decision to grant a waiver being made before the lapse of the ban, with me introducing an artificial delay into the process. I will have to think it over and decide on what to do.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Exactly. And in fact, to quote your own post from earlier:

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi all, to update. We have now received my BF passport back. They collected Tuesday 16th July, received it back today 24th July.

It is his first waiver and they have given him 1 year with multiple entries.

Our interview date originally was 27th Feb and we received the email to submit our passport on July 1st. So 17 weeks and 5 days to be exact from date of interview until email.

We are now going to book our holiday at last!! :)

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Magic! :)

Ian

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thanks for the update. Dare we hope that adjudication times are shortening once again.

Hope you have a great holiday. :thumbsup:

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

My Interview was 27th March, no email yet , 19 weeks gone.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi all

Wonder if you can help. I've gone through this forum and understand there is no real black and white, but I was given what strikes me as an unusual response at interview and wanted to check whether anyone is familiar.

Nearly 10 years ago, I was convicted and sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving. I wont go into circumstances but I applied for a B2 tourist visa, with the intention of a holiday to new york. I had travelled to the states numerous times before the accident, but this is my first application since.

Went to the interview on 26th March, and the officer said that he was uncertain whether my crime was classed as CIMT and needed to seek further advice. He returned my passport and gave me a notice which covered rejection on this basis, but went onto say that he wanted to check with his superiors and that I would receive an email or a letter by post confirming whether a waiver of ineligibility would be necessary.

I have heard nothing since, other than contacting the appointment line, getting a CIU and emailing the embassy. i eventually received a reply (this is going back to May) saying that my case was still under review. There is no AP number to track online, and this is all I've heard.

I am inclined to think that the waiver is necessary and that is now being reviewed, but as I haven't heard anything I am a little concerned that I need to do something else? Does anyone know if they contact you if they reject your request?

The intention if positive was to head out to NYC for some Christmas shopping...I don't have my hopes pinned, and I've read lots about the 22 week wait time, but not sure if this is actually what's happening with my case? I've called the operator line again today to be told that they can't see any notes, and tried to email the same email address as before to be told that the email address is no longer accepting emails.

I don't mind waiting at all - but I would like to be able to find out if they are considering a waiver, or if they have forgotten about me or rejected my application.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks in advance for reading and sorry for my long message!

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi all,

Let me tell you my experience

I was denied a visa via the esta system. As I had never been arrested for moral turpitude I typed no. My Esta visa was declined so I paid the exorbitant fee to get one at the UK embassy. I had been arrested twice, never charged and never seen a court room. Had a clear no trace on the ACPO, yet was still denied my visa.
It was pretty clear they had no intention of giving me a visa, the denial form was there in front of the guy.
The reality is my arrests have nothing to do with being denied a visa, many many people I have heard about have spent time in jail and have ticked NO on the esta and have been given the visa waiver.

Anyway less than 24h after being denied the visa at the embassy, they send me an email asking for more information about myself, my travel etc etc ( see their email below).

I am a Muslim, born and raised in London, been to Pakistan on holiday, been to Dubai and middle eastern counties for holidays.
The questions they ask are irelevant to my visa, such as the names of my brothers and sisters, spouse and children.

This seems like a pure information gathering questionnaire with no intention of giving a tourist visa. I am also suspicious as to why it took them less than 24h to get back to me while some have been waiting for months.

It's sad as my daily job involves the promotion and sale of American products which I think are the best and more so the fact that my dream since a kid was to go and see my beloved Cleveland Browns play in Cleveland Ohio sometime. I'll just have do with nflgamepass as I have done for years.
I am not desperate to go to the States and on a matter of principle refuse to divulge information that is irrelevant to my visa application.


Embassy of the United States of America
Petition Unit
US Embassy, Box 6
24 Grosvenor Square
London W1K 6AH

Dear XXXXXXXXX
Thank you very much for your interest in a non-immigrant visa for travel to the United States. Some additional information is required at this time in order to continue the processing of your recent application. We request that you please reply to this e-mail as thoroughly and specifically as possible with regard to the following items:
1. Your complete travel history for the last 10-15 years, in chronological order.
2. The full names of any siblings, children, and/or former spouses/partners *not* already provided in your initial application.
3. Your residence address history for the last 10-15 years, in chronological order.
4. All prior passport numbers and country/countries of issuance.
5. All prior occupation(s), plus a brief description if necessary, for the last 10-15 years.
Your timely reply will help expedite a final determination
Petition Unit
U.S. Embassy, London
Fax: 020 7894 0407
This address is not for general inquiries from the public. Highly detailed visa information is available from the Embassy's website at http://london.usembassy.gov.
This email is UNCLASSIFIED
Reply â–¼
Delete More â–¼

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi all,

Just got an email from the embassy today. It says:

Dear XXXX,

The administrative processing on your U.S. visa application has been completed. Please drop your passport and the new I-20 form with a new start date (please request from the school to issue you a new I-20 with the latest starting date) off at the courier office with the green document submission cover letter you were given at your interview. If you did not receive a green letter or no longer have it, you may print out the attached form and use it to drop off your passport at one of the two courier offices listed. You will receive your passport back within 3-4 business days at the address you indicated when you first applied.

My interview was back in April so right around 4 months. Finally a feeling of relief.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

It is highly frustrating, but as you've been told your case is under review, all you can do is continue doing what you have been doing so far - namely waiting and occasionally trying the helpline to see if there's any further information.

If the wait drags on for a considerable period of time, I suppose you could try contacting an immigration lawyer (preferably one with contacts at the embassy), who may be able to find out more on your behalf.