thank you. Even though my process has been completed, I’m going to try and stay around in this thread. I think people that have been through the process successfully can provide a lot of info and reassurance to people only just starting out the process

Passport received today with one year of waiver only.

That’s better than nothing after some people have been rejected. I wonder what the grounds are for issuing varying lengths of waiver. Am I correct in presuming you couldn’t go through the ESTA due to a criminal conviction? If so, how long ago was it?

yes I’ve tried many times and it got rejected. It was 3 years ago, I had 5 years ban. 1y Better than nothing for sure 🙏

Congratulations on completing this tortuous process. As you note, one year is better than nothing. We can just remain hopeful that if you try again in the future, you get a longer visa.

All the best,

jools

Hi everyone,

So sorry I forgot to come back and make the most important post... after receiving the notification to send in my passport, I made the journey to the courier location, sent it off and around 10 days later received my passport back with a visa valid for 5 years. A very pleasant surprise!

Hang in there everyone still waiting - my fingers are crossed for all of you

Fantastic news, really happy for you. Can you provide the actual dates you sent and received the passport so I can update the sheet with the correct information.

All the best,

jools

Thanks Jools! Sent on 5 March, received 18th March

Thanks, sheet updated. Now we just need an update from Ninjabreadman , Terrier1982 , benjobrown , Juan78 and woodydog3

jools

Hello, I hope someone may be able to shed light on our situation. My husband had a 5year visa that was due to run out next year April 2027. He damaged his passport but the visa was ok, the embassy told us we could use it to travel to New York in October which we did and he travelled with his new passport and damaged passport with visa in, but to book an appointment to renew before our Next travel. We have a cruise booked March 2027. In February 2026 he went for his interview but he hadn't realised during the appointment they have stamped his valid visa as now void. The said they were sending the new visa off for a waiver like the previous time and he said they filled in a purple form. Upon reading his refusal sheet it states why he has been refused but there is a paragraph furth down about being refused by 214 (b).
We are now confused as the officer definitely said he was sending off for the waiver but the form has the 214(b) written section on it. We are hoping the office just picked up the incorrect from. Has anyone else had this happen? We obviously didn't expect a valid visa to be cancelled and now we have a nervous wait to see if its renewed in time but are also worried they may not of sent off for the waiver considering what the form they sent him home with.
Any advice would be great.

It sounds like his visa has been refused (a verbal approval/mention of sending for a waiver means nothing I’m afraid), but can you post a photo of the form so we can look and try and clarify for you? Please just redact any personal details first.

This is what he was handed. The office interviewing him asked for his ACRO and said "is that all that's on there" my husband said "yes" he went to see a supervisor in the back, then came back and said we cant issue a visa today but will send it off for the waiver of ineligibility. my husband asked what he needed to do next and he was told to wait for an email. The officer filled in a purple form which the officer kept and gave this (photo above) to my husband. We are so confused and have tried to contact the embassy to ask but have no idea how to get in touch, we found an email and have had no response. I just wondered what other people had been handed after theirs was sent off for waiver. We cant remember what happened when he first did it 6 years ago.

I'm sorry, but that means he's been refused a visa.

Thank you, we are just so confused. The officer handed this over amd then said he was being sent for a visa waiver. We have tried calling, emailing and no one is getting back to us. We have decided there is nothing else we can do. Our holiday is in march so even if he re applied wouldn't be done in time. We are just hoping he has sent off for the waiver but given him the wrong paper work. Either way myself and my boys are going but just hoping the out come is good. Its so frustrating they voided a valid visa. Had we have known we would of waited to re apply.

Greetings everyone, I'm back lurking after receiving the denial letter back in September last year. I took it upon myself today to revisit the spreadsheet and see how everyone else has been getting on specifically those who were interviewed in London. I downloaded the spreadsheet offline in order to filter the sheet down to London + 1st time waivers and noticed the approval rate is incredibly low. I'm not sure if we still have any lurkers here who were faced with a denial on the first attempt then approval on the second attempt? How long did you wait before attempting to apply again? Otherwise joolsjools would you happen to have any recommendation on when would be a reasonable time to reapply for the B1/B2? I know the current administration doesn't make circumstances any easier for us... good luck to all those waiting.