Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Adjudication times seem to be shorter now, and five year validity does appear to be the usual result these days. That should give you enough insight into choosing a suitable window that will allow you to apply for the visa and still make the proposed trip.

Of course, nothing is absolutely certain and it's very much dependent on the circumstances of each individual case. YMMV.

Best of luck.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

apply jan 19? problem solved

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi guys, new on here and must say what a wonderful job you lot are doing , sharing your experiences while helping others in the process, well done.

I have a situation I'm hoping someone might have had similar experience or know of others who has. I am a foreign national in the UK who has been convicted of a very serious crime namely importation of drugs. I received an 18 months sentence and have since completed that and my rehabilitation since June 2010. I have also gone on to receive an Indefinite Leave to Remain status in the country. In the last 2 years my family ( wife and 2 kids ) have gone to Florida on holidays but I know I'm not eligible which is why I have never attempted to apply for visa. But I realised at some point I'll have to either explain to my kids why daddy can't go with them or apply for a waiver of ineligibility. My thoughts tell me it is impossible to get a waiver for this sort of conviction, for one it is a very serious one and only 7 years has passed. The kids have now decided they want to go to Florida again and I'm deliberating on trying my luck, just so I can say I tried. My questions are, are there waivers for such grave crimes ? if the answer is yes has anyone been successful at applying for one ? All responses will be appreciated.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Yes, such a conviction could be waived and a B2 granted. The longer the elapsed time since the offence, the better. It will likely also only be single entry, which means going through the process and waiver process every time you want to enter the US.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Many thanks for the response. Glad to know there is still some hope, however little. I really don't mind doing it every time if that is what is required, just being able to travel to the US on vacation with the kids is all that matters.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

One thing to note - NEVER book a trip to US until you have a visa in hand. The waiver process is lengthy.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Oh! Thanks for the advice. Won't attempt that at all.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

As has been said, it's possible for this conviction to be waived.

Only issue is, it's trafficking, which you are obviously aware is devastatingly serious, and even more so in the eyes of the US.

You could try now but I wouldn't expect you to succeed until you cross the 10 year mark for something like that.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond. Yes I am very much aware how precarious the situation is. I have an interview coming up in about 3 weeks, I have no hope whatsoever and know I'll be refused and certainly not get recommended for a waiver but I still want to try just to get it done and out of the way. My hope now is for sometime in the future, maybe at the 10 year point as suggested by you, hopefully by then they'll look back upon my last attempt and the time passed positively.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi, interview 8th Jan. email 20th March. Passport sent special delivery 21st March and received back 29th march. 5 year visa! Previously had 6 months, single entry, 1 year, then 3 year. I assume this methodology is based on a “trust” building up over time. But who knows.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Excellent news for you. Happy planning. 👍🏻

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I've been told that processing times from Belfast are much quicker than London. However, looking at the website it currently takes 26 calendar days to get an appointment vs 7-10 for London. Apparently visa waivers are processed in 2-3 months from belfast and up to 6 months for London.

As I'll get an appointment in london up to 3 weeks sooner, and I live there, it makes much more sense to go there. I'd visit Belfast if it would genuinely save me 3-4 months of waiting if I was granted a waiver. However from this thread it seems that processing from London has come down to about 3 months currently, is this correct? Which option should I go for?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

See my recent post of actual real life timing for me recently In London.

I think you may be working with a myth. As far as I know after interview stage your application ends up in exactly the same pile of paper somewhere at Homeland security in America in the same office awaiting approval regardless of where your interview was. The only potential differential is of London are not as efficient in filing that request as Belfast are.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I suppose these status updates are a myth also?https://uk.usembassy.gov/wp-content/...9march2018.pdf

Movida, be careful of the 'advice' you get on here. I am actually IN the process now. those appointment times are not accurate, When you are at the stage of booking the appointment, you can choose which of the 2 embassy/consulate then. You also have the option going back in a seeing if there is a possible sooner cancellation and changing your mind.
Wishing u all the best

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thanks that pdf is really useful. Is there the same available for London so I can see ‘real’ processing times to make a final decision?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

strangely, there isn't but like I said, make your decision at the stage when you are booking the appointment online - you can see the calendar availability for both. When I did it for my husband, the website said it would only be a 3 day wait for London but in reality no appointments were available for 3 weeks so it was a no brainer for us because Belfast had much sooner availability.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

In case you hadn't realised, just about everyone else on this thread is also "IN" the process and the timescales reported by those that have received waivers of ineligibility are a much more accurate indication of the current state of play than any of the generic and outdated consulate information you have posted here and in movida's other thread.

The London consulate have always given six months as a guideline for processing times. In reality, apart from a couple of years ago, it has never taken that long to adjudicate the majority of applications.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

and so which part of my actual advice are you disagreeing with? (the status of waivers given in2018 so far on the link I posted actually be couldn't be more current) .

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I'm taking issue with you telling people that Belfast is a better option than London and implying that the advice given on this forum isn't trustworthy.

Your husband had one experience in Belfast. What worked for him may or may not work for anyone else.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I beg to differ as I think this speaks for itself. https://uk.usembassy.gov/wp-content/...9march2018.pdf

I am sure the poster has been given enough information now to make his decision. good day

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

The problem is that the info on the US embassy website may well not be current or correct, and, in any case, the people there have official permission to lie about timings etc.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Karenkaren1, it is not that people do not believe you. It is that like others have said and Mikelincs confirmed, there is no site for either a US Consulate or the USCIS that is now, or ever has been, known to give accurate and correct timelines.

While one might be able to get an appointment quicker at Belfast, it doesn't mean that the waiver will be approved any quicker if the approval needs to come from the Washington, DC office of Homeland Security.

Also one should see if an appointment can be changed to an earlier one if there is a cancellation of someone else's appointment. Log onto the scheduling site daily and see if there is an earlier date that magically appears. It could be that they have released more time slots for an early date because the immigration section officers aren't as busy or someone has cancelled.

You chose Belfast for your husband and that's great because it works for you as he is in urgent need of approval due to his acceptance of a work visa offer from his current employer. Others who are just looking for a B2 travel visa do not have your husband's same sense of urgency.

Please do not take posts that disagree with you as a personal affront. It was never meant in that spirit. Just as you might not have meant to say "Movida, be careful of the 'advice' you get on here." to mean that the advice given by experienced posters is wrong, inaccurate or harmful. Why do I think that? Because if you distrusted any advice that you have received in the past here, then you would not be participating and would be allowing the company's immigration attorney to handle your family's visas as they are retained to do.

So shall we have peace.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I think the general advice is invaluable, I meant that very often there is conflicting advice so not to take 'everything' as gospel. We are on the same page and I completely agree with what you have just written re checking for cancellations ....I previously made the exact same point as you just have.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I have applied and printed out the form online. Having now attempted to book an appointment I simply do not receive the verification email despite trying several addresses. Has this happened to anyone else? Without it I cannot proceed to pay for and book the appointment.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Have you checked your spam folders? Occasionally, emails from the consulate have been known to be caught in the spam filters employed by various email providers.

Alternatively, there may simply be a glitch and you could have better luck trying again tomorrow. As a last resort only, you could contact the helpline if still having difficulty (but don't expect them to be too helpful).

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thanks, the emails were just very delayed. I'd inadvertently registered about 5 times and now paid for an appointment using a less than ideal email. My main email still needed verifying, can I contact them to delete the other registrations so that I can switch my email address over in the account with the appointment against it?

I thought a London appointment was 7-10 days and Belfast was a bit more, it showed the next London appointment on 30th May and I could only get 16th May earliest for Belfast so I went for that. This seems insanely long, is it because I selected yes to criminal conviction on the appointment booking page?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Yes!! we had the exact same, those times mean absolutely nothing until you get to the booking section.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

If you are in a hurry to go to interview, you can always keep checking back to see if there have been cancellations or earlier appointments that free up.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Any idea how long I should expect to be in the Belfast embassy for so I can plan my travel? I'm envisaging it's not as big/busy as London?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi All

After visiting the London embassy for the second time my partner has been recommended for visa waiver. We didn’t understand this fully until reading this thread. The information on here has been informative and uplifting after thinking this was never going to happen we are both extatic. Just one quick question if anyone could help. My partners passport runs out in November and as we have a holiday in June it needs to be renewed however I saw a post that said after renewal their passport number changed. I’m worried that this may happen and could affect the visa once receiving the email to send the passport off. Hope this post makes sense. I have a newborn baby and the lack of sleep is affecting my brain functioning :ohmy:

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

You shouldn't renew the passport until AFTER you receive the US visa.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hello everyone.

Just got back from my 2nd trip to the US (both times JFK), got sent to the secondary processing room after immigration and it took a mere 15mins to get processed, couple of questions and "have a nice trip".

Is this the same at most airports in the US for folks with Waivers of Ineligibility? I'm due to be going to Vegas next year and I wondered if anyone had experience on this there?

Thanks in advance and good luck to all those still waiting for the email!

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Well I’ve been to Florida twice and it’s been around the same time. No hassle, 1st time was about 5 minutes as there was only me in there, 2nd time it was about 15 mins as there were 2 other people there.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Great info thanks!

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I fly in to Denver and never more than 10 mins.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thanks that's awesome

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

LAX Bradley Terminal, I have had 2 hours and once, 5 hours. It can be hell. LAX in general I always assume a minimum of an hour.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Oh deep joy. That's where we're headed in October. We have an 15month old, when we went to NYC we were fast tracked through the main immigration queue so that saved at least half an hour, then my secondary processing took 20 mins so netted out about the same. Hopeful of something similar. 5hrs sounds horrendous - I would literally rather not go than have to put up with that.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

It vastly depends on what terminal you are going to. If you happen to be Virgin Atlantic, they are in a much smaller terminal and it's typically much quicker. United have their own terminal too (I am trying them for the first time in a few days so I will see - I refuse to fly to Tom Bradley now because of the waiting).

Take a view of how many people are in the room when you get in - if it's 5 or under you should be done quite quickly (that's an estimation), if it's 10-20+ then you're in for a long one.

If you are flying into the Tom Bradley terminal, expect over an hour. If you have a partner with you, consider having them leave the airport with your child and have them head to your hotel or whatever, and just travel separately. You won't be able to communicate with them (don't try and use a phone, it's not worth it) and the waiting will be hell - you'll be the only one dragged away anyway. If you're on here, you have your waiver and you've done your research, so all should be good - you will get there - it just takes time.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thanks. We’re flying BA. just checked, into the Tom Bradley terminal... Arrive about 1pm in the afternoon.

Will make a plan for them to travel to the hotel separately but I really appreciate the info so we can plan, thanks.

If you don’t mind updating me I’d be interested to hear how long the wait is with United. Have a good trip and thanks.

P.S Yes have 5 year multi entry visa and been to the states twice on a waiver, but only been to JFK so was interested for future destinations