Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I've never arrived at Tom Bradley that early, always around 5pm or later. Hopefully that'll be in your favour.

Will update this thread with the United terminal experience at LAX.

I too have been very quick at JFK.

It's basically 1st in and 1st out, and dependent on what the person ahead of you is in secondary inspection for, it can vastly alter the experience. I've had 20 people in front of me before go through in under an hour. I've had 2 people take 2 hours. The CBP officers (as you'll observe) seem to keep quite a strange shift culture, and between them clocking on and off, it loses an unbelievable amount of time. I've never experience such a lack of urgency as I have in secondary inspection.

But yeah, as you seem to be doing, plan for the worst. It can only meet your expectations or be better then.

I once saw a Dutch national get sent home from secondary inspection because she quite audibly complained about how long she was waiting. CBP officer told her to relax and stop shouting. She responded saying she wasn't shouting. She then got removed. Not kidding.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Oh wow! I can imagine. I wouldn't say boo to a goose with those guys. They're very serious.

Thanks so much for all the info, at least now I can prep ahead of the trip.

Look forward to your update on United. Have a good trip :)

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

hi, what is the normal time scale from sending passport (after receiving email)...to receiving passport back with visa + waiver?

would ideally like to book flight for as soon as possible after receiving the email.

thank you

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Depends slightly on the day of week, but my last experience was send on friday end of day, received on the following thursday. It's generally 5-7 working day turnaround.

My previous experience was similar, as was my partner's. This is one of the more consistent areas of this process!!!

Congratulations on finally getting sorted. I still abide by the advice of never booking anything until the visa is in hand.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

ok great, thanks so much for the advice. We still haven't got the waiver but I keep checking the Belfast case status tracker spreadsheet and the applications submitted 2 weeks earlier than ours...have just been processed. So I am hoping the pattern continues and we will hear in a couple of weeks. (Just planning ahead - although I am booking rewards/miles flights so will have some flexibility).

I have never been great at being patient :unsure:

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

AFAIK you only need to take the original copy of the ACRO police certificate. You could take photocopies of everything else (but the consulate might not be interested in looking at them anyway).

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

So United into LAX - what I was hoping for basically happened but perhaps too effectively. As it's a small terminal with relatively few inbound international flights, the immigration hall is a lot quicker than Tom Bradley (aka TBIT). I got pulled to Secondary after about a half hour wait to see the Primary officer, and I had a further 20-25 minute wait with around 4 people ahead of me, all of which arrived after me, all of which were USCs. I guess they might have been transfers. So I should have been out in about 5 minutes but for whatever reason I was not a priority. Unusually, there was only one officer in Secondary, sat at a desk in a very open room - it was unusually informal but that did make the experience less trying. From the doors on the plane opening to getting out of the airport, it was about 90 minutes which is very decent indeed for LAX. Overall, would do again. Flight itself was fine - economy on a dreamliner is much of a muchness. Virgin Atlantic terminal is still quicker as they have a few more staff.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi guys,

Has anyone in here experience with the matter of whether a conviction can actually be so old that you no longer would need a Waiver any longer? say if you have renewed your waiver a few times and suddenly its +15 years ago since your conviction.. Can you then actually be eligible for a visa (ESTA) again at such time or would you have to apply for a waiver each and every time.

wondering...

Kindest regards,
Peter

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

That is nice, thanks for sharing. Never, repeat never fly into D.C. Dulles, it will take you forever. on a "quiet day" I was stock there for 2 hours and missed my connection. Dulles is bad.
I was landing once in LAX, Tom Bradley too and it was super fast too.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Criminal inadmissibility is for life. If it applies to you, you will always need a visa and waiver irrespective of how long ago your conviction was.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thanks. So on a practical note, if one wants to keep having a valid Waiver in their passport continuously - what do you do? as it takes, currently, 18-25 weeks for an application to be taken care of, do you then apply BEFORE your current waiver expires and would that be acceptable? if not, there will always be periods where you cannot re-enter the U.S. on a short notice I guess.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable to apply for a new visa and waiver while an existing one is still valid.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thank you, as always appreciated. That is good to know. I will then start re-applying while on my current one like 6 months before it expires in order to keep it running without interference.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Seems as though you have everything you need.

If the current instructions tell you to take the VCU-01 in person, then that's what you need to do. The way things were done in the past is irrelevant.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I flew into Newark last year and this sounds almost identical to my experience. Flying in to San Francisco at the end of this month so we will see if that is a similar experience!

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I would just like to say that it is good that this thread is still going and as informative as it is. This thread was a great help and reassurance for me in early 2017 when i was due to fly to USA using my waiver for the first time.

The first hand experiences of people really set my mind at ease. Entering the USA was extremely efficient and all officers were polite and courteous while going about their jobs.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Anyone waiting for a waiver having applied through Belfast? As per my other thread I now have a waiver being applied for. Current processing time on the Belfast update sheet says 2-3 months, and it looks like from the dates on there that it's generally taking around 2.5 months. I won't hold my breath but we'll see.

Generally are most waivers accepted? I was sentenced around 12 years ago for theft from employer, it was minor in terms of value and I received 80 hours community service. As with everyone on here, it's embarrassing to have to go through this process as I pose absolutely zero threat, however I appreciate we have no choice. I'd be surprised if it wasn't accepted but I was refused very shortly after my conviction when I applied in c 2006. Surely more than enough time has passed hence my recommendation for a waiver, although as per my other thread the record on the embassy system incorrectly had me down for 2 offences rather than 1, hence they actually tried to process me via the Petty Offence exception (which ended up being unsuccessful, hence the waiver).

Also, I read on this thread the 'norm' is to grant 5 year visas. Have any first time applications been granted this (or are they 6 months)? If I were fortunate to receive a waiver and in enough time, I've got a pencilled in trip for late November but I'd also like a shorter visit before that (again dependent on timing). Obviously wouldn't want to 'waste' a single entry visa on a trip to NY for a few days and would be best to save it for the longer planned trip. If I were granted a single entry visa for 6 months for example, could I apply for another before I'd actually visited the US, and would the second visa 'top up' the first one so I'd essentially have two back to back single entry visas?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Stop overthinking and complicating things. You will almost certainly be granted the waiver and it will most likely be valid for 5 years and multiple entries, just like anyone other applicant.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

My husband recently had his waiver approved via Belfast - took exactly 13 weeks. There were getting processed quicker but according to my lawyer, everything has slowed down since April.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Pls can anyone explain what the following means...printed under annotation on the visa:

'212(d)(3)(A) waiver of 2A2 granted'

I have tried to google it and can see the first part seems to be an umbrella term for type of waiver but cant find anything on 2A2

thankyou

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

That refers to the specific grounds within section 212a. 2A2 would be criminal grounds, conviction of certain crimes, violation of law relating to a controlled substance

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

thankyou :)

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Do you mind sharing whether the visa was granted for the usual 5 years and multiple entries, or a different period of validity? This is the kind of information that other applicants find useful.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

hi, its slightly confusing to me because the petition is L1A new office only valid 12 months (before we have to apply for extension) but the visa expiry date is 5 years from now and multiple entries with PED dated 12 months from when petition approved. I am assuming that this means the waiver is good for 5 years....

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Yes this is correct. Assuming the L1A renewals go ahead as predicted, a new visa/waiver shouldn't be needed until the expiry of the inidividual visa itself. Waiver "lengths" are for the entire period of the visa's validity, and then the validity is subject to the successful renewals of the L1A petition.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

well thats a relief! thanks

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Just as a bit of forewarning/forethought (and this applies to any other NI visa renewal) - once (and if) it gets to the stage of a visa renewal, apply a year in advance, as he'll need another waiver. That gives plenty of time for it to be issued, preventing any possibility of being caught out and having to leave the country, and you can absolutely have 2 active visas (well the old one gets replaced in the system, but you can have an active one whilst applying for a new one).

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

ah ok thanks for the advice, will definitely prepare well in advance ...albeit the goal is to apply for eb1c as soon as we (hopefully) get extension.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hello,
I am new here and was recommended for waiver of ineligibility. I appalled in London US Consulate.
I read a lot from the forum, thank you all for info.
All I can do now is to wait but I am concerned about missing the email. It can arrive some time between 3 to 12 months.
Can someone advise me what email address the notification actually coming form?
It is tend to go to a spam folder?

My thinking is if I put their email in my contacts then I will get notification on my phone.

Thank you :)

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Thank you :)

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hello all,

I'm new around here, so please forgive me if I'm asking silly questions.

I've previously been granted a 12 month visa (waiver of ineligibility) which has expired and I've now applied for a new one via the London embassy in April. Has anyone here applied for a visa via the London embassy this year or have any finger in the air information around average waiting times?

Thank you

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

It seems to have improved a little versus 18-24 months ago. Average times seem to be 4-5 months right now. My last one was on the lower end, I think. Hopefully, given you're applying again, you will be a bit quicker than your first time and the current average.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hi all,
Just a bit of extra data involving waiting times at different embassies. My husband has been issued a waiver twice so far:
-one tourist visa, issued after roughly 3 months at Belfast in 2016
-one J2, issued 2 months and 3 weeks after interview in London in March this year.
This was for a shorter project that I was working on in the US on a J1 visa.
Now we're waiting for our 3rd visa, again a J1/J2 for which we had the interview in the embassy in Frankfurt (Germany) at the end of April. I really hope I can post good news again soon, and that our 2-3 month waiting period trend continues. We have flights booked for the end of August that we (I for sure) need to catch, and I really do hope it works out again.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

I had my interview at the London Embassy on 28th March and was recommended for a waiver. I haven't heard a peep since then. My CEAC status hasn't updated at all.

Just curious if anyone else recommended for a waiver around the same time has heard anything?

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

This timeframe sounds normal for cases in London.

Re: Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver of Ineligibility Application
 

Hey, we applied for a waiver in Germany a month later than you and also haven't heard back. In the recent past we got waivers back after 2-3 months but as you know that's no indication as to whether you will get yours anytime soon. I know it's super frustrating, especially if a lot of changes in your life are depending on this.

I'm slightly worried as they are probably very very busy with waivers just now due to the high volume of applicants who are going for summer holidays or starting school in the US in September. It really would be great if they continuously released data indicating processing times of individual cases, that way we'd be able to calculate the distribution and how this shifts throughout the year.

Good luck!