materialcontroller

+ 1

supercat68

I worked for a hotel company that has a lot of business coming from the Us. Originally I was here on sales calls and attending a showcase etc. hence all the business trips. Now my boss genuinely wants me to work for him and so has agreed to let me take 6 months off to travel and return in October. My parents and all my friends are in the uk, I have a flat there. I have a job - what other strong ties can I show???

Chaufeurse

I sent you an email via BritExpats - did you receive it? Check your spam folder in case it has gone in there.

All the best to you.

supercat68

I did get it - thank you. My current esta is still valid - should I still get another one?

materialcontroller

If your current ESTA is valid why do you need another one?

supercat68

The previous poster said to renew it before the b2 interview?

materialcontroller

I can't think why. It wouldn't give you any benefit whatsoever that I'm aware of.

SanDiegogirl

You say you 'worked' for an hotel company in a sales capacity - sounds like this was a short term contract type of job?

Are you going to be paid by this company during the 6 months away (this is the usual case with say, taking an academic/professional sabbatical) or have you been offered a job (paid)when you return in October?

Have you an employment letter, stating salary being paid during the 6 months away. Could make all the difference.

Sorry to be so pedantic but in my working experience there are few commercial companies willing to give 6 months (paid) sabbaticals to regular (non executive/director) employees.

supercat68

I'm a sales and marketing director of a luxury brand. They are doing a restructure and so are happy for me to take the 6 months and return in October. I have a letter from them saying that they employ me and have agreed for me to return in oct. it doesn't state whether I'll be getting paid or not - should it and if so, should I be getting paid or not?!

SanDiegogirl

Well are you being paid or not? only you can say; however I don't know of anyone who goes on sabbatical and loses 6 months of salary.

If, as a salaried person, you are getting your full annual salary and still being given 6 months off then you are being paid, and you have a definite job to go back to in October. For example I have a relative who is a college professor. He really does get sabbaticals - one every 5 years - when he draws his annual salary but is allowed to go off and research, write papers to his heart's content, and he does not need to check in at the College for months.

If on the other hand your salary ends when you start the 6 months sabbatical and starts again when you return in October you are not being paid, nor are you on sabbatical - and whether you have a job to go back to in October is a moot point.

I'm just trying to ascertain whether or not you really have a job during the 6 months off.

Think of me as the Embassy official at your interview, attempting to deduce if you really have a job to go back to in October or whether you'll stay with your new boyfriend

JSL8610

The previous poster said that if your B2 is denied then you will have to apply for a new ESTA as it will invalidate your old one. You will have to declare the visa denial on the new ESTA which may well lead to it being denied.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves though, you may yet be successful. It would be great if you could come back and let us know how you got on. Good luck.

supercat68

Would I be better off rescheduling the embassy appointment for 3 months time and do another trip on the Vwp? Could I be refused entry at lax?

SanDiegogirl

Could you be refused entry? Yes, you could. Will you? That is anybody's guess.

You have been in the States for three months. After 2 weeks back in the UK you travel again to the States - for another 60 days you say.

You have already been told its better to spend as much time out of the US as in when on the VWP.

Sorry, I don't know what the ramifications are if you cancell the interview. Someone else will be along to inform you I'm sure.

ian-mstm

Or both of them could meet up in a third country... Canada, for example!

Ian

ian-mstm

Once you apply for a visa, there are only two possible outcomes: approval or denial. Anything that isn't an approval, is a denial... anything - and that denial must then be disclosed on every subsequent visa application including ESTA.

You can certainly try to reschedule the appointment, but if the reschedule information doesn't get to the person who has your case file, your visa will be summarily denied when you don't show up for your appointment.

Ian