January 28, 201610 yr My Dad turns 70 in April and my Mum's booked them a trip to New York. He's filled in the Visa Waiver form online and has been rejected. The website isn't particularly helpful and he says he will need to go to London and apply for a proper Visa. Has anybody had any experience with this or any advice? He's tearing his hair out at the minute as it won't let him fill in his application again and he said he's filled everything in honestly. He has no criminal record, so I can't imagine what they've refused him on.
January 28, 201610 yr I always said he was a not right It'll be all that illegal Emlyn Hughes home brew moonshine he made. Or his crimes against fashion.
January 28, 201610 yr Author I always said he was a not right It'll be all that illegal Emlyn Hughes home brew moonshine he made. Or his crimes against fashion. It's a wonder I turned out so normal
January 28, 201610 yr He probably has details similar to someone who does need a Visa so best bet would be to ring the embassy to see how things lie. If they won't budge, its a right pain in the arse getting a visa - firstly you need an up to date police record which will presumably come back with nothing on. These still cost £45 Then there's forms to fill in on-line and book an appointment a few weeks in advance. Train down to London, get in to the embassy as near to 8 as poss, sit there for an hour before being seen by someone to verify your details then sit there again for another 90 mins/2hours for the main interview which is done and dusted in under 5 minutes! At least this gives a visa for 10 years though
January 28, 201610 yr Trip to London I'm afraid. Wife does all this for her clients who book US hols with her, if your not getting an ESTA cos they reject you, its visa only on appointment...sorry. My wife is good at her job.
January 28, 201610 yr ESTA's can be refused for the most spurious of reasons. I have heard of them being refused for reasons such as having the same number as a passport from a completely different country that has been refused entry by the US CBP. Unfortunately for your Dad, the only way to find out why, and to resolve the situation, is to bite the bullet and go the the Embassy, as folk have suggested. They are being over zealous with entry security in the US at the moment.
January 28, 201610 yr A girl I know who is a trolley dolly for virgin went to the embassy the other day to update her visa She was waiting hours The line was out the door and down the street As Dave has said - get there early
January 28, 201610 yr Author Thanks all. The only thing he can think of as the problem was that he has not booked hotel yet. He's ringing the Embassy so hopefully will get it sorted. What a faff on.
January 28, 201610 yr Does your dad have a big ginger beard...? I think you'll find it is strawberry blond.
January 28, 201610 yr Thanks all. The only thing he can think of as the problem was that he has not booked hotel yet. He's ringing the Embassy so hopefully will get it sorted. What a faff on. Did mine last week. If you don't know your destination or place or stay it tells you to put "unknown" which i did. Approved for 3 of us. It's only 2 years isn't it? The waiver is for 3 years except for my lad whose passport expires in Sept this year - only granted his until then.
January 28, 201610 yr Yep, had this when transiting through LA when emigrating to NZ. My gf's passport was an old one without biosecurity on it, so she invalid for online ESTA. Interview in London, she queued up longer than we were in the US. Echo the advice about getting there early.
January 28, 201610 yr Seems a lot of work just to go somewhere When my son spent a summer coaching on Long Island he had to go down to the embassy, but was only in for about 2 minutes. His sister and cousin (making the whole generation of family) went with him for a day trip to London. The date was 30/06/05.
January 28, 201610 yr my advice, is the same as some people have said get an early appointment and get there at least a hour before that, do not take any phones, I-pads or keys , in other words just what you need to get your visa (the US embassy has no storage)
January 28, 201610 yr ESTA's last 2 years. Visas last for 10, Im on my second 10 year one. If you need a new passport before the visa runs out, you have to paper clip the page with your visa on and put a note in with it asking the passport office not to clip that particular page
January 29, 201610 yr The waiver is for 3 years except for my lad whose passport expires in Sept this year - only granted his until then. If you have time why not apply for his next one? I think they add any unexpired time onto the new one
February 1, 201610 yr Author Went up yesterday to do my Mum's application and everything went through fine. I think my Dad hadn't ticked the little disclaimer box at the end of the application. We then thought we'd try doing my Dad's again. Rather than a definite rejection, which he got last time, it said someone would consider the application and let him know in 72 hours. So, fingers crossed.
February 2, 201610 yr Author He's been approved without the trip to London. If anybody ever in similar position, try the application again.
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