Visa refused

Friends of ours were due to travel to Florida for the first time a few years ago. The husband had a conviction for public disorder with a few other of his mates, when he was in his early twenties. He is now in his forties and has a family with no other convictions since. He applied for the visa and went for his interview. The interviewer was very off with him and hummed and arred. Eventually he said he was refusing him the visa. Our friend was totally shocked and pleaded with him to reconsider for his childrens sakes, (he had already booked the holiday and didn't realise he would have to declare his convictions), the interviewer again refused and became quite arrogant with him. Our friend was so upset (he had travelled down and it had taken him 7 hours to get there, with a further 2 hour wait outside in the rain, and this was a couple of years ago), and in his exhausted frame of mind, he stupidly told the interviewer to "go to hell" or words to that effect as he walked off extremely upset.

If he re-applied for the visa, do you think it would be on record that he insulted the interviewer and is there any point in him re-applying. He regrets his reaction to the refusal. I wondered if it was worth suggesting to him to re-apply.

We feel really bad for him and his family, as we have been to Florida several times since then, and we don't tend to talk about how fantastic Florida is to him. But it would be great if they could come with us some time.

Why did your friend try and apply for a Visa, he could probably have travelled on a Visa Waiver form. Visa are intended for visits over the 90 limit that a Waiver allows.

I guess because he had a conviction, which I think means you can not rightly use Visa Waiver anymore, so have to apply for a proper visitor visa.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Clare R
Why did your friend try and apply for a Visa, he could probably have travelled on a Visa Waiver form. Visa are intended for visits over the 90 limit that a Waiver allows.
[/quote]

hi I got refused but reapplied and I got the visa ,each case is different, he could not travel on the waiver because of his arrest so he has to apply, it seems to me it depends on the mood of the staff because I have been to London 3 times refused once and got a visa twice so it is very random in my opinion, as for his remarks in his last interview I was told that they only judge on what is in front of them not on previous cases hope this helps

I would recomend telling him to go to Belfast embassy, it is so much smaller and consequenlty more laid back in its approach.

Thanks for your advice everyone; I will suggest that he trys again.

Hi hilst it certainly must be frustrating for your friend to be denied a visa and thus access to all that Florida has to offer,it does make one think that if he cannot control his temper in front of a government official from whom he must have known it would have profited him to be of his "best behavior" ,then how on earth would he show self restraint in far more challenging circumstances that may arise against a third person if he did get to Florida?

You mentioned that it had taken him 7 hours to get to the embassy and 2 hours to wait for interview,well lord knows that those of us whom have traveled to Florida know that the flight itself is a minimum 8 hours with at least a further 2 hours to get through immigration along with over pedantic immigration officers most of whom are often rude ,then you have the extended wait for baggage claim and the rental car collection AND ALL this before you get onto the freeway.Even the most reserved of us are fractious and bad tempered by the time we arrive at our Florida destination!


Your friend with a previous conviction for a public order act offense which is defined as " Using or threatening aggressive abusive insulting words or behavior likely to cause harassment alarm or distress ",would appear a VERY likely candidate to present a problem to authorities or other holiday makers at any stage of their holiday.

Using the excuse that it was 20 years ago is hardly relevant when he still insists on being abusive and insulting to an American Official.

Using the excuse he was tired is also hardly credible when you take into consideration that we all have to go through that and more every time we travel to Florida.

Whilst i feel for the family and being a "hot head " myself at times ,this gent seems unable to control himself during the important time of an interview which would ultimately decide his access to the USA.

Maybe the official deliberately set out to wind your friend up and antagonize him to test his self restraint ......IT APPEARED HE FAILED,much to the detriment of his family.

People ,merely suggesting ways around getting a visa may not remove his anger management issues and MAY ultimately cause problems for holiday makers and home owners in Florida at a later date should he merely decide to show a distinct lack of self restraint and direct his anger at us .

Im sorry but i disagree with your underhanded suggestions to get people like this into Florida.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by derek83

with at least a further 2 hours to get through immigration[/quote]

I don't know anyone who has taken at least 2 hours to get through immigration on arrival in Florida. Have you never got through in less than that?

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by alastair
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by derek83

with at least a further 2 hours to get through immigration[/quote]

I don't know anyone who has taken at least 2 hours to get through immigration on arrival in Florida. Have you never got through in less than that?
[/quote]
Just 10 minutes or so this evening :D

We landed last week at 14 40 and were in the car on the way to our villa at 15.20 a record for us

Eric