visa waiver

[Kickstart]

When did the revised Visa requirements come in?

[Carla]

They haven't come in for most holiday-makers Kickstart, as the Visa Waiver is fine for many people.

I attended a B2 Visa interview this October because we go over frequently and the immigration guys recommended that we get a visa. You can phone for an appointment, and as far as I know, everyone who needs a B2 Visa and is between 17 and 59 years old, MUST attend for the interview at the US Embassy in London.

You don't send any papers to them if you fall within this age category, but take them with you to your interview.

[blott]

Those have been the requirements for non-eligibility for visa waiver Kickstart ever since we've been travelling to Florida, ie about ten years at least.

[royplumber]

There is no relpys from people who have been sent back from usa with a conviction is there or will i be the first.
Please let me know

[Wandsworth Wizard]

I needed a visa because I had a driving conviction 15 years ago. You need to ring the helpline, tel no as stated on the embassy web site to obtain an appointment time. The forms can be completed online and printed off. I had an interview at the embassy on the 5th Jan this year and received my visa on the 8th Jan. The interview lasted 2 minutes but the wait for the interview was approximately 2 1/4 hours.

[phaedra]

There is an excellent thread about this subject here,

http://pub65.ezboard.com/fholidaytru...cID=1509.topic

It seems most people are getting visas without a problem and receiving them in 2 weeks from interview.

[royplumber]

I just thought i'd let you all what happend as messages have been left.
we decided not to go to emmbassy because we only had 4 weeks left (with our record's there is no way they would let us in) couldn't cancel the holiday would not give us the money back.
what i didnt tell you all was. I felt the lord telling me to go and take me old mate ive been out of trouble for 12 years when i worked it out properly.Since i became a christian.
15 plus years ago I punched my girlfriends brother in the face but i had a glass in my hand at time
and went to jail for it he only pressed charges cos he wanted money

My mate who i took is a drug addict and got loads of form i took him and he had methodone on him in his bag from the rehab centre he attends two weeks worth. I tell you i was not 2 happy he's got tatto's (union jack tattoed on his hand and ive got em all over me hands too) so we gets to the airport security is very tight but we got through passport boarded and set off. got to orlando then we were tired sick and didnt know if we'd get past passport control my mate filled in the passport waver form in 6 times before he got it right there was no people left they'd all gone he asked me what my job was and what i was doin here i said on vacation then let us through bingo i didnt feel i was lieying on visa waver because as my convictions in uk are spent and if he said out i'd of said i didnt know cos i didnt when i first booked hoilday but traveling nine hours and getting told to go back to uk i was hateing. We got in i belive it was a miracle but even better my friend is into jesus now and he nicked my bible and is working really hard on removing his addiction from his life so i say God bless america co's blessed me so much the moral of the story is get a visa if you can just like the expert's on here encourage you all so thanks for all the possitive help because most of the christians i know told me to not go God Bless hope you don't have to endure all i did better still don't get into trouble (by the way 1,600 miles around florida in a sebring was bliss have a nice hoilday !!!!!!!!

[steph_goodrum]

I'm glad you had a good holiday Roy but travelling in your situation without a visa was a big risk and not one any of us would recommend to anybody else in your situation.
It just goes to prove the inadequacies of the US immigration system that you and your friend were allowed in and especially as your friend was also carrying methadone with him. Even with a doctors certificate I don't think it would have been legal.
The reason I find it so frustrating that you were allowed entry is that a friend of ours who had lost his mother (who he had lived with alone since his father died) and nan within a week of each other a few weeks before Christmas (this was even pre 9/11 before security was supposed to be increased), a week later he was made redundant so as you can imagine was feeling pretty low and decided to spend 3 months in Atlanta with his aunts family before looking for a new job. He had no criminal record, not even driving convictions, but because he had a ticket for 3 months, had no mortgage on his flat and no job the immigration officer decided there was a risk he might try to look for work and overstay his visa. Non of which was his intention he just wanted to get his head together before he looked for a new job as he knew he wouldnt have the opportunity to have 3 months for a while.
He was kept in detention and put back on the next plane to UK, and it was not a pleasant experience. His first visa application was refused costin ghim even more money (apparently this is quite common if you have been refused entry - to "teach you a lesson" for trying to get past the rules - none of which he did) but the next was approved ok.
I'm glad you and hopefully your friend are trying to get your lives back on track but I hope other people do not follow your example and just take a chance rather than following procedure as another person may not find the same experience as you.

[royplumber]

yes steph i hear you about the gentleman he's got more rights of entry than we did and it break's my heat to hear story's like that.
There was no inadequacies of the US immigration in my oppinion they were very tight. I belive in miracles and i trusted god for whatever happend to us. I would not recommed doing it again (don't think i would) i had nothing to loss

[steph_goodrum]

"There was no inadequacies of the US immigration in my oppinion they were very tight. "

I hate to disagree Roy but there quite clearly are, you decided to "beat the system" and did it by putting dishonest answers on your form (+ you've said your friend was also carrying Methadone) and walking into the country unchallenged. Exactly the same as if a terrorist answered on their form that "No they they have never belonged to a terrorist organisation" and entered into the country in order to cause death and destruction rather than a holiday.