visa? not esta

[Big Al 154]

Hi everyone

Does anybody know how long a visa lasts for? A friend of mine does not qualify under the ESTA due to an arrest, that brought no charges and resulted in no further action.

any advice or experience would be gratefully received.

Thanks [msnsmile]

[steph_goodrum]

It depends on the Immigration people at the Embassy, some people have been given 1 year, some single trip and some 5 or 10 year multiple visit Visas. The only way to find out is to apply unfortunately as there doesnt seem to be a single consistent answer.

[aaron28]

I had no idea that arrests could impact your Visa. I guess it makes sense though. I thought that getting a Visa can last about a year, or longer depending what you need it for. Some of them can last quite a while.

[E. Cosgrove]

Just a note that some of the visa's issued for just a year are actually single trip visas and although the visa doesn't expire for a year you can only use it once.

It will be stamped under entries 1 (single trip) or M (multiple trips)

I remember somebody on the forum being granted a 12 month visa and trying to visit twice in the same year, they were turned back at immigration on the second attempt[msnsad]

see here
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic_21579.asp

[SDJ]

Our visa lasts 10 years.

Sandra

[karenk]

Depends entirely on how generous the person dealing with your visa application feels at the time in my experience. Be specific about what you want as if you leave it to interpretation, you will get the bare minimum.

Look at the American Embassy website to give you an idea of what visa to apply for or how to apply for entry due to a conviction/arrest but be aware, this does not give you a right to entry even if you get a visa. That's up to the Homeland Security officer who will deal with you as you go through immigration when you arrive in the USA. The traveller in question may get asked a lot of questions, even interviewed or nothing may be asked at all, depends on who you see at the point of entry as I'm not sure US immigration have a set procedure for dealing with visa supported entries as no two immigration officers seem to do the same.

[Andrena]

Anyone who has no convictions or reasons to be refused admission to the US get a Visa which last for 10 years.

Andrena

[Sniff]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Andrena
Anyone who has no convictions or reasons to be refused admission to the US get a Visa which last for 10 years.

Andrena
[/quote]
If you have no convictions or reasons to be refused admission to the US, why would you need a visa?

[blott]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Sniff
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Andrena
Anyone who has no convictions or reasons to be refused admission to the US get a Visa which last for 10 years.

Andrena[/quote]If you have no convictions or reasons to be refused admission to the US, why would you need a visa?[/quote]So that you can stay longer than 90 days in one single visit.

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:If you have no convictions or reasons to be refused admission to the US, why would you need a visa?[/quote] <blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:So that you can stay longer than 90 days in a single visit.[/quote]Just to clarify, in case of any misunderstanding, a visitor's visa enables you to stay for longer than 90 days in one single visit.

On a waiver there is no restriction on the number of visits of up to 90 days.

Both cases are subject to satisfying the immigration authorities that the visitor will abide by the rules for entry into the USA - not seek work - no intent to make USA their permanent residence etc etc.