VISA for the US refused!!

[kirsty_07]

My boyfriend was refused his US tourist VISA today. We were due to go to Florida for a holiday in January 2009 and stupidly booked our holiday last march without thinking about the fact that he might need a VISA. He has a conviction for possession of a class A substance which he only received a fine for and is now spent under UK law, but not under US law! His case has been referred to the consulate in Washington and could take up to 2 months! Has anyone had any experience with this and know how long it could actually take?

[kirsty_07]

Blimey ten years?! They must really like him! My boyfriend only got a six month one!! Suppose it depends what you got in trouble for! Anyway, congrats! Enjoy your hols! :0)

[1313gray]

Same to you as i'm sure your off before me so have a great stress free holiday x

[ness.hirons]

How long did it take from the interview at USA when your boyfriend was refused until he received news that Visa was granted.
My hubby and I had interviews today, my visa was granted but hubbies had to be sent to washington for appeal. He had a conviction and a caution for cannabis in 1996 and 1999.
We are due to travel 07th April (7 weeks today), they said it could take upto 8 weeks - great !! - So just wondered how long it took for your boyfriend after his had to go to appeal.

[kirsty_07]

From when my boyrfriend got refused at the Embassy to when he received the email from them saying they were now ready to issue his VISA was (I think) roughly 8 weeks. My advice to you would be if you can do what we did and post pone your hols for a few weeks, just to be on the safe side! If it takes 7-8 weeks to get the email saying they are ready to issue the visa he will then need to arrange for their courier to pick up his passport and it will take about another week for them to sort it out, then they send it back by the same courier, so all in all about another week and a half! Will it cost you loads to postpone it? We only had to pay another �170 to postpone our flight, the car hire and hotel were luckily the same price.

[ness.hirons]

We can't postpone. His parents are paying to take us all away. It has been booked for ages, and we didn't give Visa a thought until this new waiver thing came in.
There are 7 of us including my 7 year old daughter!! - Looks like 6 of us may be going and he may be staying at home!! - ******** !!

[kirsty_07]

Oh no! Well hopefully it'll be ok and he'll get his visa in time. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

[ness.hirons]

Hi Kirsty

I have great news!!!! My husband received the email from the embassy today (only had interview and refusal on 17th Feb) to say that his visa can now be granted.

So we will definately have his passport and visa back in time for travel on 07th April..

I am so relieved.

XX

[mulfyg]

Hey kirsty_07,

Firstly I�d like to thank you for posting the out come of your BF's visa application as i am in exactly the same boat.

I just wanted to know when they referred it to Washington did they retain his passport? As I am going away the end of June to Spain and supposed to be going to the states at the end of Augusts. I need to sort out an embassy appointment and get this done ASAP but obviously can�t let them take my passport as I need it for Spain.
Also did your BF take any sort of character reference or anything else with him to the consulate?
Look forward to hearing back thanks
Andrew

[kirsty_07]

Hi Andrew,
No they didn't keep his passport so you will ok for Spain, if/when you get the ok for the VISA they will just ask you to send your passport back to them (you can only use their special courier service!) and they'll put your VISA in it and send it back within about 10 days I think.

As far as I can remember he didn't need any character reference just make sure you ask when you book your appointment exactly what you need to bring with you as I think it's quite a few things! One thing I know you definitely need is a form from the police which proves you havn't been in trouble since your conviction and details what your conviction is, I think you just need to phone your local police station for this, when you tell them you need a VISA for the US they'll know exactly what form you need!

Get your appointment booked ASAP! It can take months to get one!! If your conviction isn't something serious i.e. drugs (you can look it up on the Embassy website to see what category your conviction falls in) you shouldn't get refused, other wise it's automatic refusal and then gets referred to Washington! That's what happened to my boyfriend but he got it in the end!

Good luck! :0)

[mulfyg]

Hey,

Thanks for your fast response. Yeah I have applied for an ACPO from the police station and as soon as that arrives I�ll book the appointment. Hopefully I�ll get an appointment quickly.
Thanks again for your help
Andrew

[biologist]

Hi, this is the type of answer I've been searching for for months now. I am in the same situation....young, stupid and got caught with a minute amount of cocaine on me while out clubbing. Just got a small fine, and the conviction is spent this year in October. Completely regret what I did but no one is perfect. I've been worried sick about applying for a visa. Reading this has now given me hope that yes I may be denied the initial visa but will be able to have my application looked at further. I've only made one mistake and would never do it again. Since the offence I've gained a university degree and will be starting a masters in September. I just want to to be able to go to America for a holiday. I'm no terrorist dammit. To kirtsy_07....did they ask your fella what he did for a living or any other questions that could help the application? p.s by the time I do want to go to the US my conviction will be at least 8 years old. Many Thanks.

[kirsty_07]

Hi,
Don't worry you are in the same position as my boyfriend, he was caught about 6/7 years ago with one E on the way back from a night out! As like my boyfriend that;s the one and only time you've been in trouble with the law that will be in your favour! When we got to the airport they kept my boyfriend for about 45 mins waiting in a room, again made him feel like a criminal, but they just wanted to confirm things, they even laughed when they found out what he'd got done for!!
I can't really remember now but I think he had to take quite a few things with him to his interview, proof of address, proof he's working, proof of his holiday and that he has funds for it etc etc, but when you book your interview make sure you get them to clarify exactly what you need to bring as the phonecall is expensive so you don't want to have to make it again and you will get turned away if you don't have the right stuff with you!
You will almost certainly get the VISA refused but then it will be referred to Washington and you will again almost certainly get it! So don't worry, most importantly make sure you allow at least 4-5 months min for this process. The whole process took about 3 months for my boyfriend but just be on the safe side allow as much time as possible!
Good luck, let me know how you get on.
Kirst :0)

[biologist]

This has given me alot of hope. Thank you. You say your bf got a six month visa. Does this mean he could go multiple times in a six month period? Or is it just for one trip within a 6 month period? Many thanks.

[kirsty_07]

Hmmm, I'm not too sure about that, I reckon it's probably for one entry, I doubt very much they'd let you in and out especially if you've got a drug conviction, they'd probably start accusing you of trafficking!!!! lol! When you go for your interview at the Embassy they should be able to answer that for you.
Good luck! :0)

[LJS77]

I know this thread was a while ago but would appreciate some advice please, my brother was refused a visa at his interview back in 2007 based on a convistion for wrongfully retaining a credit back in 2002. This is classed as moral turpitude. He was told he could appeal at the time or apply again in the future. He did not appeal at the time as I dont think it was explained to him properly. We are now hoping to go to Florida in 2013 for a family holiday and wondered if anyone could provide some info on the likelyhood of his visa being approved this time? Would he have to apply again or could he appeal the previous decision now? if he does apply and appeals a refusal is it possible to be accepted for a B2 this time as it will be 6 years since he last applied and 11 years since his conviction, he wasnt sent to prison or anything like that. Please help!!!!!!

[hopeful21]

Hi everyone, I know this is a very old post, but like LJS77 I have a question. My husband is in a similar situation and about 8 years ago he was convicted for less than 1 gram of marijuana twice, both convictions were about 8 years ago and the fine was 50GBP with no jail time on either. He was very young and we all make mistakes. Anyways my question is he went for a US Visa (tourist visa) interview this past week and he was denied, he told the interviewing officer that he would like an advisory opinion from Washington. Now how do we know this officer really sent the request to Washington? did you guys get an email saying that your application has been sent to Washington? How can we take her word? The officer was very rude to my husband and basically was very determined to deny him the visa. My husband came well prepared to the interview with lease papers from his apartment, job reference, his entire family lives in UK. The officer was so rude and at one point told him that she thinks he will go to US and not come back to UK because of me (I am a US citizen by birth). This is totally ridiculous, the main reason for him to come to US right now is cause I am 9 months pregnant and due to deliver any moment. I need his help here for a short time and the embassy people just simply dont care. Please let me know if any of you received an email regarding your application being sent to Washington or was it just after the decision came back from Washington they emailed you?? thanks

[petec84]

Hi Guys,
I'm in a similar situation and am curious what your thoughts are...

I got a 'reprimand' for possession of cannabis resin when I was 17 in 2002. A few weeks later I got a 'warning' for theft, again still 17, so under 18 for both.

I've been very good ever since, until I stupidly drove under the influence of alcohol, to which I had to go to court, and get a (non custodial) conviction, my first and only conviction. This was in 2005 (age 20).

Its now 2013, I'm 28 and have been squeaky clean ever since.

From what I've read, the driving under the influence is not considered a crime of moral turpitude. The theft and cannabis possesion would normally be, but aren't since I was under 18.

What do you think the outcome of my visa application will be?

[Mistblue]

hi guys, My son is in a similar position he ha all the details to go to the USA to study and play soccer and when he was 15 he puhed someone on a overpacked train ant swore at them he gor a battery and using offensive language he was told to please guilty and he would only get a referral order and no criminal record. he got a 4 month referral order. we only found out he had a record when he applied for a job when he was 18 and it came up on a crb check. So now we feel he has to declare to the embassey as he wants to study for 2 years. we have the aCPO report and this has appeared as Juvenile, referral order 4 months. I think he should have no problems but if he is refused this will be a big blow and mess up all his plans career etc etc. He has never been in trouble since and has some good character references thoughts would be great thank you