VISA Waiver Program to USA

[RooFlyer]

greetings all, I had an interview with the US consulate in Melbourne in march where I was denied a visa as I have a past offence that I was not convicted of. The consulate officer was to apply for a waiver of ineligibility on my behalf. About 2 weeks ago I received an email asking me to send in my passport and DS160 confirmation page. There was no other information on the email apart from the passport and ds160 request. I was looking for any information from past experiences from people...by requesting my passport, does this mean my waiver is approved? how long after sending in my passport will I receive it back? any information will be greatly appreciated.

*apologies* At the top of the email it also stated this ***WE ARE REQUIRED TO ISSUE YOUR VISA NO LATER THAN 26-AUG-2017**

In respect of return time: I went for an interview in Melbourne, was told B1B2 Visa was approved there and then; they kept my passport. Tracking via Toll (e-mailed to me without my asking for it) showed that the passport was picked up by Toll 2 days later and arrived at an address outside of Hobart 2 days after that. But as you've already waited a while, I guess the August date is your target.

 

[zaxis500]

I have checked on the CEAC website and the response I get is Administrative Processing. so I'm not 100% certain I have been approved as yet but ill wait patiently hopefully ill get a definitive answer shortly. Thank you for your reply

 

[whatmeworry]

Michelle Leslie the lady who got convicted of ecstasy procession in Bali has been detained at LAX. No word what for, but might not have disclosed her drug conviction.

• Australian model Michelle Leslie has been detained at Los Angeles Airport, US
• Leslie, 36, was with her musician boyfriend Daniel Johns when she was led away
• She reportedly had issues at the automated passport kiosk moment before hand
• Leslie was jailed in Bali, Indonesia in 2005 for possession of two ecstasy tablets

Read more: Australian model Michelle Leslie detained LAX airport | Daily Mail Online

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[slinky123]

I have checked on the CEAC website and the response I get is Administrative Processing. so I'm not 100% certain I have been approved as yet but ill wait patiently hopefully ill get a definitive answer shortly. Thank you for your reply

My daughter was told that when hers has cleared Admin Processing they will send an email to ask for her passport. Once the passport is sent in the CEAC site will then change to "Issued" once they issue the VISA.
You have until that August date they gave you to send it in, though if I were you I would send it in asap so the VISA can be issued. Our is still going, its now 5 months, UGHH, Heavens knows what they are doing, but as soon as we get the email like yours the passport will be going in straight away.

 

[zaxis500]

I checked the CEAC on sunday and it had changed to issued! and then I arrive home from work today to a toll van sitting in my driveway with an envelope for me. I got my passport back with my visa valid for 10 years. very happy today. for me all up it took 4 months to apply for the waiver of ineligibility and then have my passport back in my hand with my approved visa.! thank you Melbourne US consulate

 

[slinky123]

I checked the CEAC on sunday and it had changed to issued! and then I arrive home from work today to a toll van sitting in my driveway with an envelope for me. I got my passport back with my visa valid for 10 years. very happy today. for me all up it took 4 months to apply for the waiver of ineligibility and then have my passport back in my hand with my approved visa.! thank you Melbourne US consulate

Thats wonderful news

I didn't realise they even did 10 year VISAs in Australia. Did you pay extra at the time of the interview or when you sent your passport in?

 

[zaxis500]

I was half expecting to be asked if I wanted to pay extra for a 10 year visa but I wasn't and assumed I would just get the 5 year one. I only paid the one fee before the interview at the consulate.

 

[slinky123]

Thankyou for that info, hoping the same will happen with my daughters when it finally gets approved. ( 5 months tommorrow and still stuck in Admin processing)

Have a wonderful trip.

 

[amaroo]

My advice is to apply way before travel.

<snip>

Apply as soon as possible, that way you have lots of time if you do need to apply for a VISA.

I agree with this. My passport was going fall foul to the 6 month rule .... with a couple of other OS trips slotted in between now and when we leave for the US in December, I decided to bite the bullet and renew now. 4 x ESTA's now completed and issued.

When you've outlaid a considerable sum in deposits and airfares .... it's just good business to get the formal stuff done and dusted early.

 

[QF WP]

Holy hell, looks like I have a lot of reading to do . Off to the USA in 5 weeks and still waiting for my daughters' new Australian passport before I can start. Given this thread is almost 13 years old and I'm getting long in the tooth, can someone steer me in the right direction for the right ESTA website where I don't need to pay a small fortune to some third party to help me fill out a couple of screens - I think I'm relatively capable of filling out the details for the 4 of us.

 

[Flashback]

Holy hell, looks like I have a lot of reading to do . Off to the USA in 5 weeks and still waiting for my daughters' new Australian passport before I can start. Given this thread is almost 13 years old and I'm getting long in the tooth, can someone steer me in the right direction for the right ESTA website where I don't need to pay a small fortune to some third party to help me fill out a couple of screens - I think I'm relatively capable of filling out the details for the 4 of us.

Home | Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

 

[QF WP]

Awesome @Flashback - had been delving back into the archives (well back to 2013) and was starting to get a bit worried. Appreciate you helping us out.

 

[Flashback]

Awesome @Flashback - had been delving back into the archives (well back to 2013) and was starting to get a bit worried. Appreciate you helping us out.

Client visits may have me over near GEG around that time, if it lines up I'll be in touch.

 

[drron]

At YYJ which we departed on Friday has a booth for getting your ESTA online just before you checkin.
So no need to worry about time.

 

[cove]

If the price is more than $14 USD you are on the wrong ESTA site.......

 

[MEL_Traveller]

At YYJ which we departed on Friday has a booth for getting your ESTA online just before you checkin.
So no need to worry about time.

My only concern about that would be any delay in approval. Sometimes - at least in the past - approval hasn't come back immediately and can take a day.

 

[Spongbob]

The US DHS advise making the ESTA application as soon as you know you are traveling to the USA, and have a reasonable idea of your plans (e.g. first place of accommodation). Even if your final plans are not the same as in the ESTA application, I would make an early application.

 

[QF WP]

Awesome @Flashback - had been delving back into the archives (well back to 2013) and was starting to get a bit worried. Appreciate you helping us out.

Phew, after finally getting my daughters new passport, nothing like doing a group of 4 (all with second passports!)

Client visits may have me over near GEG around that time, if it lines up I'll be in touch.

@Flashback, will be in SEA from 5 July, Everett probably on either 9/10th, Blaine from 10th to 13th and then GEG from 14th to 18th.

 

[QF WP]

Okay, the process of inputting 4 applications was time consuming (as all of us have dual passports and multiple contacts in USA), but I love the ability to put them in as a group and only pay once. Got to work this morning and checked - all authorised.

 

[QF WP]

It seems really weird that I've done the ESTA's or my family and I don't need to tell anybody - was expecting to have to tell VA or my TA, but he said it is automatically matched with our flight booking. Can anybody shed any light on how this is done?