US Visa turnaround times

[tomtomfromoz]

Hi

Has anyone had any recent experience in obtaining a visa from the DHS in Washington?

Am being told current wait times are 5 months.

Not good when you have a flight booked for early Dec

Cheers

 

[cove]

My staff member got his after about 8 months. He then booked and was married in Las Vegas and they had a great holiday.
He was low priority because of an act of moral turpitude when he was 17.
Visa issuing for MT cases is in the lap of the Visa Gods and we could not speed his application.
You just have to wait and if your Visa does not come through just have the others who are ticketed go without you.

 

[flymetothemoon]

My staff member got his after about 8 months. He then booked and was married in Las Vegas and they had a great holiday.
He was low priority because of an act of moral turpitude when he was 17.
Visa issuing for MT cases is in the lap of the Visa Gods and we could not speed his application.
You just have to wait and if your Visa does not come through just have the others who are ticketed go without you.

I couldn't think of anything worse than knowing you can't go and having the "ticketed" go without you! That's just plain cruel! :evil:

 

[tomtomfromoz]

Yep esp over Xmas and New Years

It seems there is NO WAY to speed this up.

I am considering making other arrangements but my partner is still going to fly through to NY...so, if by a Xmas Miracle I get my visa in say (8/10 weeks) I can go!

Just not sure about the timeframes

 

[flymetothemoon]

Yep esp over Xmas and New Years

It seems there is NO WAY to speed this up.

I am considering making other arrangements but my partner is still going to fly through to NY...so, if by a Xmas Miracle I get my visa in say (8/10 weeks) I can go!


Just not sure about the timeframes

In all honesty, if my partner or best friend went away with out me to the US because they could go and I couldn't they would become an EX! And I'm serious! I think that's disgusting that your partner would go without you! Anyway, keep us informed on whether or not it gets approved or not. Sadly many people on this forum never give follow up replies on whether they got approved or not.

 

[cove]

I was not attempting to be cruel here. Sometimes for various reasons we have had to go separately to places. It just happens.

 

[The Rok]

In all honesty, if my partner or best friend went away with out me to the US because they could go and I couldn't they would become an EX! And I'm serious! I think that's disgusting that your partner would go without you! Anyway, keep us informed on whether or not it gets approved or not. Sadly many people on this forum never give follow up replies on whether they got approved or not.

Why is it disgusting? It was not the partner/friend that committed the offences? Why should they also be punished for someone else breaking the law. Seems silly to me. If it were me I would be encouraging my partner/friend to go without me and enjoy the trip.

 

[flymetothemoon]

Why is it disgusting? It was not the partner/friend that committed the offences? Why should they also be punished for someone else breaking the law. Seems silly to me. If it were me I would be encouraging my partner/friend to go without me and enjoy the trip.

It's disgusting because they planned to go together and now she's still going to go on her own?? Sorry, but that's not what my definition of a partner is. If it were for business purposes that would be different!

 

[tomtomfromoz]

Yeah, I am with 'The Rok' as much as it sucks hard...we are meeting my partners sister there, plus we have paid for our Accom $2,500. I have been to NY before, so am prepared to cop it on the chin and stay in Canada somewhere for 2 weeks.

We planned this trip about 9 months back, and we are only finding this out in the past few weeks. I personally think it is ridiculous that I have to wait 5 months. Completely understand if I had a conviction, but I dont. We were under the impression that due to no conviction, I would have to show all documents and show I am a decent character at the interview nope....seems it is just black/white. Within 5 years then, sorry...your application is off to the US.

They keep saying 5 months, but I do not know if that is "Worst Case"

 

[flymetothemoon]

Yeah, I am with 'The Rok' as much as it sucks hard...we are meeting my partners sister there, plus we have paid for our Accom $2,500. I have been to NY before, so am prepared to cop it on the chin and stay in Canada somewhere for 2 weeks.

We planned this trip about 9 months back, and we are only finding this out in the past few weeks. I personally think it is ridiculous that I have to wait 5 months. Completely understand if I had a conviction, but I dont. We were under the impression that due to no conviction, I would have to show all documents and show I am a decent character at the interview nope....seems it is just black/white. Within 5 years then, sorry...your application is off to the US.

They keep saying 5 months, but I do not know if that is "Worst Case"

It doesn't matter if it's before or after 5 years - your application will NEVER be approved on the spot if you've been charged with a moral turpitude crime even if you don't have a criminal record. Make sure you take proof that no conviction was recorded when you travel to Canada in case they query anything. These days 5 months is "good case" - some people have had to wait 6-8 months!

 

[tomtomfromoz]

That's not encouraging news...

It was a possession offence and the girl said that if it was over 5 years old then she could approve, if not then, documents off to the US

 

[flymetothemoon]

That's not encouraging news...

It was a possession offence and the girl said that if it was over 5 years old then she could approve, if not then, documents off to the US

They can't issue visas on the spot - it HAS to be sent off to the Department of Homeland Security. They will approve it to go to Washington or deny it on the spot.

 

[tomtomfromoz]

Okay - could be a terminology mix up...but the process is much much easier was the impression I got, if the offence was over 5 years ago.

 

[flymetothemoon]

Okay - could be a terminology mix up...but the process is much much easier was the impression I got, if the offence was over 5 years ago.

Yes, they will look at it more favourably if 5+ years has passed but the fact that you don't have a criminal conviction will help your case! Good luck! Keep us informed.

 

[tomtomfromoz]

Yes, they will look at it more favourably if 5+ years has passed but the fact that you don't have a criminal conviction will help your case! Good luck! Keep us informed.

flymetothemoon - I surely will, but I just read through another thread in which you were heavily involved in....in all honesty, I reckon I have 0% chance of joining my partner in New York for Xmas/NYE now. I reckon going by everyone else's cases I will get my response in March 2013. A month after we get back. Looks like its a Canada-only trip for me. In your experience, someone with a possession charge (no conviction 18 months ago) would get approved anyway??? I am sure I read a thread on here last week where a young guy was in a similar position and was approved - after a long wait.

As I booked my flights with United, I cant get a refund and they can give me credit, but UA only fly to the States!!

 

[moa999]

Tomtomfromoz,
I think all the information from the members on this board is contained on the other large thread you have already posted on.

Unfortunately the US government seems to be doing a very poor job in processing and turning a few people's small mistakes into massive heartaches. Apart from seeing if an immigration lawyer could speed the path, everyone seems to be in for a five month wait.

 

[flymetothemoon]

flymetothemoon - I surely will, but I just read through another thread in which you were heavily involved in....in all honesty, I reckon I have 0% chance of joining my partner in New York for Xmas/NYE now. I reckon going by everyone else's cases I will get my response in March 2013. A month after we get back. Looks like its a Canada-only trip for me. In your experience, someone with a possession charge (no conviction 18 months ago) would get approved anyway??? I am sure I read a thread on here last week where a young guy was in a similar position and was approved - after a long wait.

As I booked my flights with United, I cant get a refund and they can give me credit, but UA only fly to the States!!

Happy to be of assistance and please, I did not mean any disrespect towards your partner, I guess it just got to me when I read that she will go anyway, but I have my reasons for it upsetting me. I am not involved in the process in any way so I really couldn't tell you if it will get approved or not BUT not having a conviction will help, it being under 5 years will also be taken in to account unfortunately BUT I can tell you that I have spoken to an immigration lawyer in the past and you apply for a visa before the 5 years is up if you only have ONE charge and I presume you do, therefore you shouldn't have a problem. Hence why they told you they will send it off for approval. Keep in touch! p.s - I don't recall a thread about someone in a similar position before the 5 years is up, so feel free to copy and paste it.

 

[Maca44]

If I was in the same situation and had a 'small blemish' on my character that would prevent/delay me from obtaining a visa for the USA, I would insist that my partner travel without me. I don't see it as being disgusting in any way, as it was me that caused the so called blemish.

In saying that, I find it amazing that Australians with a minor conviction has to jump through huge hoops to obtain a US visa and other so called 'celebrities' with numerous publicised conviction (eg Newton) seem to be able to travel whenever they want. I am unaware of the procedure, but I don't think Americans who want to travel to Australia have to jump through so many hoops, or if they did, have wait 5 plus months for a approval.

 

[tomtomfromoz]

Well everyone, I thought I should update you on my situation....

Today I received a letter from the US Consulate General:

Pursuant to your September 20th, 2012 non-immigrant visa application, this office regrets to inform you that you are ineligible for a visa and your petition for a Waiver of Ineligibility to the Department of State has been denied. There is no appeal of this decision. We are therefore returning your court documents and Police Certificate with this letter.

WOW. I sent the Melbourne office an email and I was told:

Thanks for your inquiry. Subsequent to the determination of a visa ineligibility, the Consular Officer may recommend a waiver to the Dept of Homeland Security. In your case, due to the recency of the offense, the Officer was unwilling to do so. Your request for a review of this decision was forwarded to the Dept of State and they concur with the Officer’s decision. Hence a waiver cannot be requested at this stage.

Pretty tough for something a pretty much copped a 'slap over the wrist' for. I really thought that with NO CONVICTION I'd be okay.

Ouch

 

[flymetothemoon]

Well everyone, I thought I should update you on my situation....

Today I received a letter from the US Consulate General:

Pursuant to your September 20th, 2012 non-immigrant visa application, this office regrets to inform you that you are ineligible for a visa and your petition for a Waiver of Ineligibility to the Department of State has been denied. There is no appeal of this decision. We are therefore returning your court documents and Police Certificate with this letter.

WOW. I sent the Melbourne office an email and I was told:

Thanks for your inquiry. Subsequent to the determination of a visa ineligibility, the Consular Officer may recommend a waiver to the Dept of Homeland Security. In your case, due to the recency of the offense, the Officer was unwilling to do so. Your request for a review of this decision was forwarded to the Dept of State and they concur with the Officer’s decision. Hence a waiver cannot be requested at this stage.

Pretty tough for something a pretty much copped a 'slap over the wrist' for. I really thought that with NO CONVICTION I'd be okay.

Ouch

So sorry to hear that tomtomfromoz but as the denial letter says, it's due to the recency of your offence and the fact that it was a drug conviction. I think they wasted your time sending it off when they should have just told you on the spot that it's best to wait the 5 years out before applying for a visa. Anyway, at least you now know. Definitely try again one the 5 years is up. So I presume you will just go to Canada?