Another Visa Waiver Question

[alexandra uk]

I haven't got a clue how you would go about contacting the general consulate (I'm a bit thick with that sort of stuff too).

I think the best thing that you could do is get some professional advice.
Near to The Embassy in London there is a firm of solicitors who specialise in U.S. visas and Inadmissable waivers.
I have spoken with one of them recently.
After doing alot of searching on the net they are the only ones I could find who specialise this sort of thing.

The firm is called Gudeon & Hodkinson.

I've just been to my favorites to get the link for their site for you but its currently under construction, which is a bit of a bummer because its got lots of info on there.
It tells you the all the different solicitors and which area of visa law they specialse in.

Not to worry - If I give you their number, you could get your cousin to call them tommorow and tell them the situation.
They will tell you the best course of action to take.

Its - 02074 931595

Even if the advice costs you it will probably be worth it to speak to someone who knows what they're talking about.

Heres the link to their site so as you can have a look when its done

http://www.usvisalaw.co.uk/firm.htm

I hope this will help you

Alex

 

[uktigger]

thank you so much for that info alexandra

i will pass this on to my cousin and i'll let you know the outcome

eve

 

[alexandra uk]

No probs Eve

 

[alisonbestford]

Andru,

As I understand it, the rules and regulations are not new - they've always been so - just reinforced from Oct.

I hear what you're saying but things really do seem to be getting out of hand re: VISAs.

There are a large number of people out there who have done 'daft' things in their youth. The Americans are beginning to realise that they've possibly 'shot themselves in the foot' as more and more people are deciding that travel to the US isn't worth the risk, or the trouble!

According to the 'Mail on Sunday' the US customs people have been asked to exercise some discretion when it comes to people passing through customs.

Anyway, we'll see.

Good luck Eve.

Alison

 

[baz]

Hmmm,
What a busy topic this has turned out, I realise the need for safety when travelling
But to have to pay for this really gets my back up,yes wages do have to be paid at the embassy but it really does turn out to be expensive.
£60 or so for your visa plus the postage and a hotel bill on top of that plus parking and fuel and I’d be looking at £200 plus and a 400 mile trip.
Why you have to go to London is beyond me surely you could be vetted or whatever they do at your local police station.

I’ve been looking at the procedure for the visa for a friend travelling with me next year, and it’s like a wild goose chase as the contact details given by the usembassy regards,obtaining a "Memorandum of Conviction" (MOC) which they require are not up date as the National Identification Service in London do not deal with these applications any more.
So you have to contact your local force anyhow for these, in my opinion this won’t keep the real lunatics away, and as Alison says it will keep genuine holidaymakers away,
there is a party of around 12-15 people going next year with myself (I hope) and after speaking to most of them there all of the same opinion that if they hadn’t paid the holiday off nearly, they would of gone elsewhere.

Just my opinion…

 

[kazzie]

Eve,We're staying in a villa on Emerald Island resort.I haven't stayed on this resort before

Although we booked as soon as was possible for our flights with Virgin,we couldn't get 14 or even 15 or 16 night flights.We are only going for 13 nights but this is far better than not going

 

[alisonbestford]

....add to Baz's estimate of £200 the loss of 2 days work/pay and the cost of a carer to accompany a disabled person.......!

It's not just the cost which I find disconcerting it's the Embassy's ruling that anyone between the ages of 14 and 79 has to attend in person! Being a nurse of 20 years standing, having a disabled husband, and working more recently as a voluntary disability rights worker I find this issue particularly disturbing. Maybe we had an unusual experience but, when my DH rang the Embassy to ask whether he would be allowed to apply for a visa by post if it was necessary he was told that no, he had to travel down.

Thankfully the courts found nothing on his record (I know it sounds silly to be unsure but DH has trouble remembering whether he ate his breakfast - never mind whether he was actually arrested 17yrs ago!! ) Given Eve's relative's experience they'd probably refuse him a visa on the grounds that he may want to stay and take advantage of their Neuro Care anyway!!

There are plenty of young people out there for whom travelling to the Embassy will be nigh on impossible for one reason or another. These holiday makers, and their families, are more likey to be the ones who will take their custom elsewhere than the criminals! IMHO.

I wonder whether OUR new, updated Disability Discrimination Act would find this interesting

Alison

 

[alisonbestford]

Side tracked somewhat there!

Sorry

Alison

 

[AndRu]

Click here ....Let the data sharing commence.

"Project Semaphore, which will be underway by the end of the year, is a key first step in putting in place comprehensive electronic analysis of passenger travel data, which will be crucial to being able to register entry and exit without gross inconvenience to passengers," said Home Secretary David Blunkett in a statement.

The £15m scheme will see passenger information stored electronically and linked to databases kept by law enforcers. The UK project is very similar to one being implemented in the US this week. US-VISIT will collect, assess, process and retain passenger details and biometric information on visitors to the US.

The huge amount of information stored could lead to more people being turned away at the border.

It's your choice.

 

[alisonbestford]

That's all well and good
I just think that it shouldn't be so difficult, or expensive, to get hold of the flipping visa in the first place
Alison

 

[uktigger]

alexandra
my cousin phoned the number you gave me and the outcome is if they wanted a consultation it would cost them just short of £400, but he did say that it is getting more and more common for people to be turned away for being unemployed he also said that they did not really have long enough to fight it so it looks as though her dh is not going

eve

 

[kazzie]

Eve,

If I didn't want to go so much I would love to say,stuff it I'll go somewhere not the US

 

[uktigger]

karen,
that is exactly what my dh keeps on telling me i just keep om reminding him to keep his mouth shut while we are going through customs

eve