Visa Query

[lgp1]

Please could anyone help with the following.

We're going to Disney in Sept 2007. One person in our group was charged with criminal assault in 1997 and another one was cautioned over a dispute with her neighbour last year, although she was not charged. I think they will both have to apply for a visa. Does anyone have any idea if these two people will be allowed to travel or not?[I know this could go one way or the other, I would just like to hear your views] Also does anyone know how long it takes to get an appointment with the American Embassy to apply for a visa? Until we get this sorted we can't book our flights or hotels.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Lyndon.

 

[foxylady]

The best thing to do would be look on the Embassy website to get full clarification. The person who was convicted would definitely have to apply for a visa, but not sure about the other person.

Appointments can take ages, so the sooner you get it sorted the better.

 

[Goofyish]

You can also go to the US Embassy in Belfast. This is sometimes a quicker option than to wait for an appointment in London (and cheaper if you live outside of London!).

 

[kevg1889]

I recently went through the process, and following a month long wait for an appointment at the embassy (Which was on November 15th & takes around 4 hours when you get there) I finally got my passport back in January. My record goes back 16 years and was very minor, but I had to apply for a waiver of permanent exclusion.

A very lovely lady that I spoke to whilst in the Embassy was turned down flat, as she had been to prison 6 years ago for fraud and she was told that she could not re-apply until 10 years had elapsed from her release.

If you need any further info I will be happy to help

 

[yo-ho-yo-ho]

Both need Visa's. You can use the Consul General in Belfast to get a Visa, my advice would be to check to see which has the shortest wait time.

At the minute the office in Belfast

Typical Wait Time (Calendar Days*) for a Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Appointment

Visitors Visas: 9 Days
Student/Exchange Visitors Visas *** (Excludes: A, G, K, and V): 9 Days
All Other Nonimmigrant Visas: 9 Days

Typical Wait Time (Workdays**) for a Nonimmigrant Visa To Be Processed****: 2 Days



The Embassy in London is


Typical Wait Time (Calendar Days*) for a Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Appointment

Visitors Visas: 13 Days
Student/Exchange Visitors Visas *** (Excludes: A, G, K, and V): 17 Days
All Other Nonimmigrant Visas: 18 Days

Typical Wait Time (Workdays**) for a Nonimmigrant Visa To Be Processed****: 3 Days


Send me a PM if you need anymore help.

 

[lgp1]

Thank you everyone for your help.
I think they're going to make an appointment to go to the Embassy in London. As they both live in South Wales it shouldn't take that long to get there.

One other thing, I remember someone applied for a visa back a few years ago and they had to fill a form in from their local police station which was sent to Scotland Yard to see what convictions they had held on file. Scotland Yard then sent it back to the person with a list of what convictions were held on file against them.They had to send this to the Embassy when applying for their visa. Will they still have to fill one of these forms in and take the results with them to their appointment or are things done differently?
Thanks in advance
Lyndon

 

[jtlover]

Good luck, hope it works out well and you get the visas sorted

 

[kevg1889]

Yes - you have to apply for the record, which again can take around a month, so you are best applying for that and arranging your appointment at the embassy at around the same time. I wouldn't worry too much, unless the conviction involved a prison sentence.

It's a great feeling once you get your passport back though, with the visa in it - even if it does only last for 12 months.

We had already booked our holiday - a very special treat for my 50th Birthday (which is just 2 days away!!) before I realised the new rules regarding convictions, so it was a particularly tense time for me, but all's well that ends well