Sera Otoro Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Right... figured Id start this up... this was meant to start up a short while ago... hasnt gone round to it yet...first off... my situation...My chances right now are pretty dire... the US embassy wants me to get proof of the following... : flight dates, hotel dates, where im going, where im living, my job, and my bank money... normally this wouldnt be a problem... but... a while ago i found out that the travel agents will not do the flight booking until i get my visa... this left a bad deadlock on me.... however i went over again... now they CAN book the flights after explaining the situation... one very high risk follows.... i cannot get a refund on my flights should they deny my visa... so 450 GPB... make that around 700 - 800 USD... will be wasted on nothing... i cannot afford to take such a risk with my cash like that... so... what am i to do... suggestions...? because i REALLY do want to make it this year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladimus Nikolaidis Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I would suggest taking a trip to the US Embassy in Londonor wherever is closest to you and talking it over with themin person. Almost all have at least one person and sometimesan entire section that deals with situations like yours. And yeah you can visit them in person. Just make sureyou leave your uzi at home, they get a bit touchy aboutthat :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sekonda Huet Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 (edited) You have to register your flight online before you go Sera etc. http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/...out_1990.html#2 is what you need for that kind of thing, and phone your local US Embassay who can provid eyour visa etc within 2 hours. As long as you have no criminal convictions your sorted. 8D Edited February 14, 2009 by Sekonda Huet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiridates Mikadze Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 If you're willing to tangle with the US government and the State Department in particular, then you are a braver man than I. I salute you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sera Otoro Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 ok... i suppose i havent explained why this needs to be done... in 2002 - 2003 i was in california thanks to my mother saying we were going to live there without me knowing the concequences of overstaying... i was 15 - 16 when this happened... i went back to the UK in 2003 (wish i hadnt now...) and got an overstay stamped on my old child's passport... this also completely removes my allowance to travel free without a non-immigrant visa... however... upon wanting to go on vacation to the US later on... i had to go to the US embassy in 2004 to apply for a non-immigrant visa... i got denied and a 3 year hold from when i first got back from the US... so i couldnt reapply until 2006...this is why im having so much trouble getting to AC... and even though i was a minor back then... i still had to apply... no let-offs... and again... i cannot gamble 450 pounds on my flight and risk getting denied again for whatever reason they may come up with... so im in a really bad position... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladimus Nikolaidis Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Again, you really need to go in and talk to someone at theembassy in person. Its alot harder to blow someone off orset their paperwork aside for later when they are standingin front of you, as opposed to a phone call. I really think you will have the best luck this way. Go in,dress neatly, and BE NICE. Government employees will bendover backwards for anyone who takes the time to treat themwell. Give it a shot. At most, you lose an hour or two of a day. If you get the right person and convince them that they shouldhelp you, you may be amazed at how much easier they canmake the whole process for you. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sekonda Huet Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Again, you really need to go in and talk to someone at theembassy in person. Its alot harder to blow someone off orset their paperwork aside for later when they are standingin front of you, as opposed to a phone call. I really think you will have the best luck this way. Go in,dress neatly, and BE NICE. Government employees will bendover backwards for anyone who takes the time to treat themwell. Give it a shot. At most, you lose an hour or two of a day. If you get the right person and convince them that they shouldhelp you, you may be amazed at how much easier they canmake the whole process for you. :)She can't. You cannot enter an embassy unless your a citizen of that embassy. She can only phone them.I've been there, done that and bought the t-shirt etc.It's an American Embassy, nothings been the same since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladimus Nikolaidis Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Not entirely accurate. You can, but you need an appointment. The biggest thing to remember is dont give up. Call, give them a briefrundown of your situation, and ask if you can make an appointmentto come and explain your situation in person. Dont give up! If youcant talk them into giving you an appointment, then try and takecare of it over the phone. You may have to be patient and acceptthat its not going to happen overnight. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agares Tretiak Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Also, ask if they have any way to help you with the process. If anything on the requirements list leaves you scratching your head, it's best to ask them what they mean or what they're looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sera Otoro Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 (edited) you know... im starting to feel like i should just take the easiest step and risk the 700 USD... because to get there to be with you all would be worth risking it anyway... not going to just yet... im still trying to find out more to avoid the risk for now before i do make it... since its still fairly early... right now im struggling on getting contact numbers and details of the london US embassy... if anyone can help with the search and post it here... that would be great... Edited February 18, 2009 by Sera Otoro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladimus Nikolaidis Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 (edited) 24 Grosvenor SquareLondon, W1A 2LQ(44) (0)20 7499-9000Operator Assisted Visa Info: 09042-450100No other prefixes, etc. May not be available onall UK business or cell networks. If you call the main embassy line, you'll want toask for Consular Affairs.Hope this helps.www.usembassy.org.uk Edited February 18, 2009 by Vladimus Nikolaidis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sera Otoro Posted February 27, 2009 Author Share Posted February 27, 2009 UPDATE : right, i spoke to someone in the US Embassy over the phone, and some good news came out of it... I dont have to book the flights, but more like get the flight info and present to them in an interview, same allies with the hotel...SO... things are starting to look up... now all i need to do is book the appointment and print off as much of the travel info as needed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sera Otoro Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share Posted March 4, 2009 (edited) Appointment booked... ill be going on the 29th April... which now brings another little problem... i dont know if this is too late for the flight to be booked... hopefully not... however i will be contacting the travel agents next to see if i would still be able to book it... ill find out this week on saturday if it is... so heres the little run down for then... once i leave the embassy i will head straight to the travel agents to book the flight... providing i actually pass for the visa and that its not too late to book... so... 29th April is big decision day... Edited March 4, 2009 by Sera Otoro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
