Applying for visa after VWP overstay ban has expired

[MacUK 983]

Hi there,

Many years ago I stupidly overstayed my VWP and quite rightly got my 10yr ban and of course ineligible for VWP now.

The ban has now expired and I'm hoping to be able to go visit my kids in Utah sometime either the end of the year or early next year.

I'm just worried that when I go to the Embassy to apply for my visa I wont be able to show enough ties to the UK for them to be able to approve it.

I don't own a home, nor am I in a rental contract. With the work situation in the UK at the moment I'm working for an employment agency so although I'm generally working full time I don't know if this would be classed as full time employment.

I do own a car, have mobile phone contract, credit cards and bank accounts here but how much would that help in proving ties?

My girlfriend is in full time employment (in a job that she's been in for 20 years so is unlikely to walk away from) but would the Embassy take that into account at all?

I only wish to be able to visit for a couple of weeks as I haven't seen the kids in quite a few years and hopefully be able to visit occasionally in the future.

Should I:

Hope for a 10yr visa with multiple entries?

Hope that they might allow me a shorter term visa with just one entry so I can show that I will be returning?

Or accept that I will probably never be able to go back over there?

Thanks for reading

[JohnR! 5,495]

Mac, there isn't much you can do other than gather your best evidence of ties to the UK, apply for a visa and go to the interview. Considering your situation and history it will depend on how your interview goes. Possibly it will not be a walk in the park but you will never know until you try.

Good luck!

[Teddy B 17,252]

Your list of ties to the UK does not appear all that strong and your girlfriend's situation will not have any affect on whether you are approved or not. The only thing you can do is try. Good luck.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

London is pretty hard on people trying to get a visitor visa because it's a VWP country. I think evidence of your children living in America would be good so they know your reason for wanting to travel there. It's not like you just want to go see a girlfriend for six months because 3 months on VWP isn't enough. Do you have a relationship with them with some concrete evidence? Do you help support them? Do they email or send you cards or letters? Is your name on their birth certificates? And I don't see why a relationship in the UK doesn't also show a tie to the UK because you intend to stay in that relationship and continue to live in the UK. How about an affidavit from the Mom of your children saying the kids need to see you more and can't travel alone to the UK. She could also make it clear that she has no intention of re-establishing her relationship with you in the US or that she is married now. I hear many say they are dismissed quite quickly with a No before they even show evidence, so get you point across in the first words you say.

[Boiler 45,765]

The interview is not usually where the decision is made.

[CC90 90]

Nobody knows until you try. We don't know everything about you or the situation.

It's very rare that they give any validity less than 10 years on a B1/B2 except by means of reciprocity.

[MacUK 983]

Thanks for the replies.

So basically, give it a go but don't be too surprised if the embassy tell me to sling me 'ook

[Ketsuban 1,034]

Thanks for the replies.

So basically, give it a go but don't be too surprised if the embassy tell me to sling me 'ook

That is unfortunately the only thing we can say. I've seen some equally unhopeful-looking threads have a happy ending though. If you don't try, the answer is always going to be no.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Because of your prior behavior you will have higher bar to pass. I would plan a short trip for the first as an attempt to show reformed behavior and hope for a single trip visa and be happy if I get more

[Messinia 0]

Hi there,

Many years ago I stupidly overstayed my VWP and quite rightly got my 10yr ban and of course ineligible for VWP now.

The ban has now expired and I'm hoping to be able to go visit my kids in Utah sometime either the end of the year or early next year.

I'm just worried that when I go to the Embassy to apply for my visa I wont be able to show enough ties to the UK for them to be able to approve it.

I don't own a home, nor am I in a rental contract. With the work situation in the UK at the moment I'm working for an employment agency so although I'm generally working full time I don't know if this would be classed as full time employment.

I do own a car, have mobile phone contract, credit cards and bank accounts here but how much would that help in proving ties?

My girlfriend is in full time employment (in a job that she's been in for 20 years so is unlikely to walk away from) but would the Embassy take that into account at all?

I only wish to be able to visit for a couple of weeks as I haven't seen the kids in quite a few years and hopefully be able to visit occasionally in the future.

Should I:

Hope for a 10yr visa with multiple entries?

Hope that they might allow me a shorter term visa with just one entry so I can show that I will be returning?

Or accept that I will probably never be able to go back over there?

Thanks for reading

Even if they give you the visa, they can deny you at the border. I overstayed on the VWP. Banned from the VWP, but not a 10-year ban. When I entered the U.S. recently under a tourist visa, I had to go to secondary inspections and prove to them that I have ties to my home country. And they told me that I'll have to do this every time I cross the border.

[MacUK 983]

Update

Just left the embassy.

unable to issue visa under section 214(b)

So I guess unless things drastically change in my circumstances I'll probably not see my kids for quite a few more years

[apple21 953]

Your kids can visit you instead. ;-)

[MacUK 983]

Their mother hasn't shown any inclination to bring them here for the past 6 years, that won't change any time soon!

[Asia 2,498]

Maybe they could go to Mexico and you could meet them there?

[Boiler 45,765]

Or Canada.