ESTA Issue/B2 visa?

[Bll21F 0]

Hello, I do apologise if there is a thread similar to this.

So...Here's the story.

In 2010, I applied for ESTA ( and was approved)so i could travel to the US to go to a concert at Madison Square Garden. I was 18 at the time, and naturally, my parents did not want me to go. But me, being stubborn as i am, didn't listen and went anyway.

That all went haywire when i missed the flight ( bus got to the airport late), tried scanning my passport, for it not to work. Until i had to phone a friend to get me home, i had no idea that my parents had told the UK police of what i was up to ( and told them about the note i'd left explaining where i'd gone, to this day they still don't think i wrote it, but i did, they just underestimate my intelligence)

Got home to really ( and understandably) angry parents, brothers, and friends. From what i recall, a day or so later, for some reason, i decided to check the ESTA application, only to find it had been changed to " Travel not authorised"


Fast forward to 2013, I would like to go to the US to sightsee and visit friends. I re-applied for ESTA ( the application expires after 2-3 years) only for them to not allow me to travel (Basically, i got the " Travel not authorised" screen).

It told me that if i wished to travel even after i had been told no, i had to apply for a b-2 visa?

I did also file for a review of the Denial ( It's my choice, in MY opinion, they made the wrong decision to say no, why do they think i'll do what i did in 2010? because i won't. I have sufficient funds, and as of this week, i have been looking at hotels to stay at, i would also not overstay my welcome. i'd stay for as long as i'm allowed and that would be it.)

And probably a stupid question, but has an ESTA decision ever been reversed? Meaning after i've explained my side of the story and they've reviewed everything, would they go " You can use ESTA again" or is it a case of that once they deny you and say to go for a b-2, you can never use it again?

Apologies if that made no sense, it's been a long day.

I hope you can help me out and give me some advice.

[Hypnos 6,577]

You can attempt to reverse an ESTA denial but expect an uphill battle on that front.

Your only alternative would be to obtain a B-2 visa from the US Embassy in London. When an ESTA is denied you can reapply in the future, since you do not become ineligible based on a previous denial, but it does give you some kind of negative mark that seemingly erodes with time.

I'm still not completely sure what happened the first time visited on the VWP. How did your ESTA go from "approved" to "not authorised"?

[Bll21F 0]

You can attempt to reverse an ESTA denial but expect an uphill battle on that front.

Your only alternative would be to obtain a B-2 visa from the US Embassy in London. When an ESTA is denied you can reapply in the future, since you do not become ineligible based on a previous denial, but it does give you some kind of negative mark that seemingly erodes with time.

I'm still not completely sure what happened the first time visited on the VWP. How did your ESTA go from "approved" to "not authorised"?

So because they've said no this time, it's not a case of " we've said no, now you're never allowed in"?

And frankly, i don't even know why it changed from a yes to a no. i would have said it may have been due to my parents telling the cops where i was,it's something i'm thinking, but i have no idea.

I mean, I've no criminal convictions, never been charged/arrested/gone to court/gone to prison, so i have no idea.

Can someone give me more details of applying for the b-2? as in what to fill in, what to expect, items to take with me?

[Hypnos 6,577]

There are some things that make you permanently ineligible to use the VWP, such as overstaying a previous VWP visit, but those don't seem to apply in your case.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Hypnos

[Bll21F 0]

I didn't even leave UK soil, So...i guess overstaying a previous visit is out of the running....

[Hypnos 6,577]

It wasn't clear from your post whether your passport was unreadable in the UK when trying to fly out, or in the US when trying to fly back, so I guess that answers that question.

Maybe you'll get somewhere filing for a review of your denial. Is it possible that your parents reported your passport as stolen to the British police? If so, they may have, in turn, contacted US authorities to perhaps rescind your ESTA authorisation. That seems like quite a chain of improbabilities, though.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Hypnos

[Bll21F 0]

It could be that..

When i was at the airport, i did try scanning my passport, but for some reason, from what i remember, it either couldn't find me, or it just wouldn't scan. I don't really remember, all i know is that my passport wouldn't scan...