Travel under ESTA Visa Waiver Program following 601 waiver approval

[lindsaycaldwell 0]

I am a british citizen awaiting approval of a 601 waiver approval in relation to a spouse immigration visa.

My ESTA VWP status was changed after I was declared inadmissible preventing me from entering the US.

My question is - Will my ESTA VWP status be automatically changed after the approval of the 601 waiver allowing me to visit as a tourist?

My understanding is that after the 601 waiver is approved, an appointment has to be booked at the London embassy and that the reality is a waiting period up to 3 months between the approval of the S601 waiver and the issue of the visa.

I would like to join my wife in San Francisco asap so I am hoping that I can enter the USA under the VWP once the 601 is approved then leave to attend the visa interview in London.

Edited September 4, 2014 by lindsaycaldwell

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Ask the CBP directly right here https://help.cbp.gov/app/ask

[MacUK 983]

What is the reason for your inadmissibility?

[lindsaycaldwell 0]

my reason for admissibility is about as petty as it probably gets - As part of an employment package, I was given a pass entitling me to free public transport in Melbourne, Australia. I used the pass on a tram after resigning and moving to another job in 2004. I thought it was ok as the pass had a year end expiry date. The Transit police ended up slapping me with a fraud charge (obtaining financial advantage by deception) with no conviction. This came out on my police report check and in the eyes of the USA amounts to a crime of moral turpitude.

Wish i had bought a $2 ticket!!! and given myself back the six months it is apparently going to take to go though the ridiculously slow appeals process......

[lindsaycaldwell 0]

thanks for the link to the CBP Nich-Nick

[Ryan H 3,821]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Waivers forum.

[jan22 3,056]

Waivers are granted for specific visas -- you can't take a waiver that you qualified for under an immigrant visa (which are more likely to be granted) and apply it elsewhere. You are ineligible for a visa (without a waiver), so you do not qualify for ESTA, sorry.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yes, I-601 is for immigrant visas. You can't translate it to ESTA. Just use the immigrant visa once you get it.