EagerVisa

I applied for an ESTA first (which was granted and then got revoked) so then I had to apply for a Visa. That's a tough one, if you don't feel any of the items of DHS Trip apply to you, better not to. (In my case I was denied an ESTA before, so that was a reason I could file DHS Trip). Sounds like you're having a similar experience, sorry to hear and keep strong. Are you in contact with the embassy, are they responding? Although it may feel your getting the same 'auto-responses' (if any), I think its your best shot to keep your case as alive as possible. Also, consider having a consultation call with a lawyer. In my case I waited for 12 months or so before doing so, and although there was no immediate resolution, it definitely helped me where and where not to put energy towards. Wished Id done it earlier. If you still want to be in the lead and keep the legal costs low, just start with a paid hour or half hour consultation. (In my case I only had 2 times half an hour).

I have been in A.P. for 17 months for a Tourist Visa myself, so I understand your concerns. Good news is that I finally got it. ESTA is indeed not possible if you've been 'denied' a Visa already. I assume you got a paper with checkboxes, informing you being in A.P. and they did not check any box for you to send in more documentation or information, correct? I believe it takes 60-90 days to get a decision (on average). After that period, I would start sending very polite reminders every 4-6 weeks to the Embassy, asking for an update in your case. Keep it short, and understand the Embassy is often relying on other departments as well. In case you feel your visa process or Esta is delayed or impacted for the wrong reasons, consider filing a case at DHS TRIP. In my case this cleared a potential misidentification issue at their end, that probably led to my case being stuck for 17 months. The Writ of Mandamus act is perhaps your very last resort. In my case, I mentioned filing for one if my case was not updated in xx days. Although I feel my case started moving after that, it was also stalled again for another 7 months. I would first talk to a lawyer before doing so.

I visited Cuba back in 2015, for a 10 day holiday. So I was able to get an ESTA in 2022, but it got revoked in 2023. I did see the ESTA questions being updated and including Cuba in 2023. There were legislation updates as well during that year, first all travels to Cuba after 2011 were impacted, now it's only after 2021 I believe.

Thank you, also for the tip, I will keep that in mind. I meant by "missed" that when I was asked " have you ever been to Iran, Iran, Jemen, North Korea" I was too fast to answer "No" as I had answered the same question multiple times online when trying to obtain an ESTA. But I was too fast, because the officer also asked "or Cuba". I missed that and unfortunately I only realised that after I was put in A.P. So not intended, but it was a misrep off course.

Dear Friends, I am thrilled to inform you my Tourist Visa has been ISSUED and RECEIVED!!!! Finally, after 2 years after applying, this Dutch citizen will finally be able to travel to the US again! A big thank you to everyone who helped and took their time answering on my thread, it really ment a lot during all this uncertainty. I will not be gone, but like to help others with their Visa experiences on the forum as much as I can. My case in short again: - I am a Dutch citizen, and was able to visit the US in 2022 under ESTA - In 2023, my ESTA got revoked (without given reason) and I had to apply for a Tourist Visa - Applied in feb 2023, got my interview in aug 2023, but was put in Administrative Processing (221g) asking for DS5535 form) - In June 2024, I send in my passport for Visa Issuance, but got it back soon without a visa and was put back in A.P. again - In feb 2025, I was asked again to send in my passport, and this time it went fully through and got ISSUED! I have been working with an immigration lawyer, and our best guess for the reason of the 2 year processing is a combination of: - I initially missed the officers question if I went to Cuba (to which I answered no unfortunately) - It appears there has been a case of misidentification: In march 2024 I filed a case at DHS Trip, resulting in getting provided a Traveler Redress Number, which would prevent any cases of misidentification. While I thought not too much of it back then, and either way it being solved, I have recently bene using the DHS confirmation letter every single time in my reminders to the Embassy, as this could still be the potential block, and it seems to have worked! Tips: - Prepare very well for your interview, know which questions are likely to be asked and take your time to listen very well before answering. - If you end up in A.P. and feel stuck: Keep sending polite reminders to the embassy (every month / 6 weeks) - Do use this forum, ask your questions, share your concerns, or do get an immigration lawyer on board - Make sure your aware of the DHS Trip system to file for cases, and if you would get a Traveler Redress number: Understands its huge! - Do not trust the systems to update internally, keep the Embassy very aware of any updates you got from DHS or your case Hope that helps, if any questions let me know! Best, A very happy traveler

Another update to my case: I am still in Administrative Processing. All I know my case is with DHS in Washington. The Embassy is pretty responsive and I do sense kindness in the tone of their email replies, for which I am very grateful. But, so far no luck and still waiting (in total 17 months now, and 6 months since they last asked to send in my passport). I consulted an immigration lawyer, and apparently the Traveler Redress number I obtained after filing a case with DHS, is very important. She thinks my case has been slowed down by my name popping up on a security list, and that combined with the Cuba travel in 2015 raised concerns. However, the Travel Redress number means my name and case should be cleared. As I got that Traveler Redress number already in March 2024, I am still not sure why this takes almost a year. Could be my case is not updated accordingly, handled on a different priority level, checks for recent travels, I don't know. I guess the only thing I can do is keep asking the Embassy for help and point out the Traveler Redress case for now. But at some point I feel withdrawing my case is the last option, so I can file again with my T. R. number and explain everything during the interview. Maybe then I would get the go-ahead.

Thanks for following up! Appreciated! No, unfortunately not. In total I am now more than 14 months in Admin Processing. 5 months have passed since I got the news my visa was good to go, but then got put back in Admin. Processing. Since then, I have been contacting the embassy every 6 weeks or so, and I have to say they are very responsive, also the tone is friendly and understanding. My case is still with the Department of Homeland Security in Washington who's been reminded, so fingers crossed. I do feel my case is (at least for the last 5 months) somewhat on the positive side, with the earlier 'send in your passport for visa issuance' news and a couple of friendly toned answers. Although I am still in the dark how long this all can still take, and what the reason for all these processing timelines is.. Other than the Cuba situation I can only think I might have been involved in a mistaken identity case, but as I got a Traveler Redress number to avoid that from happening already months ago, I would say also that is solved. Probably some extra checks if there aren't any ties to Cuba or so, which there ain't.

Thanks for your replies, means so much. Hoping SalishSea is correct, and they are just checking my latest travels currently. 70 days have past, so hope its going to be clear soon. Does anyone know an answer to the Redress number question: Is that a common / standard thing travelers can get, or is that only done in cases where there is an actual system misidentification?

Update to my case. In the meantime, we are 13 months down the line in Administrative Processing, and 19 months since applying. Another 2 moths have passed since the last request to send in my passport for visa issuance, but got it back again without a visa. I filed a DHS Trip request as I still feel my the journey all started with an ESTA denial for the wrong reasons, which keeps following me. The reply I got stated "I am not eligible for travel under ESTA but can apply for a Visa" and "after reviewing your case, we have made any corrections to records that our inquiries determined were necessary, including, as appropriate, notations that may assist in avoiding incidents of misidentification". I got a Redress Control number, which should help with that. So: Now I start to think I may have been involved in some misidentification issues. Or is a redress number something pretty standard for people to get after filing a DHStrip request? I can only hope this will soon help speeding up my case, will keep you posted.

that’s a very valid comment thanks! I didn’t thought of that. I have traveled so that might be it. hope I get new instructions soon.

Thanks for your reply. I understand there is no right to get that visa. What is confusing me, is why no decision is taken still after 10 months, then I get a message to send in my passport for visa issuance, and then something was again not right, and again we go in waiting time without needing more from me.

Hi friends, I have an update on my case. After more than 9 months waiting in Administrative Processing, I finally got an email from the Embassy (Amsterdam, NL) with instructions to send in my passport, mentioning they expected to return it with my tourist visa in it afterwards! YAY! You would say? Well, I send in my passport with new pictures and supporting documents (but maybe not all documents, the instructions were not very clear) and now I got a message they will return my passport without a visa, and I am put under Admin Processing again... Hoping the reason behind this is just some missing hardcopies of some supporting documents, such as the confirmation I paid my fees etc which you normally suppose to bring to the interview (which was all done already), I asked the consulate for the reason and which documents they like me to include. I now got a reply that they, at this moment, do not need any documents, my case is under Administrative processing again, and this process is done by the department of homeland security hence there is no expectation how long this is going to take. I am so confused now. 2 weeks ago clearly it was expected to issue my visa, I send in my passport, now they return it without and homeland security is involved (again)? Any ideas on the possible reasons behind this? I still hope it might be missing supporting documents/hard copies, but I would not expect homeland security to be involved then? Thank you so much for your replies and all the best,

Thanks for your reply. I wish not to share where I am from/which embassy but its a very safe country in Europe, that normally is allowed to travel under ESTA. I just want to go to the US to visit a friend who lives there. Ive been there once in 2022 when my ESTA was granted, but it got revoked afterwards. Might be a system error caused by me accidentally re filing a new ESTA, when the old one was still valid. Or, it could be the Cuba situation in 2015 that they saw as a reason to revoke my ESTA. I was not aware Cuba was 'a thing' until after the Visa interview. Cuba was NOT included in the ESTA questions (only Sudan, Iran, North Korea etc). When in the interview, the officer asked if Ive been to these countries and I answered "No". I was pretty nervous and not been to all the other countries so I answered to quickly unfortunately. As the Admin Processing asked for my travel history, I started searching and saw Cuba is "a thing" and off course I included it in my answer that I DID go there. This is the only omission in my application. Furthermore I am as clean as it gets I think. I own a house, have sufficient funds, a job, a business, no record, I have family and a pet here. Its really mind boggling why its so hard to get that Tourism Visa..

Ok thanks that is a lot of money to spend. Maybe it's just best that I keep reminding them for now. I have been a bit scared to send in more information / evidence that prove things they did not ask for but maybe that's the way to go.

How do you mean? They have not yet, I am still in Admin processing.