EagerVisa

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.

Thank you all for your responses. I was just trying to think out of the box with the Canada idea as I read somewhere that border control is in place, but no need for ESTA or VISA. I think ESTA is needed. So that's not going to happen. I also read you can file for a writ of mandamus lawsuit to get the government take a decision within a decent timeframe (60 days). Any experiences on that, also from a cost perspective? Is it worthwhile doing for just a tourist visa?

Hi everyone, I need help and advice on getting my US Visa. Thanks in advance for your replies! My US Visa is in “administrative processing” since August 2023 (for more than 6 months). My full Visa application is already pending for a year! I would like advice how I can best speed up this process. I am also curious to get a better feeling how well my chances are getting a US Visa still. Brief description of the case: In Okt 2022 I was able to travel to US under ESTA. In Feb 2023 my ESTA status changed to “Travel Not Authorized”. Not really sure why. As such I needed to apply for a Visa. In Feb 2023, I applied for a Non-immigrant Tourist Visa (B2). My interview was due to backlogs only in August 2023. At the end of my interview I was told my Visa could not been granted yet, and they needed more information. I was only asked to complete the DS-5535 form (travel history) and I was put in Administrative processing. No other further questions were asked so I assume that is all ok. Today, it has been > 6 months without getting more update than "we are moving as fast as we can but no updates, please remain patient" I have a strong feeling this is all related to my short (< 2weeks) tourist travel to Cuba in 2015 and me unfortunately answering this question wrong during the Visa interview. When applying for my ESTA in 2022 and 2023, Cuba was not mentioned in the Esta application (only Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen). In the Visa interview, I was expecting the same question and answered pretty fast “No” when later realizing the consolation officer asked these countries, but also Cuba. In my requested travel history, I off course mentioned I did go to Cuba in 2015 for 2 weeks (as to many other but 'safe' countries, always <2weeks, always clearly tourism) I found that the regulations to travel under ESTA were, at the moment I applied, that anyone who had been in Cuba after 2011 could not travel under ESTA, and need a VISA. Now, the rule is updated to anyone who traveled to Cuba after 2021 can’t go via ESTA, but anytime earlier should be fine. Hence I re-applied for an ESTA again last week (which now does ask for Cuba which you can answer Yes, and then you have to fill in when and for how long), but it got denied again. So it seems my Visa is preventing me from getting ESTA now. My questions are: 1. Is there anything that can be done to speed up the Administrative process getting my US Tourist Visa? 2. From your experience, how do you see this very long waiting time and, reading the case how do you think my chances are still getting one? 3. Could it be an alternative to travel to US via Canada as it seems US ESTA/VISA is then not needed. Would that be an alternative or potentially harm my Visa application? Thank you!