American Visa

dammit, I'm signed on as guapo. /jayloo

quick! give yourself some rep!

Nhatt, how was it finding work in the UK in comparison? I'm intrigued about the difference in visa handling.

I'm here on a visa and the employers barely asked about it. At my first job I didn't even give it to HR until after I'd been there 6 months.

In the States, any job I applied for from the age of 15 required my social security card at least and made you fill out a W-4 to prove you were a citizen before you started.

So it's a lot easier here to do the paperwork.

Well, yes and no.
I've always needed a national insurance number for anything I've applied for, but I'm working class and most of my employers are afraid of being checked.
It was nearly impossible for me to get a visa here, but I don't feel like talking about the hard work I had to do to get one, let's just say that it has involved multiple thousands of pounds and some stretch in legality and several trips back to the USA, some that were last minute to get the right visa in time.

I've got a little story about the pitfalls of not having a visa...

Good point about the NI number, forgot about that. I did have to get one and pretty sure I sorted it before my first job.

Still, my experience has been that it's easier here.

Fuck off prick, this isnt a english lesson.

...is not 'an' English lesson.

...is not 'an' English lesson.

but its munths l8tr?

lol, talk about last weeks news

Polish girlfriend wants to go to USA so needs holiday visa. They ask for an address where you'll be staying but obviously she's not booked anything until she knows they'll give her a visa. Should she fill this out with a random hotel address or just write "unknown as yet"?

They'll sometimes check during interrogations as to the address you've listed there, so putting a random one could wind up giving you/her more trouble. Where is she applying for the visa?

when coming from aus to london, i had to put an address so i put the hostel i was heading to. it was my only option

i have read that she doesn't want to book but just pick somewhere suitable in the area shes heading to and if questioned say that's where you are heading to. failing that book 1 night in a cheap hostel in the town and put that as the address, whether you go or not is up to you

I've booked a holiday to Puerto Rico in January, with GF.
I applied for an I foreign media representative visa for a work job in March 2016, which I didn't get, as it was the wrong visa for what I was required to do.
When applying for an esta for Puerto Rico, told them I'd been denied a visa (see above).
I am then promptly denied an esta.
Now am currently striving to find us visa company so I can speak to someone about this situation and best way to fill out new ds 160 form, and whether I should just get a b2 tourism visa or a b1/b2 business/tourism visa (as I've had to go to the US for work on several occasions in the past, and will probably have to in the future, usually on short notice)

Anyone know of any us visa companies that I can ring or should I just be honest in application and see what happens. As I'm not even sure that me being denied the I visa was actually a denial, at the time it was more we can't give you this visa, it's the wrong one, go and fill in the application for the right one, and come back..

On short time, with the holidays coming so any help appreciated.

dredge.

has anyone gone to the US on the Visa Waiver Program? do I need to apply for that or just book flights and show up?

Thanks

Yes. Fill out the application form online a week or so before.

Thanks, have you done this? Uk passport? Need a reference letter or anything like proof of where you’re staying?

Is it a company like this that you have to do it through? https://trustyvisaservice.com/esta/

UK Passport - I have one, not sure if it's necessary
Reference letter needed - no, think I just put my hotel address
No company needed. Just apply here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Go here, https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ fill out the form, pay your money. Ten minutes of a job.

If you're a UK passport holder (potentially with 6 months or more left on the passport, less than this can be an issue) it is very easy so long as you don't have criminal convictions, declare you're a war criminal, etc

Need the address of where you're staying in the US (although at times I've guessed at this when I hadn't yet booked a hotel).

They last for two years so best to apply sooner rather than later (although I have done them within 24 hours of flying before) for peace of mind.

Also assuming that you're not working (and being paid by a US company) out there. Going out for meetings, inspections, etc is fine if you're still employed by a UK company (roughly).

Ha, just looked at the Trusty Visa site. Buried away in the small print is that their charge is £59 as compared to the normal £10, even though you're just filling in the same online form.

Cheeky fuckers.

very helpful thanks

Also assuming that you're not working (and being paid by a US company) out there. Going out for meetings, inspections, etc is fine if you're still employed by a UK company (roughly).

no payments happening, visiting the FDNY for 3 days as work, remaining stay is pleasure. Likewise Mrs OWK will work remotely for those 3 days, then tourism for the rest. sounds fine then.

Should be OK (I'm actually sat in an office in NY at the moment) but immigration can be a bit dim so you have to make sure that they understand that you're just visiting for business rather than working properly.

I sometimes have to do a bit of explaining but it's normally fine.