US Visa under BOND - any info ?

[cbvortex]

Howdy folks,

Have recently been denied a B2 Visa ( April 2013 )

My intenet was to travel to the US to spectate & learn from the pro's speedway racing and to also purchase racing equipment as I am establishing myself back here in Australia.
I intended to stay 4 - 5 months and travel with some teams that I compete with in Australia, aswell as do the tourist thing.

I believe I was denied a visa due to my honesty of telling them that I have been previously arrested ( drug related ) Although I was not convicted. All charges were withdrawn. My criminal record shows only a driving offence. Had I not told them of these arrests, I would most likely have been accepted.

I was given a 214b letter and told I was not permanently denied entry to the US, but merely was not eligible on this particular occasion, and that I should re-apply at a later date.
However she was not helpful in telling when I should re-apply, or what I could do to improve my circumstances.

Iv been racking my brain, talking with many people both in Aus and the US, but it seems there is no process to get a speedy visa approval if one at all.

I have stumbled across people and some very limited information on the net regarding entry to the US under a bond program, paid to the US District Director and held for the short duration of your stay. One particular person I spoke to said a employee of his was allowed a 8 week stay under a approx $30k AUD bond.
Im chasing some more information regarding this..... If anyone can help ?


I have a limited window left before the US racing season is over (Approx Oct, weather pending ) and really need to get over there, even if it is only a short stay.


Appreciate your time.

Cheers
Chad.

 

[Maca44]

It is my understanding that a normal visa application (after being refused on criminal history grounds etc) is taking somewhere around 5 months before being eventually approved, so I don't like your chances of a fresh application getting approval quickly.

 

[NM]

Welcome to AFF, cbvortex.

Are you certain that your planned activities, as described in your visa application, meet the criteria for a B2 visa? Some of what you have described could be interpreted as requiring a B1 visa. Note that it is common to have a combined B1/B2 visa issued, permitting activities under both categories. Did you apply just for a B2 visa or for a combined B1/B2 visa? Its a long time since I applied for a B1/B2 visa (25 years ago) and have no idea now what was required then and its likely changed significantly since then anyway. Back then I think it was a single application for B1/B2 visa and not separate applications for each type, but things may be different now.