Visa waiver delays

[NickTom]

Hi all my name is nick I would like to know if there is any people out there going through the Same cough as I am on getting a visa waiver from the us consulate in sydney
i applied for a visa on the 24th of feb mind you this is my third visa got it twice before between 4 to 6 weeks no problem but this time it's a joke I was told by the interviewer that this visa would take 4 to 8 weeks that's fine
he asked when I was going to travel and I told him that my plans were for August he told oh you will get it before that
well 8 weeks passed and no visa so I called the number on there web site and lord and behold I got India all they could do was to escalate it as they told me that as of the 1st of march the consulate had changed sever what ever that means and that it's going to take up to 19 weeks well it's no been 13 weeks and sent them an email of my status I got a reply still pending and it would take up to 19 weeks to get visa I would like to know if here is anyone out there that is or has been goin through this and is there anyone that might know of a number that is to the consulate in Sydney not directed to a call center
thanks sorry for the long post

 

[rechoboam]

I don't mean to be rude but your post is extremely hard to read, some full stops would help!

What passport do you have? Do you have criminal convictions? Do you require a visa or a visa waiver? Why do you require a visa or a visa waiver? Australian passport holders do not require any paperwork, just an online form.

 

[NickTom]

I don't mean to be rude but your post is extremely hard to read, some full stops would help!

What passport do you have? Do you have criminal convictions? Do you require a visa or a visa waiver? Why do you require a visa or a visa waiver? Australian passport holders do not require any paperwork, just an online form.

Sorry if it's hard to read
yes I do have a record that is 12yr old
its a waiver that I require I have applied for a waiver in the past year and a half twice and got them no problem
you need to apply for a waiver if you have a criminal record
land I hold an Australian passport

 

[rechoboam]

Ah i see, you should search through the threads as someone else had the exact same problem and received a lot of advice...

 

[NickTom]

Ok thanks do you remember which thread and how long ago did you read the other person with the same problem

 

[NM]

Just to get the terminology correct ... what you are seeking is an exception to the automatic visa refusal for someone who does not meet the requirements for a visa. This is not a Visa Waiver. The Visa Waiver program is very different.

 

[docjames]

I think this is the main one:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../criminal-record-obtaining-us-visa-15468.html


there are also a few others to read through:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s/travelling-to-us-criminal-record-38508.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s/travelling-to-us-criminal-record-38508.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....avelling-usa-section-10-conviction-27271.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../criminal-record-obtaining-us-visa-15468.html


And + 1 the terminology is difficult - you dont want a visa waiver (you cant get a waiver of the visa requirement due to past conviction), you need permission to get a visa given prior conviction.

And by all reports, it's not a fast process.

Welcome to AFF.

 

[NickTom]

Sorry yes it's the automatic refusal one.
i have done all the interview process it's the waiting part I want to know its been now 14 weeks and still no visa but to add to this 4weeks ago they sent me my passport back and said that when the visa is approved they will ask for it back .
this is my third time the other times they didn't do that .
when the 8 week period passed I rang there customer service and was informed by them that as of the fist of march they changed server what that means I don't know but he thought I might have been caught up in the change over I was thinking of sending my passport back and see what happens any thoughts on that anyone