USA VISA Rip OFF!!

E1T5Y

E1T5Y

E1T5Y

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Hi All

Just wanted to share something useful.

I am off to Vegas in January for work (my first time to the states) and went online to get my Visa...
I happily googled "USA VISA" and many links came up, i chose one after another and they all wanted to charge me :confused: i was positive that this should be free and checked with my boss and he never paid.

It seems that there are people out there providing a service with a charge when you can just get it for free, so i thought i would share the link with you in case you ever decide to go :D

CLICK HERE
 
I didn't know it was free. I had to pay £60 to get to get my chinese visa. Surely there must be an admin fee for the US visa?
 
ESTA != visa.

If you're a British citizen and visiting for <90 days, you don't need a visa. The obvious place to look (US Embassy website) will tell you this: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/vwp.html

If you do actually need a visa for work, then starting with google is not the right way to go about it. Your employer needs to be doing a fair bit to get the ball rolling.
 
Im going for less than 90 days and not atcually working and earning there, just visiting a show :)
 
I'm sure someone else will be able to provide more details, but I thought that due to the visa waiver program, you don't need one to go to the USA. Just a return ticket and details of where your staying. I'm pretty sure its just a form you fill in on the plane there as well.

EDIT: damn beaten
 
Well, if you wanted info on USA visas then you should go to the USA embassy in London website, right?

There is a visa waiver programme that is setup by the US government and many nationalities (including British) do not need to get a visa, they just need to fill-in an online form and that's it.

Other nationalities do need a visa and you have to pay a fee to the embassy (details on their website) of around £80-100 for your application (non-refundable whether you get the visa or not).

There are numerous scammers out there trying to get you to pay for your USA visa simply because there are gazillions of people who want to go there and stay illegally but can't get through the proper channels (read: embassy) so they hope that by paying someone will prepare their application in a way that will (magically) guarantee them a visa approval.
 
Or just get on the plane without one. The kindly air hostess will then give you the relevant form to fill in on the plane. It takes about 5 minutes if you read it carefully, 2 minutes if you have done it before., but take your own pen :)

I visited a show for work in Las Vegas for 7 years in a row, plus other parts of the US and did that every time. Just make sure you know the full address of where you are staying.
 
E1T5Y said:
Im going for less than 90 days and not atcually working and earning there, just visiting a show :)
Click to expand...

My best advice, ring up a british bureau and get some advice, they wont bite your hand off lol, they will be happy that you saught professional advice before jumping into something that could get you into trouble :)

ags
 
namnoc said:
Or just get on the plane without one. The kindly air hostess will then give you the relevant form to fill in on the plane. It takes about 5 minutes if you read it carefully, 2 minutes if you have done it before., but take your own pen :)
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if they've started clamping down on it yet, but since the start of this year you must complete the online form 3(?) days prior to travel.

Eventually you might find that when you arrive at the airport you are refused.
 
Aye, and also, don't wear a turban, hat, any sort of long gown, if anything, get out some old 80's clothing :D

ags
 
They US immigration folks have been talking of refusing the use of the Visa Waiver program for UK citizens of Pakistani origin

Can see that going down well :eek:
 
Rotty said:
They US immigration folks have been talking of refusing the use of the Visa Waiver program for UK citizens of Pakistani origin

Can see that going down well :eek:
Click to expand...


Only 3 weeks ago I was charged $12 for a visa when crossing the border from Canada going into New York state. I was only going across for a few days to NY and for day trips to discount outlets in Buffalo. Its only after I realised I didn't need a visa being a UK passport holder.
 
growse said:
ESTA != visa.

If you're a British citizen and visiting for <90 days, you don't need a visa
Click to expand...
Not true. This is only the case if your passport fits the requirements set by US immigration. Usually they'll ask that your passport is a "recent" one, i.e: one that has the symbol denoting it as an electronic passport, the symbol being the little square "chip" at the bottom of the cover (see here)

The best thing to do is contact the US embassy, or check on their website to see if your passport meets their requirements. If you are currently living outside the UK, you should probably contact your nearest UK consulate or embassy.

If your passport doesn't meet the requirements, you should contact the US Embassy and apply for a visa - this will cost you upwards of £60.
If your passport does meet the requirements, then you do not need to pay for a visa. You simply need to go to the ESTA website that you linked about 3-4 days prior to leaving for the states and fill in the information. Make sure you remember the reference number they give you at the end in case you're asked for it (I never was, but you never know ;))
 
Killerkebab said:
Not true. This is only the case if your passport fits the requirements set by US immigration. Usually they'll ask that your passport is a "recent" one, i.e: one that has the symbol denoting it as an electronic passport, the symbol being the little square "chip" at the bottom of the cover (see here)

The best thing to do is contact the US embassy, or check on their website to see if your passport meets their requirements. If you are currently living outside the UK, you should probably contact your nearest UK consulate or embassy.

If your passport doesn't meet the requirements, you should contact the US Embassy and apply for a visa - this will cost you upwards of £60.
If your passport does meet the requirements, then you do not need to pay for a visa. You simply need to go to the ESTA website that you linked about 3-4 days prior to leaving for the states and fill in the information. Make sure you remember the reference number they give you at the end in case you're asked for it (I never was, but you never know ;))
Click to expand...

My bad, should have clarified the passport requirements.
 
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