ESTA ban 7 years ago and transiting through US in 3 weeks!

[Mulv87 0]

Hi all!

 

I'm a UK citizen, with an issue.

 

So... long story short, I traveled to the US in 2010 and was denied entry under the Visa Waiver programme. The reason - I was doing some low budget travel, staying with friends along the way and the US Immigration officer didn't think that I had enough cash to fund my 90 day trip, and thought that I would attempt to stay in the US to work (which was untrue, but what could I do to prove otherwise?) This resulted in being deported and put on a flight back to the UK, with a 10 year ban from using the ESTA programme. On my return to the UK, I went to the US Embassy in London, hoping to be approved for a Tourist Visa, but sadly, I was denied (probably because of my recent deportation).

 

Fast forward 7 years and I'm on a round-the-world trip with my girlfriend, starting in India and finishing in Panama. I'm coming to the end of the Asia leg of my trip and booked a flight from Tokyo to Mexico City, with layovers in Seoul and LA.

 

Initially, I presumed that as I'm just transiting and not leaving the airport, I wouldn't be going through security in LA, so my ESTA ban wouldn't be an issue. Turns out, that's not the case and you need an ESTA or a visa even to transit!!

 

My flights are already booked, paid for and according to the airline, are nonrefundable. And my trip's a low budget one, so simply swallowing a £600 loss on the flights isn't an option... and to fly to Mexico through Canada instead, will cost £900, which is too pricey, given that I will have already lost £600!

 

So... Does anybody know what my options are?

 

I applied for an ESTA this evening, but obviously had to answer 'YES' to the question 'Have you ever been denied entry into the US', so I'm not holding out for an acceptance.

 

I'll be in Japan for 3 weeks. I'm landing in Osaka and wanted to make my way up to Tokyo, via Hiroshima, Kyoto and Kobe. Ideally, I don't want to land in Osaka and have to haul myself up to Tokyo for a super boring visa application interview, then travel back down to see Hiroshima and Kyoto, only to return back to Tokyo for my flight out - I'll just waste too much time in the process. But I WILL do this if it's my only option. And also - What are my chances of even being granted a transit or tourist visa for the US, given my past deportation?

 

All of this is very frustrating, as the US Immigration Officer's original accusations back in 2010, were entirely false and it's put me in a right-old-pickle now!

 

I've got no criminal record, or any sort of dodgy past. I'm a freelance film director back in the UK, which I know sometimes doesn't sit well with immigration officers too.

 

Any help or advice would be HUGELY appreciated!

 

Thanks!

Edited September 9, 2017 by Mulv87
Give citizenship and criminal information

[Boiler 47,707]

Re book through Canada or whatever option  of avoiding the US makes sense

Edited September 9, 2017 by Boiler

[Crazy Cat 44,943]

Your ESTA is gone...Forget that.........Only option is to reroute your trip.

[KULtoATL 1,552]

$160 for a transit visa is kinda crazy  You'll also need to prove that you have no intentions to stay in the US in order to be granted one. I third (concur) the suggestion to reroute. Less headache albeit a bit more money to be spent.

[WandY 430]

"I'm a freelance film director back in the UK, which I know sometimes doesn't sit well with immigration officers too. "

 

You do know that Hollywood is in Los Angeles, right? I hate when we discriminate against you pesky foreign freelance film directors.

 

Agree with above entries - avoid USA. A lot of good routes from Tokyo to Mexico City, sans L.A. I think your attitude towards our immigration/travel laws might have gotten you in a pickle in the past and will continue to do so. We hate to inconvenience you on your global jaunt, but that's the rule, dear.

[jan22 3,182]

The same requirement for proving that your intention is not to immigrate to the US applies to a transit visa as well as a tourist visa. Having already been denied entry under ESTA, been denied a visa in London, and now thinking about applying in Japan-- where you obviously have no ties-- make it pretty clear that you will not be granted a US visa during this trip. Therefore, you need to make whatever plans suit your purpose for travel without going through the US.

 

Transiting the US without a visa has not been possible since shortly after 9/11 and has been widely publicized.

Edited September 9, 2017 by jan22

[Mulv87 0]

Thanks for all this info guys, it truly helps!

 

After a entire evening of stern thought, I've decided to bite the bullet and travel via China and Canada instead of the US. Booking my flight via LA has been a massive £600 mistake (5 weeks on the road), but I guess I'll chalk it up as a bit of a life lesson and try to make up for the loss by volunteering, CouchSurfing and hitchhiking.

 

Thanks again all!

[az2014 381]

You are no longer eligible to travel via the VWP, ever, so an ESTA is no use anyway as it would not be valid.

 

You need a visa to attempt to enter the USA at any time in the future.