ESTA denied to my nephew

[Veggie3 26]

Hi,

 

Recently we received the message that my 21-years-old nephew's ESTA application was denied no reason was given. The notification mentions "You are not authorized to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. You may be able to obtain a visa from the Department of State for your travel."

 

He has never been to the U.S. before and currently he is in a military pre-enlistment program in his country. He wanted to visit me together with his sibling (who has a visa and visited the U.S. 6 years ago) for about 2.5 weeks. I wrote my Congressman, but know that's a longshot. Is there even a point to apply for a tourist visa after an ESTA refusal?

 

Thanks,

V.

[appleblossom 5,755]

54 minutes ago, Veggie3 said:

Hi,

 

Recently we received the message that my 21-years-old nephew's ESTA application was denied no reason was given. The notification mentions "You are not authorized to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. You may be able to obtain a visa from the Department of State for your travel."

 

He has never been to the U.S. before and currently he is in a military pre-enlistment program in his country. He wanted to visit me together with his sibling (who has a visa and visited the U.S. 6 years ago) for about 2.5 weeks. I wrote my Congressman, but know that's a longshot. Is there even a point to apply for a tourist visa after an ESTA refusal?

 

Thanks,

V.

Depends on the reason his ESTA was refused. Any idea? What country is he from? 

[Boiler 48,660]

Why did his sibling need a visa?

[Veggie3 26]

He's from Israel. His sibling applied to and received the visa in 2019, i.e., before Israel was on the ESTA country list.

 

No reason is mentioned in the rejection letter. Does anyone here have a useful experience with a U.S. House rep. or Senator intervening on their behalf or is it a wild goose chase?

 

Thanks,

V.

[JeanneAdil 7,459]

Eligible Israeli citizens and nationals must have a full-validity, biometrically enabled passport book.  Travelers who possess non-biometric, temporary, or emergency travel documents, or travel documents from a non-Visa Waiver Program designated country, are not eligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program and may instead apply for a U.S. visa

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/visa-waiver-travel-for-israeli-citizens.html

 

The case itself is your nephews case and he is not represented by US Congress /he is not  part of their constituent service. / if he was in the US ,and was having issues with immigration, he could sign a privacy waiver acting as a liaison to inquire about the case and that means only inquire as they can not force approval, overturn decisions or bypass legal requirements

[OldUser 11,219]

This is normal. 

 

Did you ask related question few months back here? If yes, you were advised his ties were not sufficient.

 

See this

 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/831464-we-want-our-nephew-to-visit-us/?do=findComment&comment=11069753

 

Sorry if not you, it just sounds like exact same case.

Edited 15 hours ago by OldUser

[Calicolom 270]

9 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Eligible Israeli citizens and nationals must have a full-validity, biometrically enabled passport book.  Travelers who possess non-biometric, temporary, or emergency travel documents, or travel documents from a non-Visa Waiver Program designated country, are not eligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program and may instead apply for a U.S. visa

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/visa-waiver-travel-for-israeli-citizens.html

 

The case itself is your nephews case and he is not represented by US Congress /he is not  part of their constituent service. / if he was in the US ,and was having issues with immigration, he could sign a privacy waiver acting as a liaison to inquire about the case and that means only inquire as they can not force approval, overturn decisions or bypass legal requirements

Now I know why my brothers Esta was revoked, last year.

[Veggie3 26]

14 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Eligible Israeli citizens and nationals must have a full-validity, biometrically enabled passport book.  Travelers who possess non-biometric, temporary, or emergency travel documents, or travel documents from a non-Visa Waiver Program designated country, are not eligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program and may instead apply for a U.S. visa

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/visa-waiver-travel-for-israeli-citizens.html

 

The case itself is your nephews case and he is not represented by US Congress /he is not  part of their constituent service. / if he was in the US ,and was having issues with immigration, he could sign a privacy waiver acting as a liaison to inquire about the case and that means only inquire as they can not force approval, overturn decisions or bypass legal requirements

>

That seems to be the reason. We didn't know about this stipulation, and indeed he has an older passport which isn't biometric. We're trying to get him a visa interview now, so he can come for a short visit with his sibling in early March.

 

Old User - nope, that wasn't me.

 

 

V.