Hello,
I'm due to travel to the US on holiday with my wife and kids on the 23rd of June. As UK citizens, we can use the quick ESTA process for visa waivers. However, in 2016, I visited Iraq for 6 days as part of my job. I'm a project manager, employed by a company in the UK, but we were working with our client, ExxonMobil on a gas project out there. I was only there to oversee the setup, went from Basra airport to the site, and back.
However, this has meant I am no longer eligible for Esta. I didn't know this until the ESTA got delayed.
The ESTA hasn't been rejected yet though. It just says "authorization pending".
As a contingency, I managed to get an expedited appointment for a visa at the embassy in London, but the data the gave me is June 23rd, the same day I'm supposed to fly out. Very frustrating.
So I have some questions:
1. A colleague of mine had this same issue, and he said they gave him the visa during the interview. however, I'm being told it will be posted to me. Is there a way to ensure I can get it same day.
2. Having been in Iraq, i understand it's an automatic refusal. But why is the ESTA still showing as "authorization pending". Surely if it's a fixed rule, it would be rejected straight away.
Any advise would be appreciated.
Thank you.