amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

xt · 09-19-2004, 11:26 PM

Apparently they have a new law about student visas for students staying 6 months or more, and her home university didn't know about it.... Anyway, no visa, no entry...

Anyone ever use a visa expediting service? Recommendations? Suggestions?

Poor kid... She was detained like a criminal and sent back on the next plane to Atlanta. Hasn't slept in 2 days. She's supposed to start school in Wales in a week....

Robin · 09-20-2004, 01:12 AM

You might try calling their embassy tomorrow. I had to call the embassy in the spring when dh was traveling to Africa and they were very helpful.

Scarlet · 09-20-2004, 02:02 AM

Don't feel bad, my brother is British, lived and worked all his life in Britain. Born to a British father, British grandpare.... you get the picture.. Anyway, U.K. immigration detained him coming in from a business trip in Scandanavia because he was carrying his U.S. passport like we always do when travelling. He had his British birth certificate with him but they didn't care. They have really cracked down in the last few years... like the U.S.

The U.S. decided to stop allowing Brits in for holidays on the visa waiver program. My father refuses to come visit because it means that he would have to go to London and get an expensive visa to come out for a week ))o:

xt · 09-20-2004, 11:50 AM

Would you believe the British Embassy is closed for Columbus Day? Argh!

Anyway, the Embassy in Atlanta doesn't process visas - looks like the closest are NY and DC, so we're using an expediting service in NY. I just don't see her doing DC or NY alone - she's a little (ok, maybe a lot) on the sheltered side - grew up in a small town in NC, goes to a small college in an even smaller town. And since we can't get in touch with the NY and DC embassies today, there's no point in even considering sending her off to try it herself.... Plus, the embassy site itself recommends using an expediting service - they have a list of them. Regular humans have to make appointments - the services just walk in and magic happens.

She'll feel better when I tell her they don't even let their own citizens in.

Looks like all she'll be missing is the exchange student orientation week. Assuming all goes well from here!

RocketScientist · 09-20-2004, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scarlet
The U.S. decided to stop allowing Brits in for holidays on the visa waiver program. My father refuses to come visit because it means that he would have to go to London and get an expensive visa to come out for a week ))o:

does your father have the newer red/maroon British passport, or the old black one? I think if he gets the newer one, he won't need a visa to get into the US - my DH was enquiring about this recently because his mother will be coming to visit.

uccomama · 09-20-2004, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RocketScientist
does your father have the newer red/maroon British passport, or the old black one? I think if he gets the newer one, he won't need a visa to get into the US - my DH was enquiring about this recently because his mother will be coming to visit.

I don't think the old style navy passports have been issued in over 10 years, which is the lifespan of a passport. My first maroon passport was issued in 1984 and I think they had been around for a couple of years before I got one.

This is also the first I have heard about the US no longer accepting the visa waiver for personal visits from UK citizens. I think they are thinking of doing this when the new biometric passports are introduced but only for those that have the old style but still, maroon, passports.

Deborah

Scarlet · 09-21-2004, 12:17 AM

well I had a look online and it looks like what my mother told me was wrong, he won't need a visa, just a machine readable passport.