Help visa trouble

[50andknackered]

Not an AIBU but not sure where to post. Attended the USA Embassy in London yesterday having declared a police caution so ESTA not an option. As requested attended with ACRO but they have declined my visa and are asking for a subject access request . Anybody experienced this , do you know how long the process takes. I have already booked my flights for my summer hols and risk ruining my son and daughters holiday now.

@50andknackered
I sympathise.
This US visitors’ visa process is so tortuously and exasperatingly cumbersome and unwieldy…….and costly!
Obviously they don’t want criminals entering their country, but it feels like you are being punished all over again for maybe a minor offence committed many years ago. For people who may not know, all arrests/convictions must be declared, including “spent” ones.
Did your ACRO certificate come back saying “no live trace”? This is so unfair - you pay a lot for an ACRO certificate thinking your conviction will be on there, but it may not if it’s been “stepped down”, (too complicated to explain here!).
If this is the case with you, that may be why you have been asked for a “subject access” request. This too has to be applied for and does list all arrests/ convictions.
How has your visa application been left? Will they “pend” it whilst waiting for the SAR, or will you have to start all over again?
A relative got caught up in this situation but fortunately started the process very early so was able to get everything approved in time. Is there a Premium service, (paying extra for speed), for an SAO? (There is for an ACRO).
There is a charity called “Unlock” which may be able to advise, (no personal knowledge of them), or I guess a UK-based lawyer for US immigration might be a last resort…….. yes, £££££s, I know 🫩 I’d be interested to know how you get on!

They've kept my passport so I'm assuming I don't have to reapply. You can't fast track an SAR unfortunately . It's so frustrating as I don't understand why they don't advise you to request the SAR with the ACRO I shall check out the charity thankyou

I totally agree - my relative was not told that either, which I think is professionally and deliberately disingenuous - designed to make life easier for them…… and get more money out of people.
Unfortunately, people who want to visit the US have to jump through these hoops, or just not go, and the US authorities know that 🤷🏻‍♀️

Looked on visa website to check progress and it says its been issued , am hoping that means it will be in my hand soon .

Yay!!!
Please come back and tell us when you have it.

I feel your pain. I have a us visa due to previous travel to countries on their terrorism list.

It took months. I.m Going through it atm agsin due to new passport and first appointments are in oct8ber.

Have they saud what you do whe. You fet the SAR back? If you just send it to them or it goes to them directly it should be ok. If yiu have to make another appointment then I'd try and change holiday plans.

Hi they told me to email it to them and they hung onto my passport so I'm hoping that speeds things up. Although seeing the visa issued on the embassy page is giving me hope they are not going to wait for the SAR . I would suggest anybody who needs an ACPO gets a SAR at the same time . I started this process in March and this week was the earliest appointment , good luck with your appt

Just a quick update am very pleased to report after several sleepless nights my passport with visa was delivered back today .