ESTA after problems with a J1 Visa
 

I'm British, and flying to the US in late August. About 10 years back, I had a few months research/study placement in America, travelling a J1 Visa. I was granted the visa and allowed into the US. However, when I got to the US border there was some paperwork missing and I think I was let in on a temporary arrangement while paperwork was sorted out by me and the institution I was working at. My placement in the US went ahead fine. I'm sorry - I know this sounds vague, but it was 10 years back... There's no record of this on the J1 visa paperwork in my passport.

I don't think this counts as being denied a visa, as far as CBP is concerned? https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...ration-benefit Is it likely to cause problems with my ESTA application, though?

I know I'm leaving it later than ideal to sort out my ESTA as my UK passport needs replacing, so it seems best to do this before applying. My clumsiness is to blame - passport is looking worn enough to be suspicious after my last holiday :mad:

Why don't you just file your ESTA application and see if it gets approved or not?

Sorry - I should have been clear. I'm just back from holiday, and it'll be a week or (more likely) two before I have my new passport. Thought I needed to wait for new passport before ESTA.

Wait for the new passport before you file for an ESTA.
ESTA is connected to the passport you have when you file for it.

Thanks - will do. Now I just need to decide if it's worth an extra £25 to get my passport 1 week earlier in case of ESTA problems - this would potentially leave me just enough time time for a visa application if I still want to go ahead with the trip (though I might just decide to lose the cost of a cheap-ish flight and go elsewhere), but would make for an expensive passport :(

EDIT Actually - just realised I think it's too late for a visa if I don't get ESTA approval anyway. The earliest I could get a new passport is on Friday, and I'm flying out on August 22. If I'm refused ESTA approval, the London embassy has a 27 calendar day wait time for a visa meeting...plus 3-5 working days to prepare the visa...plus a day or two with the courier...which is just too a day or two too long. Let me know if I'm missing something, but if finding out about ESTA earlier won't make any difference I may as well just wait the extra time for the passport and cross my fingers...

Probably to late for visa but not Esta. I am swedish living in USA so I do know this. Do you need a visa?

let me know.

I do not think you will have a problem. You did not have a denial.
Have you had an ESTA since the J Visa?

All sorted now - thanks for the help with this :)

So, your new passport arrived, you did your ESTA app and everything went through fine? That's what we all figured, if so.

Yep - ESTA went through fine. So as long as the border staff don't take a dislike to me, all should be fine :)