[jheriko]

my personal chances seem to be about zero. at least without spending a lot of time, money and effort.

when i last applied it rapidly descended into a process that felt like bribery and moving goalposts.

that being said, i in no way blame america for making it hard for people of arab descent who spent any serious amount of time immersed in that culture. i would do the same. (i /assume/ that was the problem - i may well be wrong)

[ukigumo]

You reminded me of a story of a good fried on mine that kept getting "randomly" picked for extra screening every time he would go into the US. The fact that he's built like a rugby player and very clearly middle eastern probably helped.

One day, fairly fed up with the long journey and yet another selection he went "Relax guys, I'm only here because I write the software the you guys (TSA) use".

Moral of the story, if you are good enough, there's always a place for you.

[xeromal]

That's too bad man. :(

[aurelifornia]

This is just so depressing.

[jheriko]

i am making assumptions, i could very well be wrong.

the form i had to fill out riddled with questions about arab descent made me skeptical...

it might have been more to do with my past, having a minor criminal record as a child or my loud and public controversial nature... or anything else that they could determine from my UK passport number and other details i provided when I initially applied for an ESTA (you don't normally need a visa as a UK citizen).

[petercooper]

(you don't normally need a visa as a UK citizen)

A criminal record means one would though (the US doesn't recognize "spent" convictions) or even an arrest for a crime involving "moral turpitude". The rules are incredibly harsh.

[jheriko]

yes, although it does mention in the paperwork that minor offences as a child do not normally stop a visa application. it is also abundantly clear that this is a problem that prevents using the ESTA system to travel.

this is part of why i feel i should stress that i am making assumptions, and not hide from any other issues that i may have there... there is a certain amount of bitterness from having gone through the process and given up because it took so long, required so much effort and cost too much money.

[Dewie]

> that being said, i in no way blame america for making it hard for people of arab descent who spent any serious amount of time immersed in that culture. i would do the same.

You seem eager to kiss the hand that slaps you.