[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.