ESTA 가 거절되어 다급하게 저희 사무실을 찾는 경우가 종종 있습니다. 이때 가장 흔하게 거절되는 것이 아래 eligibility 질문에 대해서 Yes 를 했을 경우입니다. 어떤 질문이 있는지 살펴보도록 하겠습니다.

1.Do you have a physical or mental disorder; or are you a drug abuser or addict; or do you currently have any of the following diseases (communicable diseases are specified pursuant to section 361(b) of the Public Health Service Act): Cholera, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis infectious, Plague, Smallpox, Yellow Fever, Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, including Ebola, Lassa, Marburg, Crimean-Congo, Severe acute respiratory illnesses capable of transmission to other persons and likely to cause mortality.

2. Have you ever been arrested or convicted for a crime that resulted in serious damage to property, or serious harm to another person or government authority?

3.Have you ever violated any law related to possessing, using, or distributing illegal drugs?

4.Do you seek to engage in or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities, espionage, sabotage, or genocide?

5.Have you ever committed fraud or misrepresented yourself or others to obtain, or assist others to obtain, a visa or entry into the United States?

6.Are you currently seeking employment in the United States or were you previously employed in the United States without prior permission from the U.S. government?

7.Have you ever been denied a U.S. visa you applied for with your current or previous passport, or have you ever been refused admission to the United States or withdrawn your application for admission at a U.S. port of entry?

8.Have you ever stayed in the United States longer than the admission period granted to you by the U.S. government?

9. Have you traveled to, or been present in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011? Also, have you traveled to or stayed in Cuba since January 12, 2021?

제가 가장 흔하게 보는 것이 2, 7 입니다. 만약 단순한 음주운전이라면 2번 질문은 No라고 해도 무방합니다. 7번의 경우는 미국 비자가 거절된 적이 있다면 반드시 Yes라고 해야 합니다. 이상의 질문에 한가지라도 Yes를 하게 된다면 ESTA 가 거절될 확률이 높습니다. 그럼에도 거짓으로 답할때에는 더 심각한 부작용이 생길 수 있으니 성실하게 답을 하는 것이 좋습니다. 만약 ESTA 가 거절된다면 대사관에 관광비자를 신청할 수 있고 또한 필요한 경우 Waiver 를 신청할 수 있습니다.