For US ESTA, should I mention a visa denial from before I got UK citizenship?
I had applied for US visit visa back in 2011 from the UK but it was refused as I didn't have strong ties.
Last year I applied again for business purpose and was approved the visa in less than 15 minutes. I have valid B1/B2 visa for 5 years in my other passport
I didn't travel as circumstanses changed.
Now I have acquired UK citizenship and hold UK passport. I am plannin to visit US for tourism purpose. As a british citizen I can apply for ESTA but I am confused what should I put in the question here
Have you ever been denied a U.S. visa or entry into the U.S. or had a U.S. visa canceled?
Should I yes ? If I mention yes will it automatically reject my ESTA.
Best Answer
Update: OP updated their question to note they already have a valid US visa! Then just use that and don't apply for a new ESTA or visa. See I have two passports/nationalities. How do I use them when I travel? for how to travel with two passports.
Original answer assuming you don't already have a visa:
You should answer yes. All the questions are about you, not your passport or nationality, so becoming a UK citizen does not change the fact that you were previously denied a visa.
Your best option is to apply for a B-2 visa. It's an expensive hassle, but based on what you've told us it's highly likely to get approved, and it's much better than getting busted for lying on the ESTA application form.
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Can I use ESTA after visa denial?
The short answer is No. There are a number of instances where ESTA is invalidated and a visa denial is one of these instances. When you have a valid ESTA, new travel authorization (requirement that you go back to the ESTA online system and reapply) is required in the followings instances: You obtain a new passport.Does US visa rejection affect UK visa?
US refusal may not affect UK visa - The Economic Times.Do embassies know about visa refusal in other countries?
The embassy doesn't track your refusal, CLASS does. That's a database accessible to every American consular officer in the world at the click of a mouse, so it's not just the embassy where the visa refusal takes place.What happens when ESTA is denied?
If travel authorization under ESTA has been denied, you are required to apply for a visa.Why Have I Been Denied a US Visa
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