Burning Man. Part 1. It took me 1.5 years to get a US visa
The reason I did not go to Burning Man in 2023.
What is Burning man?
Humble start: Burning Man is one of the most iconic events the humanity produces. If you have never heard about Burning Man, here are few resources:
Short 4 minutes video (from 2022 BM)
Long 1 hour video (from 2019 BM)
I really wanted to go to this event in 2023, but there was a visa issue.
Administrative check
I applied for the US visa with my Russian passport in October 2022 for a work trip. I got an appointment in the consulate in May 2023 (apparently I missed that work trip). During the interview I have been told that they put me on an administrative check, which might take few months. The reasons for this check are not shared, but my hypotheses are the combo of: Russian passport, I am a male, and I have a PhD (they asked for me CV with a list of publications). That was not the first time for me, back in 2013 they put me on a similar check which lasted 2 months. I was upset, but I thought I still have a chance to get my visa before Burning Man 2023. I did not get my visa by that event.
ESTA rejected
In November I got my Dutch citizenship. I thought that I am a free traveller and all the borders are open to me. I applied for ESTA. It was rejected after 7 days of consideration. My friend told me: “I did not know you can get rejected“. I did not know what to do. The members of the consulate suggested that given I am on administrative check with my Russian passport, I could not get ESTA with my Dutch passport. The administrative check was still going.
Administrative check is over
In May 2024 I got an email from the US Consulate that the administrative check is over and they can print a visa to my Russian passport, and if I want the visa to be printed in my Dutch passport I need to come to the consulate again for the fingerprinting. I was glad. I expected that if I get a visa printed into my Russian passport I get the visa for 3 years, and for 10 years if into my Dutch passport.
Never be able to apply to ESTA again
I thought that any extra step with the consulate might cause extra delays, so I decided to send my Russian passport to the consulate. And after 2 weeks of not receiving any updates, I decided to pass by the consulate in Amsterdam to see if they received my passport, and what the procedure is to get the visa in the Dutch passport. They told me that as I was on administrative check, they will only give me a visa for 1 year irrespective of the passport. They told me as well, that probably I will never be able to get ESTA, as one of the requirements to apply for ESTA is you were never rejected with ESTA.
I am travelling to Burning Man!
I was not glad that I only got the visa for 1 year. I was not glad that even holding a Dutch passport I won’t be able to apply for ESTA. I was glad though, that finally I got the US visa, and that next week I travel to San Francisco to attend Burning Man 2024!
