Apply for a B2 while on ESTA or vice versa
 

Hello everyone,I would like to travel to the United States while visiting friends for a period of 6 months. Theoretically, I would need a B2 visa. However, the processing time is too long (520 days in France) and I want to go asap.
So, I was wondering if I could come to the USA with an ESTA while applying for a B2 visa, in case an appointment becomes available (Of course, I will come back to France for the appointment).

In short, is it possible to apply for a B2 visa while already having an ESTA? Or conversely, apply for ESTA when you have a B2 pending? In which order should I do it: B2, or ESTA first?

If the B2 is refused, would this invalidate my ESTA visa?

Another possibility, can I come to the United States with an ESTA, stay 3 months, leave the country and come back later. How long do I need to stay outside the US before returning with an ESTA?

Thank you for your help,
Best regards,
Cass

The US state dept ESTA section has a lot of FAQs.

You can apply for a new ESTA even while you still have one. They are good for 2 years (meaning you can get one and save it for use for 2 years). So if you are using one already, you can apply for a new one to use for your next trip even during that time period.

The real issue is how easy to get back into the US for another 90 days when you have just left? That's really the issue. Who knows, you will have to present documents of why you are here, where you are staying, etc., and I'm sure you'll be questioned more than the first time but if your situation isn't that curious, should probably work. I hope this isn't one of those correspondence romances with someone you have never met, those are the questionable ones.

https://esta-center.com/en/reapplica...dex.html#exist

note this section re your query (I think first sentence has a typo and should be or a visa).There is no limit on the number of times you may enter the U.S. under either ESTA of a visa. However, if reentering the U.S. using ESTA soon after staying for nearly 90 days, you can expect to be questioned in detail by the immigration officer about the purpose of your visit. In such a case, you will need to demonstrate a valid reason for visiting the U.S., so be sure to prepare detailed documents showing where you will stay, your period of stay, and the date you plan to return to your home country. If you are not permitted entry under ESTA, the refusal of entry will be recorded, and you will be subject to stricter screening when traveling to the U.S. using ESTA in the future. Generally speaking, those who plan to visit the U.S. frequently and those staying for about 180 days in total during the year should consider applying for a visa instead of ESTA.

In short, I don't think there is a real "rule" about how long between visits, it's to their discretion and depends on how suspicious they are and how suspicious you seem about reasons.

Maybe someone else knows more specifically with experience as to what you want to do, you'd think they would, but also I am sure they won't just let one person back in repeatedly on ESTAs with only a day or two between stays. And they count Canada and Mexico in that ESTA, I believe, so if you leave, you have to go farther away (I mean if you just go to Canada for a day and come back, they still count that in your 90 day limit).

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Hello Christina, thanks a lot for your answer. My intention was rather to know if I could apply for a visa B-2 visa while having an ESTA ?

As you said "staying for about 180 days in total during the year should consider applying for a visa instead of ESTA". And the perfect visa would be the B-2 visa. This is a short-term nonimmigrant visa for applicants who wish to travel to the United States for tourism, usually valid for 6 months.

However, the estimated wait time to receive an interview appointment for this visa is 520 days in France. But that can change if we manage to get an appointment earlier. So my questions were:

-Is it possible to apply for a B-2 visa while already having an ESTA? this would allow me to travel to the USA with an ESTA while waiting for my B-2 visa.

-Or conversely, apply for ESTA when you have already a B-2 pending? In which order should I do it: B2, or ESTA first?

If the B2 is refused, would this invalidate my ESTA visa?

I haven't found those answers on FAQs :(

Thank you again,
Best regards,
Cass

The ESTA itself is good for two years, however if traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA is the approval for VWP) you get 90 days (NOT 3 months). To "reset the clock" you must leave North America, not the US. This means no quickie "visa run" to Mexico or Canada. Many people will fly to Central America (Costa Rica is popular).
I don't know about your other question, but a lot of other people are traveling right now, and due to the pandemic, lots of people are still WFH (work from home) which may be why it is taking so long to get an appointment for an interview. You may just have to "suck it up".