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).
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.
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.
