Was very nervous about going here as I had never been to Belfast and was travelling alone so had no moral support so to speak.

Getting to the Consulate is relatively easy. 8a bus drops you right at the bottom of the road up to the Consulate. Despite the website saying not to take mobile phone I chanced my arm. Security were fine about this and you just sign the book with the make of your phone and pick it up after your interview. I waited for about an hour, had digital fingerprints taken and then got called for interview. The woman who interviewed me was lovely. She asked a lot of questions which is obviously her job but I hated all of this being drudged up again. She asked why I wanted to visit America and I said I wanted to know if I would be allowed in for a holiday.

After a short pause she said that because my crime fell under moral turpitude they couldn't issue me with a visa without getting special permission from Homeland Security. They have recommended me to Homeland Security for a waiver of ineligibility and I'll just have to wait and see what they say. I was told this could take around 28 weeks. However, here's the sting.....she said even if I get the waiver from HS I could be refused by Border Patrol or Customs as it's up to them at the end of the day.