U.S.Visa and criminal record...requirements
10 August 2005, 05:17 PM
#1
U.S.Visa and criminal record...requirements
have just been told by travel agent that if you have a criminal record you need a visa even if you have a machine readable passport. i asked what type of convictions counted but the agent didnt know
i looked on the net on the embassy sites and found nothing, except the information about needing a machine readable passport
i rang the UK passport Agency and was told that they have had the same letter as the travel agent saying if you have convictions you need a visa
she also said that Driving Convictions are classed as having a criminal record and you need a visa to enter the states
does anyone know WTF is happening as i cant get any sense out of anyone and its driving me mad
i looked on the net on the embassy sites and found nothing, except the information about needing a machine readable passport
i rang the UK passport Agency and was told that they have had the same letter as the travel agent saying if you have convictions you need a visa
she also said that Driving Convictions are classed as having a criminal record and you need a visa to enter the states
does anyone know WTF is happening as i cant get any sense out of anyone and its driving me mad
10 August 2005, 05:44 PM
#2
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I don't know the full story but what I understood was that if you had ever been arrested, even if not convicted, then you needed a visa. I would be sure you would also need a visa with a criminal record but that would not apply to most motoring offences. Perhaps you should phone the US embassy and ask them? Not much help I know.
10 August 2005, 05:48 PM
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I had cursory look also ( on the net) - my father lives out there .
As far as i could make out yes you do need a visa and about 3 months before going but you will be able to.
I guess Dominica is English then or was this thread designed to flush out the guilty ones...
...( i had 9 months away from the road)
As far as i could make out yes you do need a visa and about 3 months before going but you will be able to.
I guess Dominica is English then or was this thread designed to flush out the guilty ones...
...( i had 9 months away from the road)
10 August 2005, 06:06 PM
#5
Originally Posted by dpb
I had cursory look also ( on the net) - my father lives out there .
As far as i could make out yes you do need a visa and about 3 months before going but you will be able to.
I guess Dominica is English then or was this thread designed to flush out the guilty ones... ...( i had 9 months away from the road)
As far as i could make out yes you do need a visa and about 3 months before going but you will be able to.
I guess Dominica is English then or was this thread designed to flush out the guilty ones...
...( i had 9 months away from the road)i have been to Dominica you numb nut, i am off to Florida in a few weeks
that was a long post dunc, did you edit it
10 August 2005, 06:12 PM
#6
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But how will they know that you have driving offences when you show up? Do they search all the government computers for all travellers
How would they know if you have been arrested, but not convicted?
Anyway, surely emailing someone in Immigration in America should get you the answers that you need?
How would they know if you have been arrested, but not convicted?
Anyway, surely emailing someone in Immigration in America should get you the answers that you need?
10 August 2005, 06:13 PM
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and don't forget to smile at the camera when they take your photo at Immigration 
I'm sure there must be some people who haven't answered some of the boarding card questions truthfully somewhere!
I'm sure there must be some people who haven't answered some of the boarding card questions truthfully somewhere!
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10 August 2005, 06:17 PM
#9
Originally Posted by scoob_babe
and don't forget to smile at the camera when they take your photo at Immigration I'm sure there must be some people who haven't answered some of the boarding card questions truthfully somewhere!
I'm sure there must be some people who haven't answered some of the boarding card questions truthfully somewhere!hiya SB
i went to Florida last year and i am sure i didnt need a visa
it doesnt ask you if you have any convictions on the visa, so who would know anyway
10 August 2005, 06:39 PM
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Read "ENTRY REQUIREMENTS" on this page at the FCO website
Do not underestimate the thoroughness of US Border Protection! Be prepared beforehand so you can enjoy your trip
Do not underestimate the thoroughness of US Border Protection! Be prepared beforehand so you can enjoy your trip
10 August 2005, 06:47 PM
#16
****!! ****You have been arrested, even if not convicted***** WTF!!!
why dont they just say that everyone needs one
i went last year and had no problems needing a visa, i guess this is the new stuff since the London bombings.
why isnt Britain this tough?
why dont they just say that everyone needs one
i went last year and had no problems needing a visa, i guess this is the new stuff since the London bombings.
why isnt Britain this tough?
10 August 2005, 06:49 PM
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I had to read up on this when I went about 8 months ago. I read the lot!
The official word is, that if you have ever been even just arrested- then you need a visa, and ditto for convictions...
In reality, they dont really check, so up to you if you want to chance it- but be prepared for some big crap if they do find out!
If you were just arrested and never charged/convicted , then do it and fill in the visa waiver on the plane.......you should be fine.
If you do have an actual conviction, then I really wouldnt recommend chancing it as there is a good chance they may never let you back in were they to find out.
No such thing as a spent conviction in this regard (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law) so it doesnt matter how old it is.
Its all here:
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...v/add_req.html
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...nvictions.html
and
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...add_crime.html
Lots of reading but everything is there for you.........
edit to add: no its not since the london bombings at all...its been this way for some time. Nothing has been changed or added recently at all.
If you were fine last time, you should be fine this time!
p.s- were you just arrested then released/cautioned, or have you actually got a conviction?
The official word is, that if you have ever been even just arrested- then you need a visa, and ditto for convictions...
In reality, they dont really check, so up to you if you want to chance it- but be prepared for some big crap if they do find out!
If you were just arrested and never charged/convicted , then do it and fill in the visa waiver on the plane.......you should be fine.
If you do have an actual conviction, then I really wouldnt recommend chancing it as there is a good chance they may never let you back in were they to find out.
No such thing as a spent conviction in this regard (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law) so it doesnt matter how old it is.
Its all here:
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...v/add_req.html
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...nvictions.html
and
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...add_crime.html
Lots of reading but everything is there for you.........
edit to add: no its not since the london bombings at all...its been this way for some time. Nothing has been changed or added recently at all.
If you were fine last time, you should be fine this time!
p.s- were you just arrested then released/cautioned, or have you actually got a conviction?
Last edited by Freak; 10 August 2005 at 08:35 PM.
10 August 2005, 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by sarasquares
lol, i got caught shoplifting and did something with a car i should'nt have
10 August 2005, 08:31 PM
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The US take the biscuit!! My mate id flying out for a month to get his private pilots licence (at the same place that trained the Sepetmber 11th Terroists as it happens). He needs a visa which he's got, on the application form there is a yes no question "are you a terrorist?""
Like anyone who is is going to answer yes to that question FFS!!!!
Like anyone who is is going to answer yes to that question FFS!!!!
10 August 2005, 08:40 PM
#27
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That is a holding question i suspect. This is a guess but...
Because of the nature of the document there are probably quite serious consequences if you tell lies on it. With this in mind they ask this simple question and, of course, everyone, even the terrorists, tick the "no" box. If someone comes through that they don't like then they pick them up on the basis that they may have told lies on their form. It also gives them something to hold people on should they later be suspected of a terrorist act, the magistrate (or whatever they have there) may be able to extend the time for questioning on the basis that the person may have told lies to get into the country.
That is a wild guess but i'd be willing to bet it works something like that.
Oh, forgot to add that if you tell lies to get in and are later found doing something nasty it may also allow them to deport you without any trouble.
Because of the nature of the document there are probably quite serious consequences if you tell lies on it. With this in mind they ask this simple question and, of course, everyone, even the terrorists, tick the "no" box. If someone comes through that they don't like then they pick them up on the basis that they may have told lies on their form. It also gives them something to hold people on should they later be suspected of a terrorist act, the magistrate (or whatever they have there) may be able to extend the time for questioning on the basis that the person may have told lies to get into the country.
That is a wild guess but i'd be willing to bet it works something like that.
Oh, forgot to add that if you tell lies to get in and are later found doing something nasty it may also allow them to deport you without any trouble.
10 August 2005, 08:55 PM
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Part of the reason of the "are you a terrorist" question is that if you mark it "no" and you turn out to be a musli... sorry, terrorist, and the question "how/why did immigration let him in", they can hold up the little card which would show he marked it "no" next to the terrorisim box and say that he lied when he entered the country, and so it's not the immigration services mistake.
Getting into the US these days is a complete chore, it's ok if you're going for a jolly, but if you're going in to visit a client then it's a pain. I've got to fill out a I-94 visa waiver thing every time I go in, plus I get grief as I'm going in on business.
They really don't like you working (and that can simply be visiting a client) unless you have a work permit/visa.
I'm being asked to bring a letter from my employer stating who I am seeing and why, plus a purchase order. If I say I'm training users, they get funny, and ask if the user pays for training, if I say no, they'll say we build in the cost to the price of the product so we are getting paid, grrr, that simply is not true.
The last trip was silly, I was going to visit a client to perform a pre-sales demo. The chap at the border said I should have a PO with me for this visit, and made out that letting me in without one was a big deal and I should be grateful, as though he'd just saved my life. I was a good boy and smiled polietly at him, I did not say what I wanted, which was "How on earth can I have a PO when this is a pre-sales demo, no money has exchanged hands, and it is possible it won't it depends on the demo, you ****ing thick jumped up security guard!"
Anyway, rant over
Getting into the US these days is a complete chore, it's ok if you're going for a jolly, but if you're going in to visit a client then it's a pain. I've got to fill out a I-94 visa waiver thing every time I go in, plus I get grief as I'm going in on business.
They really don't like you working (and that can simply be visiting a client) unless you have a work permit/visa.
I'm being asked to bring a letter from my employer stating who I am seeing and why, plus a purchase order. If I say I'm training users, they get funny, and ask if the user pays for training, if I say no, they'll say we build in the cost to the price of the product so we are getting paid, grrr, that simply is not true.
The last trip was silly, I was going to visit a client to perform a pre-sales demo. The chap at the border said I should have a PO with me for this visit, and made out that letting me in without one was a big deal and I should be grateful, as though he'd just saved my life. I was a good boy and smiled polietly at him, I did not say what I wanted, which was "How on earth can I have a PO when this is a pre-sales demo, no money has exchanged hands, and it is possible it won't it depends on the demo, you ****ing thick jumped up security guard!"
Anyway, rant over
