uk entry to usa

[jjcollins]

flutterby hope this helps - as the link says -- GENERAL CLASSES OF ALIENS INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE VISAS AND INELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION

But there are Exceptions to this ok -- so heres were i think your ok ( plus it was of a minor nature anyway - not in the moral turpitude class lol )

Exception.-Clause (i)(I) shall not apply to an alien who committed only one crime if-


(I) the crime was committed when the alien was under 18 years of age, and the crime was committed (and the alien released from any confinement to a prison or correctional institution imposed for the crime) more than 5 years before the date of application for a visa or other documentation and the date of application for admission to the United States.


jj.......

 

[Phil R]

Flutterby. I have also read the document and agree with JJ that if the "offence" was commited before your 18th birthday it does not count.

I also wonder how the US authoritys could possible know if you don

 

[Phil R]

Flutterby. I have read the document and agree with JJ that if the "offence" was commited before your 18th birthday it does not count.

I also wonder how the US authorities could possible know if you don`t tell them.

Phil

 

[jjcollins]

Here Flutterby i hope your not thick ( medical aesthetician ) LOL



jj........

 

[flutterby]

Thanks for all the advice.
I try not to be too thick but then I am nervous blonde planning the trip of a lifetime!
Of course all of my patients respect and admire my highly intellectual and exceedingly proficient attitude towards their treatment, despite evidence to the contrary in my personal life! (lol)!

 

[peewakio]

Flutterby,
I have been to Florida on numerous occasions and have always filled in the green Visa Waiverform. I believe there has been a lot of scaremongering done over the last few months. The fact is that these immigration laws have always been in place and are now only being analysed more since sept 11.
I have a small conviction for Drunk and Disorderly from when I was 18 however the offense was comitted when I was 17 (many, many years ago) I was panic stricken when I read all of these posts stating that you will be refused entry if you have been arrested even if not convicted. The exception clauses on the US immigration website states that you are fine to enter via the Visa Waiver programme, so panic over.
Enjoy yourself.

 

[jjcollins]

So peewakio like myself you won't be applying for a visa - i have a small fine for disorderly behaviour andi won't be applying.



jj......

 

[peewakio]

JJ

If I was to be refused entry into the US for telling a policeman where to stick his helmet over 25 years ago, I think I would rather not be there on principal anyway, so like you I will not be applying for a Visa and more importantly I wont be worrying about it either.
But I'm sure looking forward to it.

 

[Rain]

How on earth would they know if the crime is considered spent in the UK?

Does that readable bit on the bottom of your passport also tell them if you have commited a crime 30 years ago !!! ( not that I did) It just seems a little over the top IMHO.

 

[floridalol]

I think SimonV needs to investigate this matter further, with the best will in the world there is a lot of confusing misinformation being posted and it needs a proper researcher to carry out a thorough investigation.

Over to you SimonV..........

Best wishes

FloridaLol

 

[jjcollins]

FloridaLol -- i'm not sure about misinformation i would say its more about confusing posts lol. I've had to look over the American Embassy links a few times. But now i think i've got it now lol. But really it is quite worrying for most people but i think you just need to read over all the info and you will see that its really Biz as usual.



jj.......

 

[floridalol]

JJ - No offence meant, your posts have been highly detailed and informative. Ian 5150 has had a minor problem way back in his youth and he has had to make an appointment with the US Embassy to apply for a visa - this will not be a problem because the offence falls within the categories listed - what I am concerned about is that many people will turn up in Florida WITHOUT a visa which they could have obtained easily even though they have a minor offence recorded against them. My concern is that even though UK authorities have wiped the record clean in this country it does not mean that the USA have wiped clean the record - it is my understanding that they (and most other countries) are informed of all criminal offences commited by UK citizens at the time of the offence. so they actually know if anyone has commited an offence or not even if it was 50 years ago. I think the US are just playing safe in getting people to apply for visas with their new laws coming into effect shortly. Only the most major of crimes will prevail in not getting a visa so most people will not have a problem - it just seems (to me) that some people will turn up without a visa because they think that because their record has been wiped in the UK it will be wiped in the USA - but I think that the US don't ever wipe any of their records.

I realise this a rambling post and I really do believe that SimonV should research this problem for the new edition of his book as it is very important.

Whichever way you read it someone can take a different viewpoint so it needs to be professionally verified as at the end of the day there is only ONE way to read it and that will be the way the US Customs see it!

Best wishes

FloridaLol

 

[JimP]

I find it hard to believe that all offences in this country are informed to the authorities in the USA. As well as being an administrative nightmare it wouls also be against the Data Protection Act.

 

[Loo Poo]

I have to agree, if you look at the list of countries involved in the Visa Waiver Program that would be a load of data to store. Theres no way they could check everyone.

 

[floridalol]

If they are not informed of offences then anyone would be able to use the Visa Waiver form regardless of what criminal activities they were up to and this thread would not exist.

JJ very kindly listed all the categories which are acceptable but Ian5150 is still having to apply for a visa even though he falls into one of these categories - so do you take the risk of not declaring an offence or arrest or do what Ian5150 is doing and being safe?

Taking the risk of being turned away at customs when a simple visa application that would be issued anyway seems a risk too far to me (fortunately I don't need one anyway).

It still needs clarification from a professional source and if I was unsure I would seek out the information to put my mind at rest.

 

[Rain]

I think I have lost the plot somewhere along the line!

What different laws are coming in that was not already in place on the Visa Waiver programme previously?

Sorry if I am being a little thick!!!!

 

[IAN5150]

As Lol said in UK were a model citizen 10 years after a crime depending what it is,Its wiped off your record but certain ones arnt-GBH<MURDER<DRUG DEALING etc,In The USA They NEVER wipe your record regardless of crime,
Im getting one as LOL said to play it safe PLUS when i applied for my 1st VISA in 1989 I told them then so they might know anyway!
I think the criteria has never changed if youneed a VISA apart from now its the trek to LONDON In 89 I did it by post and got it back in under a week!!
Regards Ian

 

[IAN5150]

By The Way Lol WAY BACK IN HIS YOUTH!!!!! WAY BACK?
Thanks a Lot BUD!!!

 

[flutterby]

Wow! I feel more confused now than ever. So if my crime was before the age of 18, do I still need a visa? I had no fine, no court appearance and they said I would not have any record. But I did have to visit the police station and they finger printed me and took photo, I think to let me know that it was a serious matter and scare me a little. By the way, as I have said, it was to do with my mom.
But the police said that I would not have a record (I presume neither in this country nor any other) because nobody wanted it to affect my future. So, I have never, ever disclosed it in any application forms etc. when they ask if you have a criminal record, because as far as I am aware, even straight after this happened, I did not have a criminal record of any kind. It has never emerged when applying for anything either.
If the police in UK did not create a criminal record against me, would any other country have any record of anything that happened, ie. the verbal caution I received?

Please can someone advise me!

 

[IAN5150]

Flutterby,I wouldnt have thought any other country would have been informed over this one,However if your not going for another 12 months Why not get a visa anyway Youll have it for 10 years then with no worries ,Birminghams only 100 miles from london Im nearly 350!!