visa and convictions

[alisonbestford]

Personally I think the whole Visa / Embassy thing has got silly!
We're talking about people who've made silly mistakes in the past wanting to take their families to the most magical place on earth - not master criminals wanting to stage an armed raid!
When all's said and done, just because you have never been arrested, or got a conviction doesn't make you a model citizen - IMHO some of the most dangerous people are too clever to have ever been caught doing anything remotely illegal
Alison

 

[virginflyer]

So, Virginflyer, are you saying you have only ever travelled on the waiver form? I was working on them not having access to old/spent convictions, but from what I hear at work, they only have access to info submitted by our government detailing "risky" criminals. Anyway, why would the UK want to keep dodgy folk here anyway?!!!

I have only ever travelled under the Visa Waiver program, except for the Late 80's when I had a Ten Year Visa, like everyone else.

All I am saying is there is a lot of scaremongering coming from the US government. All these people getting turned back for convictions, where are they?

 

[tony creech]

thanks for all the replies,using the waiver is not an option as being honest is more important to me than a trip. i know this might sound daft from a person with my past convictions, but a divine encounter has a strange effect on people!! i rang the embassy money making line to be told don't take it for granted that I won't get a visa as each case is looked at differently. So when my memorandum of convictions comes back i will make my appointment and let you know the outcome..
thanks

 

[alisonbestford]

Good luck
Don't forget to report back.
Alison

 

[kristieuk]

Yes, good luck. I think you've really shown yourself to be a truly reformed person, and that takes some doing. I can see how, especially given the advice you were given here, it would be so tempting to try your luck on the Visa Waiver. Good on you for going through the proper channels. I hope your honesty is rewarded .

 

[IanBond]

Good Luck Dude
Honesty IS the best policy
Hope it works out OK
IAN

 

[marv]

Well done tony for doing the right thing.
Good luck to you

 

[bj-sailaway]

God bless Tony, you don't need luck!

Did you see New York grime busters the other evening, a lady had binned her airline ticket by mistake, she turned up at the refuse tip, mountains and mountains of sacks of rubbish - I mean mountains! She hoped to spot her rubbish bag and find her ticket - some hope. Anyway, she walked up to the edge of a pile of sacks, said "that looks like mine" opened 1 sack, yes just the 1, and said "here's my ticket". At home my husband said "she must have prayed", anyway, she then went onto say that she had prayed about it, and her whole church had prayed about it! So, God speed you on your way to the Embassy - he'll look after you.

 

[Miffy2003]

Good luck to you Tony

 

[kazzie]

How about only 'coming clean' with the offences that actually show up on the memorandum?

I know you're supposed to declare spent convictions etc. but if the memorandum is all thats showing as far as the UK system I wouldn't bring up anything that seems to have 'expired'

 

[UK Crowbirds]

I'm sure you are doing the right thing, we'll all be praying and hoping that you get the result you deserve, and soon we'll all be helping you plan your trip. God bless

 

[tony creech]

just been going over the visa application form in preparing for the interview at the embassy(when my memorandum of convictions arrives). the form asks where you will be staying in the US and how long for. i obviously am not going to book any where until I know I can get a visa. Does this need to be filled in?
tony

 

[alisonbestford]

Good point
Don't leave it blank as it'll only waste time whilst they write back asking why you left it blank!
Just write what you've just said - that you can't book anywhere unless you know you can go.
Good luck.

 

[floridalol]

I would write "Orlando Florida" in that space as it then tells them where in the US you are going.

Best wishes and good luck

Lol

 

[alexandra uk]

Tony

I have had the same problem as you.

In 2003 we had a trip all booked and paid with 6 weeks to go before I found out (on these boards) about the visa thing.
I was running around like a headless chicken for a few days trying to see if I could sort something out and get a visa in time. Unfortunatly there was no chance.
I was tempted to go anyway using the visa waiver but thought better of it and cancelled eveything. I had DS to think about as well as myself.

We lost 50% of the holiday cost along with the Discovery Cove deposit, MVMCP tickets, and I had to change all of our $'s back to £'s so lost around £150 doing that.

Apart from that I was absolutely gutted we were no longer going. I'd been so excited for months and now it wasn't happening. I just cried.

We planned another trip last year but I fell pregnant so that fell through too.

The very best thing you could do is to get some professional advice.
When I was having my problems I searched the net for a solicitor who specialised in visa problems to the U.S.
I came up with only one firm based not far from the Embassy in London.
I gave them a call and spoke to one of their lawyers (Carola Hodkinson) who told me alot of things are taken into consideration when making a decision.

We are planning another trip for next year and before I even consider applying for a visa I am going to make an appointment and get her opinion first.
I'll take my record along with me and she can tell me if theres any point in applying in the first place, and if so what are the best things to take with me.

Heres the link to their site
http://www.usvisalawgroup.com/index.html

They don't come cheap, but I think their worth every penny.

Hope this helps

 

[tony creech]

JUST GOT BACK FROM LONDON AND THE US EMBASSY FOR MY VISA APPLICATION! i WILL EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENS DOWN THERE AND THE STRANGE DECISION THAT NOBODY HAS MENTIONED BEFORE OR I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE. I GOT THERE AT 8.30 FOR A 9.00 am APPOINTMENT. WATCHED OZZIE OSBOURNE WALK OUT WITH A MINDER OR TWO WHILST QUEING OUTSIDE. GOT IN BUT NO OTHER FAMILY ALLOWED IN! RECEIVED A TICKET AND WAITED FOR MY NUMBER TO BE CALLED. 15 MIN LATER, MY NUMBER IS CALLED AND I GO TO A KIOSK AND HAND OVER MY DOCUMENTS AND REFERENCES. SIT BACK DOWN AFTER HAVING FINGERPRINT SCAN. WAIT FOR INTERVIEW. AFTER 40 MINS NUMBERS ARE BEING CALLED AROUND MY NUMBER BUT MINE ISN'T. 2 HOURS LATER MY NUMBER IS CALLED, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT MY CASE WAS A LOT MORE SERIOUS THAN MOST OF THE OTHERS THERE. MY NUMBER IS CALLED AND I WALKED TO ANOTHER INTERVIEW KIOSK AND WAS ASKED WHAT DRUGS I HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF POSSESSING AND IF I HAD BEEN ARRESTED SINCE THE AFFRAY CASE (MY LAST CONVICTION SEVEN YEARS AGO). THE MAN THEN SAID I WAS INELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF THESE CRIMES BUT BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SEVEN YEARS AGO HE WAS GOING TO RECOMMEND ME FOR A 'WAIVER OF INELIGIBILITY'? THIS MEANS A COMMISIONER OR SOMEBODY HIGH UP LOOKS AT THE CASE AND I WILL RECEIVE AN ANSWER WITHIN 2 MONTHS.
SO THANKS FOR THOSE PRAYERS, I AM NOT THERE YET BUT I HAVE GOT SO MUCH FURTHER THAN I IMAGINED.

 

[LoopyLoo]

I will keep my fingers crossed for you Tony Good Luck

 

[allie5]

Good luck Tony. Hope it all goes through for you.

 

[gilld]

Good luck and I applaud you for your honesty.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Good luck and I applaud you for your honesty.

Hear, hear.

Good luck - I'm sure it will all work out in the end.