visa dilema

[dc1964]

i would be interested in what you would do if you had a criminal record for a minor theft act offence and you had booked a Holiday to florida, purchased your disney and universal passes and also booked a day at discovery cove, you are travelling with your 2 children and mother,however you have not applied for a visa and you are due to travel on 14th of December for 2 weeks. would you risk travelling without a visa.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Sorry but I wouldn't risk it, you'll probably be OK and this is where the visa system does itself no favours in my opinion, but the fact remains technically they can refuse you entry so I wouldn't take the chance.

 

[debchard]

Take a look at this thread.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1608316

Bear in mind that it takes a long time to go through the process of getting a visa as well. You have to send off for proof from the police of your conviction, you have to apply and wait for an interview at the Embassy but they very kindly give you a yes or no answer at your interview.

 

[mrshnn]

i would take the risk,i have had minor offences and i have been 3 times,are the offences now classed as spent.

 

[homerdog]

I would get on the plane, fill in the Visa Waiver and rest assured in the knowledge that you have answered the question honestly!

Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense (sic) or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; or have been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or have been a controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?

Of course, it may be that the theft was with 'evil intent'!

 

[minijaffacake]

At this stage you will either have to risk it or cancel it as there is no way you would get a Visa in time. To get a Visa you have to obtain a copy of your criminal history from the police and they have 40 days in which to provide this and from our experience they usually do go right up to the wire on this one. Therefore you would be lucky to even get this through before your holiday let alone get the Visa sorted as well. They also dont always give you an answer there and then at the interview if you have a criminal record. It was a few months before my DBF heard back from the Embassy after his interview and that was only for a minor conviction from 14 years ago.

I think plenty of people get away with travelling without a Visa when they really should have one tho. DBF has infact been to the US previously without a Visa before he realised that he needed one. He did have some explaining to to do about that at the interview at the Embassy, but he just pleaded ignorance!

Hope everything goes ok for you.

 

[dc1964]

i posed the question as my SIL has been denied a visa for her trip in December, so her 2 young children and her mum cannot now travel, luckily the travel agent has swapped the booking for 2 weeks all inclusive trip to cuba but she is now stuck with Disney, universal and a discovery cove tickets,my view is i would have risked filling out the waiver form.

 

[jen_uk]

i posed the question as my SIL has been denied a visa for her trip in December, so her 2 young children and her mum cannot now travel, luckily the travel agent has swapped the booking for 2 weeks all inclusive trip to cuba but she is now stuck with Disney, universal and a discovery cove tickets,my view is i would have risked filling out the waiver form.

If she was denied a visa then I wouldn't risk using the visa waiver as her name may flag up at immigration that she had been refused. If you have a minor criminal record and have never applied for a visa then I would use the visa waiver.

 

[baz]

i would be interested in what you would do if you had a criminal record for a minor theft act offence and you had booked a Holiday to florida, purchased your disney and universal passes and also booked a day at discovery cove, you are travelling with your 2 children and mother,however you have not applied for a visa and you are due to travel on 14th of December for 2 weeks. would you risk travelling without a visa.

I had to get a Visa, i received a 12 month one the first time, and the same again the second time.
I now have to get a third which is apparently going to be a 10yr expiry.

In my opinion i wish i would have not bothered as friends did not bother with one and they have been countless times, without any problem.
I'm all for security, etc. But i feel it's just a $ generating scheme.