Worried about visa application

[OrlandoMagic]

I have just booked my appointment with the US Embassy for my visa after deciding it would be best not to risk trying to get in without one! I was arrested in Dec 2004 for drink driving.

My appointment is March 25th which is almost two months away! And we are due to fly out on 31st May, but what is worrying me more is that on the Embassy website it says if your application requires additional processing you should allow at least 8 weeks for this stage of the application process!

I am really scared im not going to get my visa in time even though I thought that allowing over 4 months to get it would be fine.

Has anyone been in the same position as me? Need someone to put my mind at ease!

 

[Frances999]

Is that really the earliest appointment they have? We got an appointment within about 2 weeks when we had to visit.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Yes it was, just my luck

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Not sure where you are based, my niece went to Belfast for her visa appointment when she went to help at some Camp for six months a while back.
Simply it was cheaper to get fights there than London at the time.
Not sure if the rules have changed.

Maybe worth a try, not sure if the travel is too big a problem.

Operator is 09042-450100

 

[daipp]

Is it really essential to apply for a visa if you were convicted of Drink Driving?

David

 

[Goofyish]

Is it really essential to apply for a visa if you were convicted of Drink Driving?

David

Yes, as it's an arrestable offence and you will have a criminal record.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Is it really essential to apply for a visa if you were convicted of Drink Driving?

David

Not even necessarily convicted either, I got this wrong on a recent thread as well

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/add_crime.html

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Has anyone got any success stories regarding the whole embassy process?

Would be nice to know im not on my own here!

 

[warrior]

Has anyone got any success stories regarding the whole embassy process?

Would be nice to know im not on my own here!

I had to apply for a visa 2 years ago as I was going for an extended holiday (over 90 days) although I spent most of the day at the embassy (take food/drink/book) it didn't take long for the visa to come back.

Make sure you have a copy of your criminal record which shows that was your only conviction - I don't know how you apply for them but it will speed up your visa.

Oh and I think the cost of delivery was about £21 which was a lot more than on the forms and you have to pay then and there.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

I have already got the form from the police with my conviction on it, that cost me £10 and took 40 days to get from them!

I just really hope they dont see drink driving as a really bad crime, if they have to take longer to proccess it or im declined a visa my GF will be soooo upset. Makes me feel ill thinking about it!

 

[jen_uk]

My husband has to get a visa as he is not British, he has had 2 US visas now. Each time he has been to the embassy there has been a massive queue, don't bother getting there hours early tho as they don't let you in. He was in there about 4-5 hours so it does take quite a while. He was told that day that he had the visa and then it took about 5 days to be delivered.

Good luck

 

[paulh]

I just really hope they dont see drink driving as a really bad crime, if they have to take longer to proccess it or im declined a visa my GF will be soooo upset. Makes me feel ill thinking about it!

Drink Related Offenses
Applicants who have been arrested and/or convicted of a drink related offense may be referred to the Embassy's panel physician for evaluation. You will be advised further on the day of the interview. As we cannot pre-adjudicate a visa application we are unable to provide further guidance until you formally apply for the visa, at which time you will be given the opportunity to discuss your application with a consular officer.

the above from the embacey web site.I wont give my opinions on drink driving,just giving helpfull advice
Paulh

 

[OrlandoMagic]

I know paul, I saw that too, makes me even more nervous! Im not a flipping alcoholic!!

Why is that for just drink related offences and not drug related?

 

[paulh]

I know paul, I saw that too, makes me even more nervous! Im not a flipping alcoholic!!

Why is that for just drink related offences and not drug related?

the states used to be a no drink nation,rember prohabition.even in some areas there still dry.beer cans have no alcohol value on so it can be sold at a lower strength without them knowing
Paulh

 

[dc1964]

sister in law recently flew to Belfast for Visa as she has a minor record for a benefit fraud, she was refused a visa and the her and 2 yound children had to cancel trip, i am not sure i would take the risk of applying for visa, just take my chances with waiver programme, wrong i know but i bet thousand slip through this way.

 

[warrior]

My understanding was that the only time a visa was refused was if it was believed you would be a 'risk' while in the USA - I may be wrong of course.

 

[major]

Hi,
My sister was charged with an assault about 10yrs ago and subsequently admonished for it. When we went to Florida last year we were in the same kind of dilema as we didn't know whether she should apply for a visa or not.

She decided to take a chance on the green waiver form (as she went to the police where she was told the offence was now spent) and she had no problem getting in. I'm not saying don't apply for the visa just thought I'd share her experience with you.
However when starting a new job recently she had to apply for a disclosure check (or whatever it's called!!) and this showed up on it, so although she was told the offence was "spent" it was still on record and as I said she had no problem getting in.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

My understanding was that the only time a visa was refused was if it was believed you would be a 'risk' while in the USA - I may be wrong of course.

I think it really boils down to what you were convicted for and how many times.

If the crime you were convicted for was commited with moral turpitude then there is a higher risk of getting a visa rejected. As dc1964 said, her sister in law was convicted of benefit fraud which to the US is seen as moral turpitude, where as drink driving isn't. Im just hoping thats how they will see it at the embassy and I should be ok.

From Wikipedia...

Moral turpitude is a legal concept in the USA, which refers to "conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty, or good morals".[1]

It is of great importance for immigration purposes, as only those offences which are defined as involving moral turpitude are considered bars to immigration into the USA.

 

[warrior]

I wonder if they do 'dip sample' criminal record checks on passengers? Surely they can't check every visitor into the USA as this would take forever. If they checked a person who didn't have a visa and found they had a record I wonder what would happen?

 

[orangetiggs]

i DONT KNOW IF THIS HELPS BUT WHEN I WORKED AT VIRGIN all the info on the passengers was sent to the usa as sson as the plane took off so they knew who was arriving etc! They would then have 9ish hours to do any checks they wanted to do