US visa and driving offences

[eskobar6996]

i have a drink driving conviction on my record and have just found out today i need a visa to go to the usa as i am not elligable for the VWP, i fly in 8 weeks but cant get an appointment untill june which is after i would have come back, i spoke to the embassy today regarding my conviction asking if i needed a visa and they took my details passport number name address etc. i have been reading answers to someones elses question saying just say no to convictions on VWP form and hope they dont check but am now worried i may have red flagged myself with the embassy giving my details over, would appreciate anyone advice who has been in this situation or similar, many thanks

[JonnoGenie]

Drink driving is not Moral turpitude, you can enter on the Visa Waiver Scheme. As long as you did not at the same time say run red lights, crash and injure anyone else, i.e. inflict harm, or potential harm on others (the basis of Moral Turpitude)

The Embassy helpline, in my experience, are quite capable of giving out incorrect info.

If I were you, and you had a simple, single DUI, I'd just go, use the VW programme and if you get hauled up (unlikely) tell them as much. If ever they asked 'Why did you call the Embassy helpline?' - well it is because as a responsible citizen, you wanted to be sure you were doing everything right.

[JonnoGenie]

Oh and if they have any problem with that, suggest they refer to their own Foreign Affairs Manual.

reference:

9 FAM 40.21 (a) N2.3-2 Crimes Committed against Governmental Authority. Section B (6)

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/86 942.pdf

[eskobar6996]

thanks for that jonnoGenie, it was just a DD conviction nothing else they only found i was over the limit becuase they pulled me for having a faulty number plate i had been drinking the night before (not even a great deal) and didnt even realise i was over the limit myself, but it has caused me a whole load of problems, anyway thanks for the help

[JonnoGenie]

Yeah I know the feeling, I spent a week in Florida, and got a DD charge for two glasses of wine, almost 20 years ago. Like having a glorified parking ticket that never goes away.

Anyway :) DD/DUI is not Moral Turpitude. You've now got their own handbook to prove that should anyone ask.

[eskobar6996]

ill bring a copy with me but hope i dont need it lol, thanks pal

[burrowa]

Hi, how did you get on at immigration.I'm travelling to the US myself and haven't left enough time to get a visa for my dd offence.

[eskobar6996]

sorry if this is bit late burrowa bud only just come back on here, all was fine at immigration, no probs with the visa waiver at all