immagration

[markusbest]

i have to go to the u.s.a on holiday. i have a conviction for assulting a policeman got 40 hrs community service do i have to apply for a visa.

[sara3]

yes :o)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_turpitude

[Buenchico]

According to the rules on the US embassy website, the answer is 'yes'. (Anyone who has eve been arrested, even if completely innocent is ineligible to use the Visa Waiver Program).
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/ add_crime.html

Applying for a visa is expensive, inconvenient (you have to attend an interview in London) and time-consuming (it can take many months). In practice, most people simply 'forget' about their convictions and enter under the Visa Waiver Program anyway. To do so, you should use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), here:
http://tinyurl.com/applyesta

Chris

[jno]

...and you might try not to assault any policemen there; they are even less understanding about it and more often armed.

[dzug]

If you read that wiki link carefully you will see that assault is sometimes moral turpitude, sometimes not. If you are happy it falls into the simple category, then you don't need a visa but can legitimately apply for a visa waiver through ESTA.


Problem with applying for a visa is that if your crime is moral turpitude and recent, you won't get one.