Another visa question

[nickymitch]

What is classed as a minor traffic offence? According to the US embassy you cannot travel on the visa waiver program if you have a minor traffic offence - my husband has had a fixed fine speeding ticket of �60 plus 3 points on his licence - surely this does not count does it?

[Buenchico]

You've misread the information on the US embassy website. People with minor traffic offences CAN travel under the Visa Waiver Program:
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/arrests_an d_convictions.html

Assuming that there are no other reasons why your husband is barred from the scheme, he will have no problems travelling.

Chris

[dzug]

No it doesn't count - it needs to have been an arrestable offence for it to count. Something dealt with administratively like this is OK.

[SupaAbzyBall]

I am seriously angry with the Yanks. I was arrestted for being drunk and disorderly and I have now found out I need a visa! What harm am I gonna do? I got arrested 2 years ago! How hard is the process? Can anyone help?Im going to the cops tommorow to find out!

[dzug]

The process is easy enough but long winded and expensive

Book an appointment with the US Embassy, which will be several weeks ahead

Fill in the forms/pay fee. Attend interview - probably not very long.

If you are lucky the visa will arrive in a few days; if not a few months. It depends on whether they have the discretion to decide whether your arrest is trivial or not - if not they have to refer back to the US for a decision.

[mkt]

they do say to allow up to six months for process of visa but ive never known it take that long for anybody.

basically you need to apply if you've ever been read your rights.....i.e you're under arrest, you do not have to say anytihng blah blah blah

[Loosehead]

Mkt, how long does this last? How do they know you've been arrested? What if you are not actually found guilty of anything? What if you just fill in the form on the plane as usual do they have a connection to UK arrest data?

[mkt]

im not sure who long this lasts for....whether its just a few years or indefinite...... the reason i know about the 'being read your rights thing' is because we wanted to take our nephew to America with us 2 years ago. i was aware of changes to entry requirements etc so knew that you had to apply if you had a criminal record and somewhere in the back of my mind i thought that i'd read it had changed from just being anyone convicted to become anyone whos been arrested. I called the embassy who confirmed that my nephew would have to apply even though he was never charged with anything. Bit harsh i thought but rules are rules and US immigration are pretty tough. I dont know how they would know, it may all come up on their screen when they scan your passport. I wouldnt want to go all that way only to be put back on a plane home. As previously posted though i cant imagine a speeding ticket presenting a problem.... im assuming no arrest was made so it should be fine. Put it this way my husband had 6 points on his licence when we were last out there and we even hired a car no problem.