fao norman the dog

[tigwig]

I have a question for you Norm (or anyone else that may know) as I know you have contacts with the US Embassy. I am travelling to Orlando next week with my family and as my hubby had a drink drive conviction he got a visa with no problems. However I am now worrying that when we arrive in the US immigration will obviously look at the visa and want to know if you just go straight through as normal or will they question him further? I have a scenario in my head that he will be interrogated as to why he had to get a visa and when he says why they may choose not to allow him entry anyway! Is there anyway this could happen? Hope you can help, TIA

[dzug]

Well they can always choose to refuse anyone entry anyway...... However the commonest reason for this is that they are not convinced that you will leave the US at the end of your stay - ie are a potential illegal immigrant.

There is no guarantee that he won't be interrogated - however it's unlikely. The drink driving aspect** will have been 'dealt with' by his being granted a visa - they won't be interested in that other than possibly being mildly curious.

** drink driving is in fact not a crime of moral turpitude in the US and he could quite legally and truthfully travelled on a visa waiver answering NO to the question.

[tigwig]

I know that now after reading it several times on here! Unfortunately I only found that out after we spent a fortune going to London to get the god damn visa! I think I would be even more worried if he didn't have one though

[munchie63]

I was in a similar position last year. Because of a minor crime, years ago, I applied for a visa for my Orlando holiday.

I was VERY worried that the customs official would look at my visa and immediately want to know why I'd had to apply for one. 'What had I done?' 'How long ago' etc.
My wife assured me it would be fine. For 40mins I waited in that Q, trying not to look too worried. No-one else seemed to have the white waiver/visa form like me.
My wife was absolutely right though (as usual, of course). No extra questions at all. Not even a 2nd glance.

The customs officials DO have the right to refuse entry, but the embassy have already asked the awkward questions and made the decision to issue the visa.

So....don't panic!!

other than the usual 'where are you staying, how long for' questions, it was fine, and took 5mins to process the 4 of us, including the finger scans.

Looking back, I think customs viewpoint is, if we've applied for a visa, and been given one, we're okay. It's the ones holding the waiver forms that probably have something to hide - look at all the posts on here about 'do i really need a visa/ can i just tick no'.

any questions about the entry process, feel free to ask, but it'll be fine. Honestly, it will.
have a great time.

[tigwig]

thanks for the reassurance munchie63. I will try not to worry!