visas

[gem69a]

hi all need some advice iv been to florida twice now this year theve asked me about arressts and criminal records,should i get a visa i was arressted when i was 15 just petty crime theft drunk and disordely,the tour operator knows so will they know at sanford airport please help xxx

[Buenchico]

Airlines have to provide the US authorities with information about passengers heading for the USA (such as address and credit card details) but they're not obliged to forward information about criminal convictions. So it's unlikely that the tour operator will pass on the information. However, if they do (and you've not obtained a visa), you'll certainly be refused entry.

For further information, see here:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Travel/Getting- there/Question437846.html

Chris

[dzug]

If you've been twice this year already and got in with no problems then you will be able to do that again.

If you apply for a visa you will be refused - not because of your crimes, they will certainly overlook petty juvenile crime - but because you lied when using the visa waiver scheme before.

The biggest danger is that the tour operator may refuse to let you travel, not that they will tell the US authorities.

[gem69a]

im just going to play dumb about lying on the visa weaver by saying i didnt think it was relevent if you were a child when you were arressted.And that is the truth i went in november 2006 and november 2004 so they know i never overstayed my welcome.there is 14 of us going this year 5 of us has been arressted and one of them works in the police,iv never been in trouble for years now,ps will my two children need visas or will they be ok thank you and thaks for your answers gemma

[spudqueen]

If your children hold a British passport and have never been arrested then no, they shouldn't need a visa. Check out this website
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/rctour.html

[gem69a]

thankyou does any one know what will happen when i go for my visa because i have been planning on getting married over there,do i need a different kind of visa

[ojread2]

Can I ask why you want to get a visa this time if you have gone via the visa waiver previously or do you need a visa to get married?

I'm no expert but if you apply for a visa the proper way I would imagine ignorance is not bliss.

I think if you search here you will see this Q has been asked lots of times from those with records dating back to their teen years as I thought, wrongly, (not personally) that any prosecution under the age of 18 would not count, so it will be worth doing a search

HTH
ojx

[gem69a]

thanx for that i dont need a visa to get married its just because iv never ever been asked if iv been arressted before when iv booked my holiday as i have this time and i answered yes so travel city might tell immagration iv been arressted before and i havent declared it.It seems a bit risky id like to know what the chances are of getting a visa xx gemma

[dzug]

Your chances of getting a visa are a bit dubious. Your crime will almost certainly be forgiven but they may pick up on the fact that you lied when you applied for a visa waiver on your previous visits and turn you down on those grounds.

How likely this is I'm not sure - your crimes being juvenile mat sway in your favour.

[gem69a]

so they know iv been twice iv never overstayed my welcome and iv never caused any trouble so will that not go in my favour thanx

[dzug]

Yes that will go in your favour but the lying will not. It's hard to tell which way it will swing. Saying you didn't think juvenile crimes counted (and in visa terms they don't) may help if they bring this up at your interview. OTH it may not.

[gem69a]

at the interview do they tell you there and then if they are going to grant you a visa or is it a waiting progress

[ojread2]

Put Visas in othe search box on the left and you will find answer after answer to your question

Here's one example
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Travel/Question 388954.html

[ojread2]

And this one is specific to your last question

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Travel/Question 304261.html

[lady_p_gold]

Do you mean you are thinking of going over there and getting married ? If you say that, you will certainly not get a visa, to get a 'fiance' visa is a long and involved process and takes months. If you go there on a visa waiver and get married you are not supposed to do that either.

[gem69a]

i was going to get married but not now,now im just hoping that i can get a visa for my holiday thats already booked.thanks for answering my questions im still wanting to hear from anyone who has been granted a visa or refused a visa.

[tigwig]

Hi Gemma my husband got a visa last year after a drink driving conviction, the whole thing was extremely stressful and expensive and we were both dreading it!! We live in West Yorkshire and had to travel to London at peak time and I had to wait outside the US Embassy for 2 hours while my hubby went inside. When he came out, I only got the chance to go in because you had to pay for the p&p of your passport and the credit card was in my name! The inside of the building was like a huge bank, you had to wait until your number was called and then go up to a counter which wasn't at all private, we imagined been interrogated by several people!! The first thing they asked was have you visited the US before which we have several times, my hubby explained what had happened on his drink driving conviction which was a complete mistake and one off and the bloke smiled and said don't worry it could happen to anyone!!. He got his visa no problem but my colleague at work said her nephew went with exactly the same thing and he got refused! We have not yet been to the US since getting the visa and immigration makes me nervous even with a visa we are going Feb next year now so will find out! Cue NormantheDog, you have more knowledge of US Embassy than us so why do these official people give some people visas and not others? By the way, first we had to apply for a police record check at cost, and it took several weeks to get an appointment which wasn't very easily changed and if like me you wanted to phone them to check you had all documentation it ended up costing us �15 in phone calls alone!! I have since read on here that the whole thing is a scam so I don't really know what to think

[lou 26]

what did they say when you answered yes? Did you give them, or did they ask for the details?

[munchie63]

I got my visa last october, and travelled in April this year.
I was very nervous about what questions customs would ask me - 'why did I have a visa' etc.

The customs official didn't bat an eyelid when he saw my visa, he just asked how long I was staying, and how much money I had on me.
I had travelled in 1993 on honeymoon, without a visa. This time with the kids I wanted to do it right.
I had to state on the form previous visits, which I did. I was not asked about not having a visa before (the offence happened in 1984). The lady asking the questions was nice as pie, and it lasted 5mins.

The reason some get visas and some not is individual circumstances.
An older guy, travelling with his family, after a D+D offence years go is not seen as any knd of risk now. A youngster, whose offence happened recently is, and he may get refused.