US visa with arrest record?

[kc84]

I'm hoping to travel to the US next year, and am thinking of applying for a visa so I can stay longer than 3 months. (i'm a UK citizen & live in the UK)
I was arrested about a year ago for being in a protest, but wasn't charged or convicted and the case was dropped. (The offence they named when they arrested me was relatively serious though).
Does anyone know how likely they are to refuse a visa because of this? I've heard they tend to refuse activists, but don't know if this is always the case.
Also, how much info do they have on UK records? And do they check up more on people who apply for a visa than for visa waiver?
Many thanks for any advice!

[bednobs]

which category of visa are you planning to apply for? if you are applying for a non-immigrant visa, which category are you planning to apply under? student? au pair? something else? http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/ index.html
Getting a visa is a lot more complicated than travelling under visa waiver, necessitating an interview at the embassy in london, and usually a job offer from a us company/employer (even for non immigrant)
Have a look on the above link and you'll see how difficult it is. Moving onto immigrant visas, you have virtually zero hope, unless you are david beckham or are married to a us citizen.
In summary, it is very very tricky to get a visa for a longer stay than 90 days, and thats even with no arrests, so factor in your arrest and it might be very hard indeed. The only way you will find out is to apply, but you are pretty much scuppered if they refuse on grounds of your arrest because then you wont even be able to travel there AT ALL

[dzug]

I would imagine OP wants a B2 tourist visa - relatively easy to get if you have demonstrable roots in your home country and sufficient funds.

What were you actually charged with? The US view of what constitutes serious (= 'moral turpitude') is rather different from the man in the UK street's view. Stealing a mars bar is moral turpitude. Beating someone up causing serious injury is not necessarily. Drink driving is not.

Is your activism something that could be regarded as communist or fascist? That would be a definite no.

As to whether they check - don't think so, not routinely. I think YOU have to produce your police record in cases of doubt. Lying if found out could debar you for years though.

[kc84]

Yes, am thinking about a tourist visa. I think the offence is one seen as serious in the US, though I was not actually charged - presumably because I had not done it. Don't know if being innocent is good enough though!

[bobs1975]

What were you arrested on suspicion of? You seem to be skirting this subject. As the previous posters said what the US deem serious (moral turpitude) and what the UK deem serious are entirely different. I can only guess what you were arrested for? Rioting, Breach of Peace, etc which are crimes the US deem as absolutely fine. I can't imagine you were arrested for fraud or sodomy in a protest which is a big No No in the US. Check out this Wikipedia article and follow it to the State Dept PDF. You might find you are absolutely fine and follow the advice of the previous posters regarding roots in the UK. The fact that you weren't convicted might just be fine when you apply.

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