Visiting the US - fingerprints and taking?

[badgerchops]

i was a naughty girl in 2000 and got a custodial sentence for fraud /deception(did 2mths). my conviction is spent on 5 oct and stupidly i booked a celebration holiday to san francisco for the end of october. i thought as it was spent that i could go under the visa waiver programme but now realise i need to legally apply for a visa. i dont have time questions........... dont judge 1. if i lie and say 'no' never arrested and have all my documentation ready and dont act shifty will i be ok. docs like - where i am going, when i am returning, where i am staying etc

2. what is this about the finger prints / picture now in force.? i have heard that if you say 'no' on the form and you then have finger prints done it knows if u have a record and lying ? is this rubbish?

what is the purpose of the photos / finger prints. is it just to know if i have been convicted of a crime in the US or had border control issues before, or is it a link to uk criminal records?

thanks.....

[Reverandfunk]

Badger there are about a hundred posts on the visa waiver programme lol

US customs have no access to UK records so unless you're on the top ten wanted listed chances are you will be okay

[badgerchops]

i know but what about the whole finger print/picture business - what is that for ?

My 'crime' is obtaining property by deception and so not firearms, sexual, drugs etc. but resulted in custody for a couple of months. yes the conviction is now spent but by lying is there definately no way they can tell?

[Reverandfunk]

No.

Other people will confirm it but US customs have no link to UK records. There is talk of this changing but that wont be for a while. So if you put no next to any convictions they aint going to find out

[badgerchops]

ok feeling slightly more at ease. just will try and now throw up going through border control lol.

its just the finger print business but i am thinking this is for their own records in the US to monitor / border control. to see if i am wanted there. had border issues before etc. ?????

[JonnoGenie]

To get locked up in the UK you must have done something really $hitty. Be clear, the US do not want your sort in their country; sorry but that is the truth.

The US has no concept of 'spent convictions'... law enforcement in the US is serious.

[badgerchops]

Pedestal for Jonno !!!!!

[Maggoty]

Don't hink Jonno was being funny - just stating the fact - the US don't deal in grey areas. You are or your aren't ........ if you have a criminal record - then you are not wanted. End of.

The finger prints and photos are so they know who's in the country and who hasn't left.

xx

[badgerchops]

thanks all xx

just honestly wish i didnt make the mistake seven years ago. live with it every day

[Reverandfunk]

Badger just go in on the visa waiver.

Of course the US dont want criminals entering their country, they can't cope with their own.

[VillageVicar]

Actually, I have to agree with Jonno. The americans are an extremely aggressive police environment. It's only a personal thought and not an endorsement of any sort, however, I think the greatest potential problem is if you have some kind of slip up, regardless of how minor it may be, from a traffic violation to public intoxication, etc. That would compel the police to not only vet you agressively, but to report you to their immigration and homeland security services..which could end up causing your passport to be marked (viewable only with ultraviolet)...which could make you stand out rather badly for the rest of that passport's life! Not a good thing!! Whatever your decision. I suppose it's a bit abstract to ask this, but would not telling the truth on a visa waiver application be yet another form of deception with malice of forethought (intent)? That's not a moral judgement, but moreso a shared thought of guidance. Whatever you do, I wish you the best in your journeys.
Fr. Bill

[biologist]

The fingerprints are just for immigration fraud, applications, entry exit monitoring etc. The UK, USA, Canada, OZ and NZ ONLY share fingerprints on immigration cases. The UK has no business sharing fingerprints on every person in the UK unless you are a proper hardened criminal/trafficker/murderer etc. Sharing every fingerprint would not help in anti-terrorism. Why should any person with a spent conviction fess upto the waker yanks that they made a mistake. I do think the yanks just want everyone to fess up 'cos the UK won't give them access to all UK criminal records. Unless you're on interpol, USA watchlist then I do think you will have any problems. The immigration process is a joke. The UK realises that people can make mikstakes in life, hence "The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act". I guess the questions on the green card are to deter the big boy criminals from bothering entering the USA, but people with minor records are getting scared of this. Just tick NO, smile, be polite and enjoy the USA. If not, go to one of the other fantastic countries in this world.