My holiday to America - i'm really worried....help please?

[tonystark]

Ok well i have been to the states several times over the years, and worked there 7 years ago on a summer camp, had a visa etc, no problems.

Now about 5 years ago, i got in some trouble here.

To cut a long story short, i met a girl who basicly took everything and took all my savings etc.... i was left with nothing and nowhere to live.

I ended up going to a travel lodge and staying there ( i told them i worked for a comapny and they would pay etc) but of course, when it was check out, i could not pay. so they called the police, i got arressted and i had to go to court and i paid for the room.

I had never got in trouble before and have not since then.

I have been to a few places since, like egypt and cuba and i have planned a trip to New York for Christmas.

I have heard a few different things, some people say you have to declare the arrest ( no matter how small), others say just tick no on the box and it will be ok.

I have known people to go over last year and this year and they had some serious stuff on their record and they were ok. they said apparently they have their watch list, and they are only after people who have been involved with drugs, weapons etc.

I have done my ESTA form and put in my passport number etc and it all came back ok.

If there was a problem with me, would this have gone through? and i hear now they scan your passport and take your fingerprints....does this bring up about my arrest from 5 years ago?

I'm really worried. I don't know what to do. :(

Any advice / opinions.

Please let me know.

thank you.

Tony.

[dzug]

Well your arrest was for fraud which is a crime of moral turpitude. The rules say you must apply for a visa. 'Small' and 'serious' really don't come into it, the US thinks in different categories.

As to whether you'd get away with lying - don't know. Probably- but information sharing is on the increase and if you arouse their suspicion they can certainly check you out.

[sitges]

If you are really in doubt as to your status, go to the American Embasy in London and explain it to them. They will be able to tell you if you have anything to worry about. They can scan your passport there and they will know what shows up and if it will cause a problem upon entering the U.S.

[dzug]

A complete waste of time going to the Embassy. Their advice will be unequivocally apply for a visa - they may or may not (more likely not) venture an opinion on the chances of getting one.

[Dee Sa]

Tonymy advice would be,for what its worth, because you have left it rather late to get a visa for xmas, go to an agency who apply for you, before you part with any money tell them the situation and they will know if you can get round this and apply and still get a visa in time. If not ,dont pay them, but they will know the success rate.
They did get my husband [Portugese passport in London] one in 3 days, but he had no convictions and a letter from the company he worked for to guarantee him, when we went there they told us to come back with the letter from the company before they applied for us.Presume they know all the angles, of course the yanks might think you will do it again there but we all make silly mistakes in life.
good luck. Dee

[Dee Sa]

Tony
reading your post again, if your ESTA has come back okay, just forget it and go.
Dont act dodgy at the airport, just be calm and wait your turn, dont offer any info unless asked, they are looking in their cameras at you and your body language from when you get off the plane same as they do in UK.
Pals of mine have got through with a lot worse than your episode.
they cant possibly hold evry single persons prints, they really are looking for dealers and serious offenders and they dont get the ESTA anyway.

[sumo19]

It depends if your crime was classed as moral turpitude. If it is not, then you should (as the theory goes) be Okay.

ESTA assesses your eligibility to travel to the USA on the Visa Waiver Program. If you answered the form correctly then you should be fine.