News0 min ago
Getting an American visa for a holiday when I have a section 20 conviction
Hi hope someone can help we have booked a holiday to Disneyland and have only just realised about needing a visa my problem is I have a section 20 conviction dating back 15 years against my now ex partner the father of my choldren, for which I got a 2 year probation sentance which was subsequently discharged after 1 year for good behaviour, I have not been in trouble since and have held down jobs for the local council in schools and nurseries and for the past 7 years in an nhs children's home.
I am now incredibly worried about letting my 4 children down and wondered if anyone had any information that might put my mind at ease before I apply in person for a visa?
I am now incredibly worried about letting my 4 children down and wondered if anyone had any information that might put my mind at ease before I apply in person for a visa?
Answers
1 to 3 of 3
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by Emmalu. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
It depends on whether your offence is one of Moral Turpitude. The list is attached here. I don't know what Section 20 means, I'm afraid. It also depends on whether you are a UK citizen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_turpitude
Assuming it isn't MT, then you don't need a visa and can fill in an on-line ESTA form, which you can get from here:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_turpitude
Assuming it isn't MT, then you don't need a visa and can fill in an on-line ESTA form, which you can get from here:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/
SeaJayPea:
'Section 20' = GBH.
Emmalu:
As SeaJayPea indicates, the key question is whether or not the US authorities regard your offence as constituting 'moral turpitude'. If not, given the length of time that has passed, a visa application would probably be accepted, with only a short processing time.
However if it's regarded as 'moral turpitude' then, in the first instance, the US Embassy MUST refuse to issue a visa. (It's written into the US Immigration & Nationality Act). They can then refer your request to Washington as an application for a 'waiver of permanent ineligibility'. While you might well get such a waiver, the processing time is many months. (The longest wait I've seen reported here on AB was from someone who had 2 convictions for driving without insurance. His application took 15 months to process, and was then refused).
Chris
'Section 20' = GBH.
Emmalu:
As SeaJayPea indicates, the key question is whether or not the US authorities regard your offence as constituting 'moral turpitude'. If not, given the length of time that has passed, a visa application would probably be accepted, with only a short processing time.
However if it's regarded as 'moral turpitude' then, in the first instance, the US Embassy MUST refuse to issue a visa. (It's written into the US Immigration & Nationality Act). They can then refer your request to Washington as an application for a 'waiver of permanent ineligibility'. While you might well get such a waiver, the processing time is many months. (The longest wait I've seen reported here on AB was from someone who had 2 convictions for driving without insurance. His application took 15 months to process, and was then refused).
Chris
1 to 3 of 3
Related Questions
Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.