Chances Of Of Getting A Visa For Trip To U.s

[edd78]

I was looking to travel to the u.s as a lone traveler for a week in new york, as i have convictions that fit into the crimes that involve moral turpitude, including theft, attempted theft of a motor vehicle, housebreaking with intent
I am not proud to have been involved in those crimes.
what would the chances of being allowed to travel. I am in two minds as to declare the convictions and apply for a visa, or try and get in not declaring my convictions, i have looked around and on the urban75 site i have saw lot's of people telling people not to declare there convictions, there will be a chance of not getting a visa, and there is a chance that you can get through without declaring, also there is the possibility that you might get caught

[maggiebee]

Pretty strict rules of entry to the US, but nothing ventured nothing gained. In your place I think I would be honest. They can only say no.

[janbee]

Be honest, because they can find out anyway.

[ukbod2015]

I`m sure they go into authorisations on their ESTA system quite seriously - but if you leave out items which they subsequently find you can be sure they will reject. If you include them they may respect your honesty.

[edd78]

Hi thank you for the quick reply's, I am still considering applying for the visa,
just when i was looking on the urban75 site that i came across, that i have seen people advising not to declare convictions as they don't have access to the uk criminal database, so again thank you for the reply's

[jno]

they can't find out, they don't have access to UK criminal records except in limited cases of terrorism suspects etc.

I wouldn't bother telling them.

[Buenchico]

If you apply for a visa, the US Immigration and Nationality Act states that the US Embassy MUST refuse to issue you with a visa. However you can then ask that your application be referred to Washington as an application for a 'waiver of permanent ineligibility'. The MINIMUM processing time for such an application is 6 months but it can take much longer. (Someone posted here on AB to say that their partner had to wait 15 months before being told that his waiver application had been refused; he had two convictions for driving without insurance).

So if you intend to 'do things by the book', you'd need to apply now if you were hoping to travel at the end of 2016. (Remember that there's no point buying airline tickets until you know whether you've got a visa. So, unless you were prepared to pay full fare to purchase tickets at short notice, you'd really need to allow the better part of two years between the start of your application and your intended travel date).

While the US authorities have no direct access to UK criminal records (because EU law prohibits it) the British authorities still share a great deal of information under the guise of 'anti-terrorism' (even though the people whose information is shared are unlikely to be terrorist suspects). Further, any specific request for information from the US authorities for details of a visitor's criminal record will always be granted. Attempting to enter the USA illegally would, at the very least, see you imprisoned until such time as you could be put on a flight back to the UK but could also see you facing much more stringent penalties.

If you can afford to wait the better part of 2 years before (possibly) travelling, apply for a visa. (You'll have to get hold of a copy of your police record and attend attend an interview in London). Your chances of getting a visa might well depend upon the length of time that has passed since your convictions. (While the USA doesn't recognise the UK's Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, offences twenty years ago would probably be far less likely to matter than those from last year).

Otherwise you could 'chance it' and apply for an ESTA but risk the possible consequences of doing so.

Alternatively, just go to somewhere else. You can enter any of the other 27 Eu member states without having to worry about a visa.

[edd78]

hi Buenchico
I was involved in these crimes about 16 years ago, I have everything ready just waiting on police certificate to arrive. The reason i asked is i have read about people who tried and succeeded, also i have never herd much about those who have never, maybe they don't won't want to share there disappointment at getting caught

[Buenchico]

Quote 1:
" . . . when I was a travel agent I booked a client on a trip to the US..this was way before the ESTA thing. He didn't tell me he had a criminal record..I think it was marijauna possesions or something like that..he got pulled up at immigration cause they scanned his passport and saw his record and he was put on the next plane back"

Quote 2:
"My BF got turned around at the border 10 years ago and it's been a nightmare to get him over to the US for a visit. They don't even care about the stupid thing he did when he was 17 anymore, they care about the fact that he tried to enter the US without a visa and got sent packing (he was 22 and didn't know he needed one)"

Both from:
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=65306.0

US immigration officials aren't known for being the friendliest of people!
http://www.vice.com/read/i-was-given-a-full-body-search-by-american-border-guards

[edd78]

HI Buenchico
I have decided to go down the route of applying for the visa, do you think i have a chance of getting a waiver of ineligibility, with the crimes that i was involved in

[Buenchico]

With a gap of 16 years I'd think that you might stand a reasonable chance but I'd still recommend not booking any travel arrangements until you definitely know that you've got a visa.

Good luck!