travel

[wenlowe]

if you have been in prison for a couple of weeks on a minor offence can this stop you from getting a visa for u.s.a it was 12 years ago

[dzug]

It's unlikely to debar you from getting a visa but you will need to allow plenty of time to get it - months, not weeks - as your application will require special consideration.

It DOES debar you from the visa waiver scheme.

[Buenchico]

Dzug's correct. You're not eligible for the visa waiver scheme if you've ever been convicted of an offence. (In fact, you're not eligible if you've ever been arrested even if you weren't charged).

Apply, in plenty of time, for a US visa. Remember that you will have to attend an interview in London and (from the experiences reported by others on this site) the whole interview procedure can take up most of a day. Despite this, I would think that it would be unlikely that you'd be refused a visa.

Chris

[wenlowe]

thank you dzug and beunchico for your help