ive been aressted for questioning

[itsmebilly]

ive been recently arreseted for questioning, i booked a holiday to the us 10 months ago and was arrested in jan 07 i have now found out i need a visa and will take 14-16 weeks i fly in march 07 so i either have to cancel my holiday or lie on the visa wavier form. What do I do?

[steve2010]

lie about what,have you been charged with any offence,the usa customs do not have access to our criminal records,they are only interested in threats to their security,not petty little people like you.

[raysparx1]

Just be careful as steve says you will get away with it, but when I went last year I got quite a grilling at the customs in the US, he kept asking me, are you sure you have never been arrested, and when I eventually got through he called me back again, I was cacking myself, cos I had been arrested , although it was years ago, but then he just said, have a great holiday.

[Buenchico]

You don't actually have to lie on the visa waiver form. While the US embassy website correctly quotes the rule that anyone who's ever been arrested is ineligible to travel without a visa, the form you fill in doesn't ask about arrests. It only asks whether you've ever been convicted of a 'crime of moral turpitude'. So you can truthfully answer 'No'.

As has been stated, the US authorities don't have direct access to UK criminal records or to records of arrests. As long as you weren't arrested for questioning in relation to offences connected with terrorism, drug-trafficking or 'sex tourism', it's almost certain that the US immigration officers will be completely unaware of your arrest.

Chris

[JonnoGenie]

No idea what your charge/arrest is for; no way to know what your visa requirement might be.

[itsmebilly]

my aressted was for 'alleged sexual touching'

[2armyvets]

It's best to be honest and don't lie. You may have to lie to over another lie and on and on. It's funny all the world hates US, can't stop wanting to come for a visit. Funny aye?

[JonnoGenie]

Never heard of that charge before.

Meanwhile, this
http://foia.state.gov/masterdocs/09fam/0940021 aN.pdf
will tell you if you have committed Moral Turpitude (in the eyes of the US), and hence whether you might be ok to go in on the Visa Waiver Scheme, or need a visa.