holiday of a lifetime or not ??????????

[sal69]

hi
We plan to take our kids on holiday to florida in August, my b/f has a criminal record for stealing from an employer,this happened 7 years ago,he wasnt sent down ,he got commuinity service,does anyone out there know what the likely hood of him being allowed into usa
thanks

[dzug]

Theft of whatever amount is moral turpitude. He is ineligible to enter the USA.

If he lies on the ESTA form - a reasonable likelihood that he will get in but not a guarantee.

If he applies for a visa as US law says he should - there's a good chance he will be refused and a slight chance that after a long delay (think in terms of 6 months) he might be granted one.

[munchie63]

6 months seems a long time dzug.
I know they say that for some offences, but I'm not sure this would apply.
there's a big difference between emptying the firms safe, and taking a crate of lager off the back of a lorry, and I think the manor of the crime will affect the decision and if it's referred to washington or not

[kira000]

As a previous answer said, stealing qualifies as moral turpitude. This means the chances of him being allowed into USA are low. Unless you are rolling in money, and can afford to buy a holiday you probably wont be able to use, and get no refund on, it would not be wise to book a holiday to the US.

You could try and apply for a visa, but it will take months (you probably left it too late), and you probably wouldnt succeed in getting one. You could lie on your forms, but if it doesnt work (likely), you will have wasted your money, and you will be in even more in trouble for lying.

There are plenty of other places you should be able to go to, so i'd stick with that.

[jno]

US authorities don't have access to UK court records, so I'd be tempted to have an attack of amnesia when filling out an ESTA form. But as kira says, there is a modest risk.

[Banali]

This article was posted by someone answering a similar question earlier in thhe year.

Hope it helps.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/columnists/g illcharlton/4600633/Ask-Gill-criminal-records- and-US-visas-ski-insurance-XL-payouts-and-Ital y-in-bloom.html

[VHG]

Anyway, are SURE you want to go to Florida in August?

It is VERY VERY HOT at that time of the year and walking round theme parks in that heat is no fun.

I went in February a few years ago and we had weather in the 80s.

[VHG]

One web site says of August in Florida:

"Florida has a semi-tropical climate. It becomes oppressively hot and humid during the months of June through August. Expect temperatures to exceed 90 degrees F (32 C) and humidity to hover near 100 percent. The most pleasant weather is usually found during winter months between December and March when temperatures are more likely around 75 degrees (25 C) and the humidity becomes bearable"

http://www.usatourist.com/english/places/flori da/climate.html