Travelling to the US with a VISA and a criminal record.

[hawk190601]

I am off to the US in a few weeks for a holiday and as I have a criminal record I got a VISA. I dont know what type of questions I will get at port of entry and how difficult it will be for me to get in. Can anyone help me out... Even though I have a VISA I am still worried that I wont get in.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

if you have a visa then you will have no problems.

[dzug]

They will not ask the questions about convictions, etc - you have already been 'cleared' by being granted a visa.

Why you are visiting, where you are staying and for how long are the likeliest questions.

[kempie]

There is a popular misconception that a nonimmigrant visa allows a traveller automatic entry into the US. A visa allows you to travel to the US as far as the port of entry and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the country.

The inspecting officer of the US Customs and Border Patrol can consider any visitor inadmissible for whatever reason they like (although I am not saying that this is likely to occur). However, holders of business or pleasure visas (B-1 or B-2) issued by a US Embassy/Consulate have a right of appeal to this decision.

Travellers who rely on the more convenient and casual VWP for admission have no such right of appeal or to challenge the resultant deportation since it is a condition of the VWP form I-94 that these rights are waived and as such the CBP inspecting officer's decision is final.

http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/whatis/index. html

[stewey]

I have to ask this after visiting this section numerous times: why do so many UK criminals wish to visit the USof A?

[hawk190601]

I understand that it is at point of entry that they decide if you will be granted entry or not, however this can happen for anyone and surely the fact you have already been checked out by the US embassy should mean that you are probably better off than those travelling without a visa. Has anyone got a visa and been through port of entrey who can tell me their experience, or does anyone know of anybody who has?

[JonnoGenie]

Dzug is quite right.

I've been in on the VWS scores of times (with a record) and latterly with a B1/2 visa. USC&BP's reaction to the visa? .. they asked me why I had gone to the trouble of applying for one. lol.

you'll be fine, relax.

[munchie63]

stewey. perhaps I can answer yoyr question firts, as one of the UK's 'criminals'.
I wanted to take my kids to the US to enjoy Florida's themeparks, and the different way of life.
As far as UK's criminals are concerned, the US conflicting info around visa waiver / convictions / moral turpitude, mean may of us have to get a visa to travel correctly.
My 'crime' was failing to move on when asked to do so by a policeman 20 years ago. I'm no career criminal or bank robber, just had one too many when 20yrs old, and was cheeky outside a pub to the wrong officer.
many people in the UK get minor fines and convictions - but let's be honest - the US can hardly point the finger at our crime rates.
We, however, do not make US citizens apply for visa's or Q for an hour at Gatwick on arrival.
thanks for your great input though

[munchie63]

Hawk, in answer to your worries.....I tarvelled using a visa in April this year.
Like you, I was worried that having a visa would make me look like Ronnie Biggs.
The CPB official didn't bat an eyelid when he saw my visa form.
He asked the whole family 3 questions:
purpose of our visit, how long we were staying, and if we had any food in our bags.
As Dzug said, ypu've answered all the questions already on your visa app.
Yes, the CPB could refuse you entry, but on a family trip, with return tickets booked, it's extremely unlikely, and you'd have a little chat with a 2nd official before that happened.
Relax.
I was Very nervous.
2 mins in front of the CPB, and that was all. It will be fine.