usa entry

[jaguar07]

i was cautioned last oct for shop lifting-the sergeant cautioning me advised this would not affect me entering the states so i didn't worry about a visa.however,a friend of mine was with someone who had a rough time at jfk as they had been convicted of robbery in the uk.after reading other answers i was led to believe that the us does not have access to our criminal records so how was he found out and what are the chances of me getting through jfk next month without a visa as it is too late to organise

[grasscarp]

I should try this in Travel section rather than here. You dont have a conviction, only a caution, which is very different.