usa entry

[ldunbavin]

I am looking to go and see my sister in wisconsin, usa. The only problem with this is i have one conviction which is over 2 years ago for common assault, the lowest grade of assault. In the past 2 years i feel in myself i have grown up a lot, but my question is will i be able to see my sister?

[NORMANTHEDOG]

how many times do we have to say this,the US CUSTOMS do not have access to british criminal records,go on the visa waiver card and enjoy.

[BRAVO1]

DONT TAKE SILLY ADVICE : YES the USA does have access to the UK PNC computer.

Your telling me that a person convicted of a crime like terrorism can just sign a visa form on the flight and enter the USA un-checked ?...Are you mental ?

I am sure that I don't want to share my flight with a shoe bomber !!.And I am sure the 1000's of people who fly with there kids don't either.

The NSA in the USA (Thats the NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY) has the biggest and fastest computer in the world, it is linked to the UK PNC and other agencies in the World.

If the UK PNC can check you in seconds if not minutes,then why can't a super computer do the same.

If you lie on you visa form and there is a spot check on your details, then your stay in the USA will be a short one.

Flip your coin and take your chance.

[tightrope]

There are thousands of people arrested every day in the UK, in 2006 alone some 1.5 MILLION people were arrested in the UK (see here http://www.justice.go...ngland-and-wales.pdf) some guilty some not. This figure does not include Scotland and Northern Ireland, every arrest results in either no admission to the US or difficult admission to the US. Many are not charged due to various reasons (lack of evidence or evidence via witness statements to show they're innocent etc). In the eyes of the law these people are NOT criminals and not bad people, just unlucky. Every one of these arrests results in yet another innocent person being denied a holiday to the US. The USA is being outrageously unfair here. The USA for many innocent people who went through a nightmare is making sure that nightmare stays with them. Choose another holiday destination; I do, out of principle. However if you really do want to visit the USA then your mother-in-law will need to apply for a visa, then it's down to waiting for a decision, don't book your holiday until you know you can go. If your mother-in-law is denied access then you know that someone in the US Visa office has decided she is guilty. Once again, the world is packed full of beautiful and wonderful places without the harsh naive sentiments of the USA border controls that indefinitely punish people for being no more than innocent victims of circumstances. The denial of entry should be for those with a criminal record, and not extended to those unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrongtime or worse, falsely accused and found innocent by a court of law. How can your mother-in-law possibly be an enemy or a risk to the USA? By the way I have no sympathy for genuine criminals.