USA Visa

[Big Bas]

I intend to visit California as a visitor in May06

I have a drink / drive conviction DR10 12 months ban ending 20/08/03

I was DNA'd photo'd and fingerprinted so I am "in the system"

Do I need to apply for a USA Visa before I go or will the usual form completing on the aircraft before landing suffice ??

[dzug]

Whilst minor traffic offences do not matter I think this one will. You'd need to ask the US Embassy to be certain though. The US has different categories of what constitutes a criminal offence.

If you do, then don't rely on going in May. Your visa could take 4-5 months to turn up as they have to arrange a waiver (not the sort you get on arrival, but a waiver for them to ignore US immigration law).

Whether you are in the US system is another matter. If you just fill in the form you get on the plane, say NO to the question about a criminal record, then you may well get in. It depends how much data the UK and US share.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

i wouldent take the risk my brother had the same and just went to new york,they turned him away and put him on the next flight back,better to be safe then sorry.