student visa to usa

[daz_1991]

i have just been offered a soccer scholarship to the usa and need o apply for a student visa at he embassy in either london or belfast. however around two and a half years ago when i was 17 i was convicted of drink driving. i have never been in trouble with the police before or sinse that incedent and i was wondering if this would affect my application for a visa. if anyone has any thoughts or has expierenced anything like this your comments would be mot aprieciated. thanks

[tigwig]

My husband was convicted for drink driving back in the year 2000 and he managed to get a visa no problems.

[daz_1991]

ok thanks a lot..totally stressing haha!

[Lborobrewer]

I hope I'm not raining on your parade, but you MAY have a harder job to get your visa than it was in 2000; there is the little matter of the 11/9 attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 to consider and the subsequent setting up of 'Homeland Security' and the tightening of 'security' in the US.

[Dee Sa]

tigwig
may I ask did he go for the "dreaded interview" or did he just ignore it and get an Esta ?
My pal flew to States one week after her probation was over, she didnt declare and got an Esta and had no problems on arrival in the US.

[tigwig]

It wasnt in 2000 he got his visa it was 2007 I think and yes he had to go for the interview at the US Embassy in London. This was before I was overly familiar with the AB and I had no idea loads of people actually 'forgot' their convictions and got away with it so we did things by the book. Its easy to advise people really to not declare anything but I think we both would have been in a state worrying about being turned back when we got there if not so apart from the cost of everything I'm sort of glad he got one! The interview was nothing by the way. He basically joined 1 line to get in the building, I was sent completely away and then the same process happened once inside about a further 3 times. It was just like a big waiting room in a bank and one by one people are called to the counter, nothing like we imagined. I actually had to go inside at the end as it was only me who had my cards on me and you had to pay another rip off fee for them to post everything back to you.

[daz_1991]

Thanks for all your help tigwig. Put my mind at ease a bit. I'm from scotland so apparently the best place for me to go to get it sorted is belfast. Hopefully it all goes smoothly and I can enjoy my 4 years over there with no hassle. Thanks a lot

[tigwig]

No problem I hope everything goes as smoothly for you. DD is not a crime of moral turpitude anyway so really the US shouldnt be able to bar you for that.