Re: US Visa / ESTA : Wed Oct 09, 2013 10:55 am  

What would one suggest for somebody who has a minor conviction eg. drunk and disorderly?

Would it be wiser to risk not declaring this or go to London apply and pay for a visa which probably wouldn't be granted anyway?

I've been told they would only contact the UK to check a criminal record if they had very good reason to be suspicious.

Just asking for a friend like.....

Re: US Visa / ESTA : Wed Oct 09, 2013 12:41 pm  

Hull Kogan wrote: What would one suggest for somebody who has a minor conviction eg. drunk and disorderly? Would it be wiser to risk not declaring this or go to London apply and pay for a visa which probably wouldn't be granted anyway? I've been told they would only contact the UK to check a criminal record if they had very good reason to be suspicious. Just asking for a friend like..... I may have posted this little story before, but when I worked for an American airline (until very recently), we were made aware of a chap in his 50s who travelled with his family. He arrived at US Immigration and was asked to step aside for an interview (if this ever happens be prepared for a looooong wait), eventually being refused entry and put on the next flight back. His family were permitted to enter. Turned out he had received a caution for shoplifting when he was about 12 years old, but hadn't declared it. As far as he was aware he had a completely clean record. I believe he was of Asian (Pakistani) origin, whether that has anything to do with it is another story. The US Embassy are pretty clear about the issue. But then they would say that. I'd declare it. You (or your friend ) don't want to arrive and be turned away. It's unlikely you'll be denied a visa for such a minor offence if that's all you've (sorry, your friend) has got. You don't need to travel anywhere - do it online at the ESTA site and don't pay more than $14 for it.

Hull Kogan wrote: What would one suggest for somebody who has a minor conviction eg. drunk and disorderly? Would it be wiser to risk not declaring this or go to London apply and pay for a visa which probably wouldn't be granted anyway? I've been told they would only contact the UK to check a criminal record if they had very good reason to be suspicious. Just asking for a friend like..... I may have posted this little story before, but when I worked for an American airline (until very recently), we were made aware of a chap in his 50s who travelled with his family. He arrived at US Immigration and was asked to step aside for an interview (if this ever happens be prepared for a looooong wait), eventually being refused entry and put on the next flight back. His family were permitted to enter. Turned out he had received a caution for shoplifting when he was about 12 years old, but hadn't declared it. As far as he was aware he had a completely clean record. I believe he was of Asian (Pakistani) origin, whether that has anything to do with it is another story. The US Embassy are pretty clear about the issue. But then they would say that. I'd declare it. You (or your friend ) don't want to arrive and be turned away. It's unlikely you'll be denied a visa for such a minor offence if that's all you've (sorry, your friend) has got. You don't need to travel anywhere - do it online at the ESTA site and don't pay more than $14 for it.

Re: US Visa / ESTA : Wed Oct 09, 2013 12:51 pm  

Cronus wrote:

...Turned out he had received a caution for shoplifting when he was about 12 years old, but hadn't declared it. As far as he was aware he had a completely clean record...

Which begs the question ... how did the US authorities know?

Re: US Visa / ESTA : Wed Oct 09, 2013 1:07 pm  

El Barbudo wrote: Which begs the question ... how did the US authorities know? Here's a Freedom of Information response on Access by US authorities to the Police National Computer. Must admit, at the time we thought it was very odd and that the explanation supplied above was the case regarding information sharing. I can only assume he was flagged up due to his Pakistani origins - US Immigration can request additional checks on a limited number of travellers as far as I recall. The incident took place around 2007. Of course, there may be more to it than the gentleman in question revealed...we'll never know.

El Barbudo wrote: Which begs the question ... how did the US authorities know? Here's a Freedom of Information response on Access by US authorities to the Police National Computer. Must admit, at the time we thought it was very odd and that the explanation supplied above was the case regarding information sharing. I can only assume he was flagged up due to his Pakistani origins - US Immigration can request additional checks on a limited number of travellers as far as I recall. The incident took place around 2007. Of course, there may be more to it than the gentleman in question revealed...we'll never know.

Re: US Visa / ESTA : Wed Oct 09, 2013 1:27 pm  

The ESTA declaration asks whether you have been convicted of a crime of "moral turpitude". Although the definition of this is very open to interpritation (the American's themselves can't decide definitively), I'd suggest that drunk and disorderly doesn't come under that category.

If you haven't been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, there is nothing to stop you requesting an ESTA and answering "no" to the question - which will usually grant you permission to travel.

Re: US Visa / ESTA : Thu Oct 10, 2013 6:00 am  

Slightly off tangent a bit

Have you ever had to pay to get out of country when leaving it?

Re: US Visa / ESTA : Thu Oct 10, 2013 9:15 am  

Cronus wrote: I may have posted this little story before, but when I worked for an American airline (until very recently), we were made aware of a chap in his 50s who travelled with his family. He arrived at US Immigration and was asked to step aside for an interview (if this ever happens be prepared for a looooong wait), eventually being refused entry and put on the next flight back. His family were permitted to enter. Turned out he had received a caution for shoplifting when he was about 12 years old, but hadn't declared it. As far as he was aware he had a completely clean record. I believe he was of Asian (Pakistani) origin, whether that has anything to do with it is another story. The US Embassy are pretty clear about the issue. But then they would say that. I'd declare it. You (or your friend ) don't want to arrive and be turned away. It's unlikely you'll be denied a visa for such a minor offence if that's all you've (sorry, your friend) has got. You don't need to travel anywhere - do it online at the ESTA site and don't pay more than $14 for it. Thank you for the detailed answer. My friend has no palns to go to the US in the near future but will like to one day!

Cronus wrote: I may have posted this little story before, but when I worked for an American airline (until very recently), we were made aware of a chap in his 50s who travelled with his family. He arrived at US Immigration and was asked to step aside for an interview (if this ever happens be prepared for a looooong wait), eventually being refused entry and put on the next flight back. His family were permitted to enter. Turned out he had received a caution for shoplifting when he was about 12 years old, but hadn't declared it. As far as he was aware he had a completely clean record. I believe he was of Asian (Pakistani) origin, whether that has anything to do with it is another story. The US Embassy are pretty clear about the issue. But then they would say that. I'd declare it. You (or your friend ) don't want to arrive and be turned away. It's unlikely you'll be denied a visa for such a minor offence if that's all you've (sorry, your friend) has got. You don't need to travel anywhere - do it online at the ESTA site and don't pay more than $14 for it. Thank you for the detailed answer. My friend has no palns to go to the US in the near future but will like to one day!

Re: US Visa / ESTA : Thu Oct 10, 2013 11:37 am  

Lawrie L wrote:

Slightly off tangent a bit

Have you ever had to pay to get out of country when leaving it?

When leaving Thailand a few years ago I had to hand over approx. £10 in local currency or US dollars (cash only, of course). I think they have changed that now though.

[TimperleySaint]

Re: US Visa / ESTA : Thu Oct 10, 2013 11:47 am  

I went to Thailand last year but didn't have to pay to get out - not that I had any currency left to leave them anyway!

Re: US Visa / ESTA : Thu Oct 10, 2013 12:57 pm  

EHW wrote:

When leaving Thailand a few years ago I had to hand over approx. £10 in local currency or US dollars (cash only, of course). I think they have changed that now though.

Didn't have to pay yesterday thank god! Left Bali on Monday and had to pay £7.50 to get out (150,000 in local currency) it was £17 to enter in first place