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Travelling from the UK to the USA with a criminal record

Hello guys,

I know this thread is still going and I have read through it believe me....

Rather than ask a question I just simply want to know peoples thoughts.

I was convicted of a very serious crime 10 years ago when I was 16 and spent some time in a Young Offenders Institute. Since then I have completely turned my life around and have a great job coaching young people in a school.

I was planning on ticking no on the ESTA and booking a holiday to America. I know they don't share records etc but just want to knoq what peoples opinions are about travelling with such a serious offence.

All I ever read is minor offences etc.

Thanks in advance and apologies if it pisses anyone off!

Oh and by thr way I am in the UK
 
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Chilli.s said:
Sounds like a good bit of research if nothing else. Please let us know how it goes.
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I have read so many articles, forums and other things about the subject. They all lean towards the same thing. The UK and US don't share criminal record information.

Obviously, as wth anything there is a risk involved. I just wanted to know what people thought of travelling witha serious offence as most people on the thread have travelled with minor offences.
 
Fly through Dublin or Shannon if really paranoid. They have stateside immigration there so worst case scenario is having to fly back from Ireland.

Shame they don't got that here really. I'd love to step straight off a flight from the UK without all the queues. Usually adds another hour to the whole experience. Especially if your landing coincides with another long hauler from a visa requiring country.
 
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Hey!

Last june I had an argument with my husband we called the police to had help (in my country the police help you in this cases) but they arrested my husband because my english is so bad and they believed that my husband hitted me because we were an argue because a broom that he throw to the kitchen wen I was cleaning the floor hit my elbow leaving me a tiny bruise... he was arrested with ABH but free to go with no charges and with a NFA in 20 min. We had british passports now he wants to go to the super bowl. Does he needs to declare it? Can he Just tick no in the ESTA? Do he needs to apply for a visa? We are a great family we already leave this in the past... my police officer said he doesnt have a criminal record (it was his first "problem" with the police) and the finger prints and DNA were deleted when he got the NFA but Im so worried and sick... please help me.
 
makky1113 said:
Hey!

Last june I had an argument with my husband we called the police to had help (in my country the police help you in this cases) but they arrested my husband because my english is so bad and they believed that my husband hitted me because we were an argue because a broom that he throw to the kitchen wen I was cleaning the floor hit my elbow leaving me a tiny bruise... he was arrested with ABH but free to go with no charges and with a NFA in 20 min. We had british passports now he wants to go to the super bowl. Does he needs to declare it? Can he Just tick no in the ESTA? Do he needs to apply for a visa? We are a great family we already leave this in the past... my police officer said he doesnt have a criminal record (it was his first "problem" with the police) and the finger prints and DNA were deleted when he got the NFA but Im so worried and sick... please help me.
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It's fine to click no on the ESTA.

Don't bother with the super bowl though, tickets cost $1000's and it's shite.
 
Bahnhof Strasse said:
Hope you have a lovely time then.

Btw, if this was in the UK the DNA would not be deleted, they'll keep hold of it forever regardless of NFA.
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Not true babe!!! Since 2013 they delete the DNA and fingerprints after they are arrested but not charged. Look
 

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Look this one!!! If you were arrested but not charged they delete your DNA and fingerprints the details of your arrest are the ones that you cant deleted from the PND
 

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Hi All,
Wanted to quickly write on here as I've just got back from the US and found this thread incredibly reassuring before my trip.

I was arrested and given a caution for possession of a Class A drug 2 years ago. Fingerprints etc. we're all taken at the time of arrest. This is my first and only offence.

I flew to JFK New York, from Gatwick on September 8th I only realised there was the potential to have an issue when I looked into the ESTA form a couple of weeks before my flight, so it would have been too late to go to the embassy.

On arrival after what seemed to be an eternity awaiting to see the customs officer, a couple of questions were asked regarding where we were staying and the length of trip, fingerprints and picture taken and then a hefty delightful stamp in my passport and I was told to have a nice trip.

We had a great time.
Thanks again for all previous messages with examples and advice.
 
I'd thought I would just share my experience here as today I just got back from the US embassy for my B1/2 visa application. I have a recent conviction in which I got a suspended sentence however it is on the list of moral aptitude unfortunately. I was tempted to go down the Esta route and basically lie on the form and i'm sure it would have been fine but the risks and stress of the whole thing would have been too much so I'd thought I would be a nice law abiding citizen and apply for the visa. I had genuine reason to travel as I work for two companies in the US and there is a conference on next year in which I had been invited to. I filled out all the forms and provided my criminal certificate (they wasn't interested in anything else) and waiting to be seen by the consular. Unfortunately I was denied initially due to my criminal record and the fact that it was recent. Then I was also denied a waiver recommendation under reason 214(b) which states that I didn't have strong ties to my home country (uk). I'm now kicking myself but still confused under the reason 214(b) which I had no idea about before. I needed to show that I had good enough reason to return home. I'm slightly annoyed that they didn't ask for any further documents to support this such as employment contracts, finances etc.
 
Bugger, fair dos on the criminal stuff but (assuming you are British) the second clause seems a bit odd... Do you not own a house/have family/have a job etc here?
 
Impossible to say 100%, but most likely it's the criminal record that's fucked it and the returning to the UK bit is just a handy add-on for their reason to deny the visa. Just goes to show honesty is rarely the best policy.

Hope the rejection doesn't affect your work, if your company inquires why you can't travel to the US tell 'em your name is similar to one on the no-fly list and you can't be bothered to go through the hoops to get it taken cleared.
 
Goomertron said:
I'd thought I would just share my experience here as today I just got back from the US embassy for my B1/2 visa application. I have a recent conviction in which I got a suspended sentence however it is on the list of moral aptitude unfortunately. I was tempted to go down the Esta route and basically lie on the form and i'm sure it would have been fine but the risks and stress of the whole thing would have been too much so I'd thought I would be a nice law abiding citizen and apply for the visa. I had genuine reason to travel as I work for two companies in the US and there is a conference on next year in which I had been invited to. I filled out all the forms and provided my criminal certificate (they wasn't interested in anything else) and waiting to be seen by the consular. Unfortunately I was denied initially due to my criminal record and the fact that it was recent. Then I was also denied a waiver recommendation under reason 214(b) which states that I didn't have strong ties to my home country (uk). I'm now kicking myself but still confused under the reason 214(b) which I had no idea about before. I needed to show that I had good enough reason to return home. I'm slightly annoyed that they didn't ask for any further documents to support this such as employment contracts, finances etc.
Click to expand...
If you were a "nice law abiding citizen" you wouldn't be in this mess!
 
Hi all,
this february I was sentenced to 60 hours of unpaid work and was given a fine of £195 for possession of a weapon (knuckleduster and a pepper spray). Im not British, but European studying in England and I want to apply for a J-1 Visa this year. Do you think that there is a possibility they won't deny my application? Thanks for your answers.
 
Hey folks, I was very weary about just chancing it and was gonna visit the US embassy and apply for a visa a declare everything but in the end went for chance. I ain't proud of it but I have 19 convictions from the last 13 years, 3 years ago I was released from prison for 3x House Breakings and I sailed through customs without a 2nd look!!! So who knows if US Customs or the States Dept have criminal info on UK citizens or not. Maybe it's just hit or miss??!!

I visited Charlotte in North Carolina just this year.
 
Last_Of_The_V8s said:
Hey folks, I was very weary about just chancing it and was gonna visit the US embassy and apply for a visa a declare everything but in the end went for chance. I ain't proud of it but I have 19 convictions from the last 13 years, 3 years ago I was released from prison for 3x House Breakings and I sailed through customs without a 2nd look!!! So who knows if US Customs or the States Dept have criminal info on UK citizens or not. Maybe it's just hit or miss??!!

I visited Charlotte in North Carolina just this year.
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Is home security better or worse in the USA?
 
Hey everyone
Reaaaally long thread. I have had a good read through but would still like some reassurance from you kind people ☺️
I am wanting to book a dual destination holiday for my partners 30th, going in March 2017.

I am worried sick as I have committed 2/3 offences. The first two (although I think only the second one counts) are minor shoplifting offences committed around seven years ago. Both times I paid a fine and that was that. Will this count as a proper offence and it this moral turpitude? I have read many definitions of the term and can't work it out.

The second offence is ridiculous. I was taken to court and fined £600 for not paying a £9 fare to work on Virgin Trains. It is classed as a criminal record although the police where never actually involved and it was a private company prosecuting me. This happened just over a year ago. Is this moral turpitude? Again, I have absolutely no idea.

Anyway, what shall I do? I am 28 and a morally decent person. I want to book this holiday as a surprise for my partner and have found a really good deal but I am terrified to book in case I get turned away and it ruins the whole trip. We really couldn't afford to lose the money and I would obviously be devastated if the worst happened.

Any advice would be MUCH appreciated ☺️

Thanks in advance
 
BenOSull said:
Hi All,
Wanted to quickly write on here as I've just got back from the US and found this thread incredibly reassuring before my trip.

I was arrested and given a caution for possession of a Class A drug 2 years ago. Fingerprints etc. we're all taken at the time of arrest. This is my first and only offence.

I flew to JFK New York, from Gatwick on September 8th I only realised there was the potential to have an issue when I looked into the ESTA form a couple of weeks before my flight, so it would have been too late to go to the embassy.

On arrival after what seemed to be an eternity awaiting to see the customs officer, a couple of questions were asked regarding where we were staying and the length of trip, fingerprints and picture taken and then a hefty delightful stamp in my passport and I was told to have a nice trip.

We had a great time.
Thanks again for all previous messages with examples and advice.
Click to expand...

What actually happened when you got there? Did they mention the offence at all or did they have no idea? Your story seems similar to mine but I would imagine that the US might think a drug charge more serious than petty shoplifting. Although they did take my fingerprints one time.

Thanks ☺️
 
The Staff at American airports do not have access to the UK police national computer (although they can apply to the home office for information on individuals but that takes time and can not be done by airport staff, customs TSA etc). The TSA use a system called CAPPS (a passenger prescreening system) so if they think you are not eligible to be landed you will not be allowed to fly in the first place.
 
1%er said:
The Staff at American airports do not have access to the UK police national computer (although they can apply to the home office for information on individuals but that takes time and can not be done by airport staff, customs TSA etc). The TSA use a system called CAPPS (a passenger prescreening system) so if they think you are not eligible to be landed you will not be allowed to fly in the first place.
Click to expand...

So do you think from what I have told you that would apply to me??

Thanks ☺️
 
Is there no way we can have a stickie on this thread?

Apply for an ESTA in advance. Tick no on the form they give you on the plane. Be polite, have enough cash for your stay, a return plane ticket and an address that you'll be staying at. Unless you are a master criminal on the international most wanted list, it doesn't matter what crime you committed. They don't know about it.

Anyway, I really wouldn't go to the States at the moment - the exchange rate is brutal.
 
scully87 said:
So do you think from what I have told you that would apply to me??

Thanks ☺️
Click to expand...
My advise to you would be he same as @trashpony above.

Never admit anything to public officials, let me give you a simple example; if you are asked by a customs officer or police officer "have you ever taken drugs" and you answer "yes, years ago when I was younger" or "yes, but not for years" you have just given them reasonable suspicion to detain and search you, as you have made an admission of law breaking, albeit in the past. It is considered reasonable to suspect that someone who has admitted breaking the law once, that they may do it again, if you answer no, then it is not considered reasonable to assume that someone who has never broken the law will start on that day.
 
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