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Travelling from the UK to the USA with a criminal record

Arrived safe and sound yesterday, after a queue of over n hour at JFk finally got to immigration and breed through. Was a bit worried as the agent didn't want to take my photo, unlike everyone else. He didn't say why, but I was waiting for a tap on the shoulder as I walked off, and an invitation to join them in secondary!
 
Interesting in an effort to speed things up, those who have been admitted previously on an ESTA were being waved through into the US citizen line!
 
Have a great time in US of A!
Hasn't stopped raining torrentially yet, the Pumpkin flotilla in Central Park had to be cancelled and we've spent a fortune trying to keep 2 9 year olds entertained in the rain! haven't seen a skyscraper yet as the visibility has been so poor all day we can only see bottom 30 floors!
 
Hasn't stopped raining torrentially yet, the Pumpkin flotilla in Central Park had to be cancelled and we've spent a fortune trying to keep 2 9 year olds entertained in the rain! haven't seen a skyscraper yet as the visibility has been so poor all day we can only see bottom 30 floors!
Boo!
 
Hello, I have browsed through the forum and have picked up on a lot of useful information, however I feel as if it does not apply to me as much, as my case is very specific and complex to be compared to others. I apologise in advance if I have missed some information in the forum that does in fact apply to my situation. My situation is that I received a caution for possession of substance b (marijuana) 3 years ago in the United Kingdom while I was a student at a university there. I had a visa to study in the United Kingdom, so I myself am not from the UK. I am now in the process of receiving a job in the USA, thus I require a US working visa. I feel as if that in my case, there are many variables that cannot be compared to, so I feel quite vulnerable on applying for the work visa, vulnerability such as, would the UK embassy share information to the US embassy in regards to myself, or perhaps the fact that I am originally from saudi arabia, they might be more fixated on me due to all of the horrific tragedies terrorists have inflicted onto others internationally. I myself have never lived in a middle eastern country but in europe instead, i am quite western, however I feel that these variables wouldnt matter to them but instead that I, a saudi, may be stereotyped compared to others, thus alarming them which may lead for them to make a further background criminal check, including the UK. My question is therefore, do I have the same odds as everyone else, or are mine much much slimmer. I really do appreciate the time for anyone to answer. Thank you.

I honestly have no idea.

I'm not sure I'd want to go and work in America with that megalomaniac in power if I were Saudi!
 
Hi everyone, I have convictions for possession with intent to supply of cannabis, possession of a class A, burglary and theft from 22 years ago, when I was a teenager. I got three months in a young offenders' institution. If I go the ESTA route and lie on it, do you think my convictions will show?
 
Hi everyone, I have convictions for possession with intent to supply of cannabis, possession of a class A, burglary and theft from 22 years ago, when I was a teenager. I got three months in a young offenders' institution. If I go the ESTA route and lie on it, do you think my convictions will show?
Read the last 10 pages of the thread, and make a wild guess... :)
 
Hi everyone, I have convictions for possession with intent to supply of cannabis, possession of a class A, burglary and theft from 22 years ago, when I was a teenager. I got three months in a young offenders' institution. If I go the ESTA route and lie on it, do you think my convictions will show?
You got a choice as everyone has, lie on the ESTA and keep fingers crossed that you get on. The ESTA will almost certainly be approved and the chances of being found out are as close to zero as you an get as already explained as the UK do not share records with the US unless a request is made through Interpol and that aint gonna happen.

Or, you can tell the truth on ESTA form and it WILL be rejected and you will have to go down the VISA route. If you do that you WILL have to disclose your record, and the chances of getting a VISA are 0%,

Up to you!
 
Thanks everyone - so you don't think it's an issue that some of the crimes involve 'moral turpitude'? I don't see how it would affect access to records, but saw some comments on this thread that it might.
 
Visa route - 99% certainty of rejection and barring for a decade( assuming you decide to play the honesty card and rely on compassion and clemency - it doesnt work BTW)
ESTA route -99% certainty of getting in ( assuming you have everything in order, have money & are not some kind of wanker at the border)
 
I have a conviction for moral turpitude I was given a six month sentence which I only served nine day can I get into the us. It have been 10 years since my conviction
 
Have a couple of conviction 25+ years ago - relatively minor but over the MT threshold. Breezed through JFK on ESTA.

However, what I would say is that the anxiety for the previous couple of weeks, right up to going through, was a complete nightmare. If I'd been pulled and denied entry it would have killed the holiday for the family as everything was booked in my name.

If I'd had the time (last minute surprise thing) I'd have gone the VISA route - you never know when you're going to be the subject of a random check (or if they change the access rules to PNC). Also, now in a quandary for if I to go the VISA route next time I'm now going to have to answer some tough questions about why I went ESTA this time.

Upshot is, if you have time and not had anything dodgy for a while - go VISA before booking your holiday. Save yourself some seriously sleepless night.
 
Have a couple of conviction 25+ years ago - relatively minor but over the MT threshold. Breezed through JFK on ESTA.

However, what I would say is that the anxiety for the previous couple of weeks, right up to going through, was a complete nightmare. If I'd been pulled and denied entry it would have killed the holiday for the family as everything was booked in my name.

If I'd had the time (last minute surprise thing) I'd have gone the VISA route - you never know when you're going to be the subject of a random check (or if they change the access rules to PNC). Also, now in a quandary for if I to go the VISA route next time I'm now going to have to answer some tough questions about why I went ESTA this time.

Upshot is, if you have time and not had anything dodgy for a while - go VISA before booking your holiday. Save yourself some seriously sleepless night.

If your conviction is old there will be no way, even with an enhanced check that the US authorities can find out about it. That can only happen if you tell them, which you would if you declared it and that WOULD bar you from entry, doubly so as you have already lied on an ESTA.

Unless your conviction was quite serious and resulted in multiple years of incarceration then an ESTA with NO boxes ticket will be fine.
 
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Have a couple of conviction 25+ years ago - relatively minor but over the MT threshold. Breezed through JFK on ESTA.

However, what I would say is that the anxiety for the previous couple of weeks, right up to going through, was a complete nightmare. If I'd been pulled and denied entry it would have killed the holiday for the family as everything was booked in my name.

If I'd had the time (last minute surprise thing) I'd have gone the VISA route - you never know when you're going to be the subject of a random check (or if they change the access rules to PNC). Also, now in a quandary for if I to go the VISA route next time I'm now going to have to answer some tough questions about why I went ESTA this time.

Upshot is, if you have time and not had anything dodgy for a while - go VISA before booking your holiday. Save yourself some seriously sleepless night.
Seriously folks do not follow this advice! If you go the VISA route and have convictions you will NOT be granted a VISA!
 
It does work for the vast majority of times (in 2015 <0.5% of arrivals were denied entry). However, you don't know how many get caught by random checks (they do happen). You also don't know (won't know) when there will be an agreement to give live access to the PNC - the technology is there, it's just a matter of politics (they won't give us access to theirs so they don't get it to ours - this may change - and you can guarantee they'll keep it quiet when it does).

To clarify, as it's not an absolute given that you're going to get through (incredibly small chance granted) and if your holiday is massively expensive and you have old minor convictions, save yourself the anxiety and go VISA if you can. I've known people with old drugs convictions (minor possession) being granted waivers. From what I've read elsewhere, unless you have recent serious convictions you should be fine. It's just a massive pain in the arse.

It's a matter of weighing up the risks v consequences (for me - considerable). If you're not arsed, go for it and enjoy.
 
It does work for the vast majority of times (in 2015 <0.5% of arrivals were denied entry).
Yes, because a lot of people decided to apply for a Visa and didn't even get that far.

However, you don't know how many get caught by random checks (they do happen).
What evidence of this is there? How are they carrying out these 'random checks' given they don't have access to the PNC?

You also don't know (won't know) when there will be an agreement to give live access to the PNC - the technology is there, it's just a matter of politics (they won't give us access to theirs so they don't get it to ours - this may change - and you can guarantee they'll keep it quiet when it does).
Evidence?

To clarify, as it's not an absolute given that you're going to get through (incredibly small chance granted) and if your holiday is massively expensive and you have old minor convictions, save yourself the anxiety and go VISA if you can. I've known people with old drugs convictions (minor possession) being granted waivers. From what I've read elsewhere, unless you have recent serious convictions you should be fine. It's just a massive pain in the arse.

It is an absolute given you'll get through if you tick no. It really isn't if anyone follows your idiotic advice. You do appear to be the first person to come along in years with 'honesty is really the best policy' advice so I commend you for that.
 
(they won't give us access to theirs so they don't get it to ours - this may change - and you can guarantee they'll keep it quiet when it does).
Except it’ll be obvious when ESTAs are being swiftly rejected in the cases of applicants with checkered pasts they themselves have not disclosed.
 
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