keybored
Well done. You remember cat good.
"It wasn't moral turpitude, is was normal turpentine. *hic*"
Travelling from the UK to the USA with a criminal record
- Thread starter slish66
- Start date
"It wasn't moral turpitude, is was normal turpentine. *hic*"
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
The question now says the conviction has to have "resulted in serious damage to property or serious harm to another person or government agency"
If the DD conviction did none of those, then answering no is perfectly correct.
Love the way property comes first in the list of things they are worried about being damaged.
I really think in this case it's likely to be the ME travel as that's connected to the passport so it's reasonable to assume they might know that. The notion that they are trawling everyone's arrest records back to 2013 is not really believable.
If the DD conviction did none of those, then answering no is perfectly correct.
Love the way property comes first in the list of things they are worried about being damaged.
I really think in this case it's likely to be the ME travel as that's connected to the passport so it's reasonable to assume they might know that. The notion that they are trawling everyone's arrest records back to 2013 is not really believable.
skyscraper101
0891 50 50 50
So you overstayed 10 years ago. You didn't mention this. Did you declare it in the past or did they find out some other way?
It had totally slipped my mind. It was visible to them at the consulate.
It was approved at the embassy, now in processing.
skyscraper101
0891 50 50 50
But had you ever declared it in the past, or had it acknowledged in any way?
Presumably you had applied for, and had approved, ESTAs within the last 10 years, so I'm interested as to what happened.
JimW
支那暗杀团
Nice one for reporting back! And glad you got in.
No, I'd not declared it at all. Im not sure how this has happened either but I am, of course, very grateful.
Could I pick your brain on the typical processing time now? I had my interview on Friday and the interviewer confirmed it was approved, now the status says administrative processing. Heard horror stories on this
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
Yeah you didn't mention that! Every country takes overstaying visas seriously but...they've let you back in since.
God knows what the logic of it all is!
Im not sure but they acknowledged that was the issue but granted at time of interview anywayYeah you didn't mention that! Every country takes overstaying visas seriously but...they've let you back in since.
God knows what the logic of it all is!
skyscraper101
0891 50 50 50
I'm not entirely sure, but mine didn't take long. This was in 2013 though so.. things may have changed.
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Just cancel all flights to the states. Or bin this thread. Whichever is easier
Southern99
New Member
Hello all. I got a possession charge for controlled substances last year, which culminated in a meeting with a magistrate and a fine. No previous history. I’ve been reading the forum for a year but time has gone quickly. I have an important meeting in the US coming up soon. I’ve said negative on the esta to all the silly questions. Can some kind soul from the UK with a similar staus, please confirm they’ve been to the US in 2019 with no problems? I’m starting to worry, although I’m sure it will be ok.
Charlie Manson
Member
Do you work for US border control?
Southern99
New Member
As U75 was a source that brought me great comfort, it's my duty to feedback.
Landing in US, I had to go through a computer terminal to scan my passport, take a photo and prints, then into a queue to see the immigration officer. I got asked two questions - business/vacation and where are you staying. The guy barely looked up, stamped my passport and that was it.
As everybody here has said, theres no route integration with UK police intelligence. Be confident. Make sure you have your reason for visit well prepared. Take zero risks. I even removed my lens wipes from hand luggage. And, you'll be just fine.
Landing in US, I had to go through a computer terminal to scan my passport, take a photo and prints, then into a queue to see the immigration officer. I got asked two questions - business/vacation and where are you staying. The guy barely looked up, stamped my passport and that was it.
As everybody here has said, theres no route integration with UK police intelligence. Be confident. Make sure you have your reason for visit well prepared. Take zero risks. I even removed my lens wipes from hand luggage. And, you'll be just fine.
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TEMPACCT2019
New Member
Hey! Having just returned from an incredible trip to NYC, I just wanted to come and leave some feedback as this thread offered me so much good advice and comfort when I needed it.
I realised a week before travelling that my spent conviction - a "theft from employer" conditional discharge from the start of 2007 - might cause problems and having trawled the internet for info nearly cancelled the trip. Especially given that there was some press coverage of what happened to me, which would be publicly accessible. But I had absolutely no problems whatsoever getting in to the US - in fact, the last time I went in 2006 was a lot more touch-and-go (post-9/11).
There was no form to fill in on the plane, just the ESTA, in which I could answer honest nos to all questions. The immigration officer asked me I think 2 further questions (where are you staying, how long for) and I was immediately waved me through. Absolutely no problem, absolutely no sense that they have access to any police info. It was totally, totally fine.
Sincerest thanks to everyone who's left feedback in this thread. I didn't sleep at all for 2 consecutive nights when I realised what was going on and how I might still have a problem despite it being a spent conviction but having found through this thread I finally got some sleep. I also made a list of all the comments from people saying it would be fine and sharing their experiences, then whenever I got really stressed I read back through all those comments and it was a life-saver.
THANK YOU!
I realised a week before travelling that my spent conviction - a "theft from employer" conditional discharge from the start of 2007 - might cause problems and having trawled the internet for info nearly cancelled the trip. Especially given that there was some press coverage of what happened to me, which would be publicly accessible. But I had absolutely no problems whatsoever getting in to the US - in fact, the last time I went in 2006 was a lot more touch-and-go (post-9/11).
There was no form to fill in on the plane, just the ESTA, in which I could answer honest nos to all questions. The immigration officer asked me I think 2 further questions (where are you staying, how long for) and I was immediately waved me through. Absolutely no problem, absolutely no sense that they have access to any police info. It was totally, totally fine.
Sincerest thanks to everyone who's left feedback in this thread. I didn't sleep at all for 2 consecutive nights when I realised what was going on and how I might still have a problem despite it being a spent conviction but having found through this thread I finally got some sleep. I also made a list of all the comments from people saying it would be fine and sharing their experiences, then whenever I got really stressed I read back through all those comments and it was a life-saver.
THANK YOU!
skyscraper101
0891 50 50 50
Another satisfied customer. The urban75 'UK to the USA with a criminal record' thread. Since 2006.
Itsjapatti
New Member
So this forum has been fantastic to look through and il be putting the 'hope for the best' approach to the test on the 18th of may.
Got a couple cannabis cautions, been sectioned previously and recieved a conviction for possession of cannabis.
Lets hope it works i suppose, seems to be pretty hit or miss but seems its worth a try.
My only concern is il be going through Vegas, which someone mentioned previously that they werent successful there.
Il update with how it goes.
Got a couple cannabis cautions, been sectioned previously and recieved a conviction for possession of cannabis.
Lets hope it works i suppose, seems to be pretty hit or miss but seems its worth a try.
My only concern is il be going through Vegas, which someone mentioned previously that they werent successful there.
Il update with how it goes.
So, firstly, sorry for intruding on your site just to comment on this thread! But I think I have some interesting information to share.
I used to travel a couple times a year to visit my aunt in California - never had a criminal record at this point but over the last couple of years I've been arrested on 3 separate occasions (Last time in March 2018 & never charged or convicted, just one caution) and haven't travelled since. Long story shorter, I spent hours looking through this thread and thought 'f*ck it', renewed my passport, answered 'no' on all ESTA questions because I decided none of my arrests were for anything 'serious' (approved) and booked my flights feeling pretty chill.
Then.... over this bank holiday weekend, I got talking to a friend of a friend in a beer garden and coincidentially he mentioned when he went to Vegas last year with his mates, he was 'flagged up red' at a kiosk at LAS and taken for secondary questioning. Turns out he had been arrested for a drunken brawl a couple of year back. He told the cutoms officer he didn't realise it was serious enough to have answered 'yes' to on ESTA form but the officer claimed that wasn't the issue as the guy had also previously been arrestted for fraud. My 'friend of a friend' then went on to explain this was a complete misunderstanding on the police's behalf AND HE WAS LET IN TO THE COUNTRY! That's all it took.
Found it pretty bizarre as I'd never heard of anything like that happening, neither here or on other forums, especially with the reitterated advice that the U.S and U.K don't share criminal records.... then remembered reading about that family that got deported and ended up in the daily mail on here. I know it's only two instances but does anyone reckon in recent years that people are only getting flagged up if their arrests relate to financial morality/arrests relating to such?
I'm not stressing about my own situation, flight prices have gotton ridicuously cheap for me since I last went, if I'm deported, I'm deported and I'll just have to never leave the country ever again
but thought it was an interesting anecdote to share.
I used to travel a couple times a year to visit my aunt in California - never had a criminal record at this point but over the last couple of years I've been arrested on 3 separate occasions (Last time in March 2018 & never charged or convicted, just one caution) and haven't travelled since. Long story shorter, I spent hours looking through this thread and thought 'f*ck it', renewed my passport, answered 'no' on all ESTA questions because I decided none of my arrests were for anything 'serious' (approved) and booked my flights feeling pretty chill.
Then.... over this bank holiday weekend, I got talking to a friend of a friend in a beer garden and coincidentially he mentioned when he went to Vegas last year with his mates, he was 'flagged up red' at a kiosk at LAS and taken for secondary questioning. Turns out he had been arrested for a drunken brawl a couple of year back. He told the cutoms officer he didn't realise it was serious enough to have answered 'yes' to on ESTA form but the officer claimed that wasn't the issue as the guy had also previously been arrestted for fraud. My 'friend of a friend' then went on to explain this was a complete misunderstanding on the police's behalf AND HE WAS LET IN TO THE COUNTRY! That's all it took.
Found it pretty bizarre as I'd never heard of anything like that happening, neither here or on other forums, especially with the reitterated advice that the U.S and U.K don't share criminal records.... then remembered reading about that family that got deported and ended up in the daily mail on here. I know it's only two instances but does anyone reckon in recent years that people are only getting flagged up if their arrests relate to financial morality/arrests relating to such?
I'm not stressing about my own situation, flight prices have gotton ridicuously cheap for me since I last went, if I'm deported, I'm deported and I'll just have to never leave the country ever again
but thought it was an interesting anecdote to share.
skyscraper101
0891 50 50 50
I went to Miami the other day and for the first time ever they didn’t even bother to stamp my passport at immigration which I thought was most odd.
I also saw Will Smith shooting a scene for Bad Boys 3 but that's another story.
I also saw Will Smith shooting a scene for Bad Boys 3 but that's another story.
Itsjapatti
New Member
So a quick update for those wondering.
Despite a list of cautions for a variety of things and a conviction for possession, i walked through vegas customs with ease. Only question i was asked is how long am i there for. Took my prints, scanned my passport and photographed me and let me straight through.
I hope this brings a bit of comfort to whoever finds themselves in a similar situation.
Thanks to everyone who contributed with their experiences, it helped my nerves massively and ultimately got me where i needed to be.
Despite a list of cautions for a variety of things and a conviction for possession, i walked through vegas customs with ease. Only question i was asked is how long am i there for. Took my prints, scanned my passport and photographed me and let me straight through.
I hope this brings a bit of comfort to whoever finds themselves in a similar situation.
Thanks to everyone who contributed with their experiences, it helped my nerves massively and ultimately got me where i needed to be.
JimW
支那暗杀团
Thanks for reporting back Itsjapatti, always appreciated.
So...lurked here whilst doing research. Arrested back in 2011 for possession class B and got a police caution.
After taking advice in this thread, filled in Esta, answered no to everything and duly walked through NY immigration no probs; all fingers printed and retinas scanned. Now sat in Manhattan sipping a Peroni.
Like the man says, stop worrying and enjoy your holiday.
Big ups to you all. X
After taking advice in this thread, filled in Esta, answered no to everything and duly walked through NY immigration no probs; all fingers printed and retinas scanned. Now sat in Manhattan sipping a Peroni.
Like the man says, stop worrying and enjoy your holiday.
Big ups to you all. X
Charlie Manson
Member
Recently returned from another trip to the states, immigration was the usual circus for everyone in the terminal, we were in the esta returning que, some in our party had the finger print and retina scan, he just looked at my passport and waved me through
So the usual advice, terms and conditions in the thread still apply.
Keep your head down and don't worry.
So the usual advice, terms and conditions in the thread still apply.
Keep your head down and don't worry.
freebird1981
New Member
General advise on here appears to be "say no and go"...
We know the US currently don't have direct access to the PNC, however what are your thoughts on this changing in the future? If this access is ever granted it could pose serious issues for everyone who has previously falsely ticked no in the ESTA.
It surely doesn't seem too far fetched in this technological age that such real-time information sharing systems become commonplace for general travel between countries. Also, if an unthinkable terrorist attack occurred I'd imagine it wouldn't be long until implementation of something like this is stepped up.
We know the US currently don't have direct access to the PNC, however what are your thoughts on this changing in the future? If this access is ever granted it could pose serious issues for everyone who has previously falsely ticked no in the ESTA.
It surely doesn't seem too far fetched in this technological age that such real-time information sharing systems become commonplace for general travel between countries. Also, if an unthinkable terrorist attack occurred I'd imagine it wouldn't be long until implementation of something like this is stepped up.
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