Travelling from the UK to the USA with a criminal record
- Thread starter slish66
- Start date
Okay...here's one for you. My other half was convicted in 2007 for GBH, (self defence but still got charged) he got sentanced a year but only spent 3 months in jail, got out on good behaviour. Anyway....when he was released in December 2008 he tried to see if he could enter the US. He obviously lied when filling out the visa waiver form on the plane and when he landed, he went straight through....since then me and him have been on many holidays to US just by him ticking 'No' in the criminal conviction box, yet this year his ESTA flagged up denied as we were just about to check in to a flight to NY. Needless to say we couldn't board and they said that he now needs to apply for a visa through the US Embassy.....now we think the reason his ESTA got flagged was, when he was last in the US he got caught going through a fast track toll without paying and he got a fine on his rental car, which was connected to his passport....unfortunately he forgot to pay the fine straight away and they had to chase him for payment. Not good. It's paid now...but do you think that's what caused the denial on the ESTA?
That's actually not even my question.....so fast forward a few weeks and he has now arranged an interview for a Visa at the US Embassy. He filled out the DS-160 and arranged an interview...unfortunately....he lied again. He ticked 'No' on the criminal convictions.
When he had his interview they asked him 3 times if he had any convictions and he denied, denied, denied.....then they brought up that it says in thier system he was arrested in 2007. Whoops.
They then told him that it could be a mistake and that all he needs to do is get an ACRO from the police and send it into the Embassy to show that his record is clear....which of course....it's not! He's really dug himself intoa deep dark hole here...but my question is, what should he do now? Can he just reapply again but be honest this time round? Or is it too late...as he's lied so much. Also now he has logged a request for a VISA and they are now waiting for thsi ACRO...whats going to happen if he doesn't send it in?
Really stuck here...as we have so many friends in the US and I can't bare the thought he will never be able to go out there again?
That's actually not even my question.....so fast forward a few weeks and he has now arranged an interview for a Visa at the US Embassy. He filled out the DS-160 and arranged an interview...unfortunately....he lied again. He ticked 'No' on the criminal convictions.
When he had his interview they asked him 3 times if he had any convictions and he denied, denied, denied.....then they brought up that it says in thier system he was arrested in 2007. Whoops.
They then told him that it could be a mistake and that all he needs to do is get an ACRO from the police and send it into the Embassy to show that his record is clear....which of course....it's not! He's really dug himself intoa deep dark hole here...but my question is, what should he do now? Can he just reapply again but be honest this time round? Or is it too late...as he's lied so much. Also now he has logged a request for a VISA and they are now waiting for thsi ACRO...whats going to happen if he doesn't send it in?
Really stuck here...as we have so many friends in the US and I can't bare the thought he will never be able to go out there again?
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Go somewhere else.
He's fucked unless he can come up with a good reason for bullshitting the US embassy and making false declarations.
Ask them to move to Canada.
TruXta
tired
He should've fessed up immediately the first time you went after his sentencing. You don't get barred from entering the USA automatically even if you do have a record, it depends entirely on the sentence, what it was for etc. Seeing as he's repeatedly misled US Immigration that in itself will be a much graver infraction than simply having a conviction and confessing to it. He can try now, certainly, but I'd say the chances are very slim indeed.
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Chances are if he'd told the truth they'd have issued him a visa or told him to try again in 1/2/3 years, but they take a piss-poor view of people who lie in interviews.
What's more interesting here is that the US government seems to have a "system" which accurately informed them that he'd been arrested in 2007.
What's more interesting here is that the US government seems to have a "system" which accurately informed them that he'd been arrested in 2007.
TruXta
tired
The US Embassy in the UK does share info with UK plod, pretty sure Joe Schmoe working the immigration desk at JFK won't have any info on you from UK plod unless you're a wanted criminal by the Interpol or similar.
Yes...apparently when they scanned his passport basic criminal information came up. Just that he was arrested and the date of arrest, nothing else.
cormega
New Member
Okay...here's one for you. My other half was convicted in 2007 for GBH, (self defence but still got charged) he got sentanced a year but only spent 3 months in jail, got out on good behaviour. Anyway....when he was released in December 2008 he tried to see if he could enter the US. He obviously lied when filling out the visa waiver form on the plane and when he landed, he went straight through....since then me and him have been on many holidays to US just by him ticking 'No' in the criminal conviction box, yet this year his ESTA flagged up denied as we were just about to check in to a flight to NY. Needless to say we couldn't board and they said that he now needs to apply for a visa through the US Embassy.....now we think the reason his ESTA got flagged was, when he was last in the US he got caught going through a fast track toll without paying and he got a fine on his rental car, which was connected to his passport....unfortunately he forgot to pay the fine straight away and they had to chase him for payment. Not good. It's paid now...but do you think that's what caused the denial on the ESTA?
That's actually not even my question.....so fast forward a few weeks and he has now arranged an interview for a Visa at the US Embassy. He filled out the DS-160 and arranged an interview...unfortunately....he lied again. He ticked 'No' on the criminal convictions.
When he had his interview they asked him 3 times if he had any convictions and he denied, denied, denied.....then they brought up that it says in thier system he was arrested in 2007. Whoops.
They then told him that it could be a mistake and that all he needs to do is get an ACRO from the police and send it into the Embassy to show that his record is clear....which of course....it's not! He's really dug himself intoa deep dark hole here...but my question is, what should he do now? Can he just reapply again but be honest this time round? Or is it too late...as he's lied so much. Also now he has logged a request for a VISA and they are now waiting for thsi ACRO...whats going to happen if he doesn't send it in?
Really stuck here...as we have so many friends in the US and I can't bare the thought he will never be able to go out there again?
Sounds like him going through the toll without paying was start of his ending. If you get in you have to make sure that you keep your nose clean. Any Embassy in the UK can and will do checks on you with regards to any visa issues.
davedonuts
New Member
OK here's my story.. I've been going out with a lovely girl for a couple of years now and we got engaged last month. I really love this girl so much, and I get on great with her parents and family. Her parents have paid for my girlfriend and I to go to California with them on a month long fly drive holiday. Everyone is so excited about it, and talk about it constantly. It will break my girlfriends heart if I cant go, and God knows what her parents will think of me if I get refused entry. The problem is I've got a secret past that i'm not proud of, and never tell anyone, including my girlfriend.
After completing my A'levels in 1990 I started a career as a commercial underwriter for an insurance company. After 7 years I decided I needed more out of life and decided to go traveling around the world for a year. I'd never been arrested in my life at this point.
I did the usual Thailand, Australia, New Zealand thing, and then went to Brazil for a couple of months before returning to the UK. Like most backpackers in their 20's I was partying a lot. When I got to Brazil the drinking was replaced by cocaine use. I got a real taste for it and stupidly decided to strap a kilo of it to my body to use and sell when I got home. I got caught at customs in Rio and ended up serving just over 5 years in jail in Brazil - 5 years of hell. Drugs were easily available in prison, and I used coke daily to help me through my time in this hell-hole.
When I got back to the UK i decided to stop taking coke and rebuild my life. This wasn't easy with all the flashbacks of murders and torture etc in prison, so I ended up taking coke again.. obviously addicted. Anyway, coke makes you do strange things and i got caught in 2004 sat in a parked car, high on coke, with a pair of ladies tights over my head and a vibrator up my bum. I only got a warning the first time, but unbelievably I got caught again doing the same thing 4 months later and got put on probation. I completed my 12 months probation without a hitch, but then got caught while high on coke breaking into a ladies underwear shop with a vibrator up my bum. I got sent to prison for 2 years, but only served 1 year exactly. I have since been to rehab, been off drugs and even given up smoking for 6 years now, and have found Jesus.
I just cant tell my girlfriend and her family about my past, for obvious reasons. There is no way I can get out of this holiday and so I guess I'm just going to have to try my luck and tick "no" on the form. Have I got a good chance of getting away with it or do you think I'll definitely get refused entry? I just don't know what to do, I feel like I cant win . None of my crimes were violent and they all happened when I was mentally unwell due to taking far too much cocaine.
After completing my A'levels in 1990 I started a career as a commercial underwriter for an insurance company. After 7 years I decided I needed more out of life and decided to go traveling around the world for a year. I'd never been arrested in my life at this point.
I did the usual Thailand, Australia, New Zealand thing, and then went to Brazil for a couple of months before returning to the UK. Like most backpackers in their 20's I was partying a lot. When I got to Brazil the drinking was replaced by cocaine use. I got a real taste for it and stupidly decided to strap a kilo of it to my body to use and sell when I got home. I got caught at customs in Rio and ended up serving just over 5 years in jail in Brazil - 5 years of hell. Drugs were easily available in prison, and I used coke daily to help me through my time in this hell-hole.
When I got back to the UK i decided to stop taking coke and rebuild my life. This wasn't easy with all the flashbacks of murders and torture etc in prison, so I ended up taking coke again.. obviously addicted. Anyway, coke makes you do strange things and i got caught in 2004 sat in a parked car, high on coke, with a pair of ladies tights over my head and a vibrator up my bum. I only got a warning the first time, but unbelievably I got caught again doing the same thing 4 months later and got put on probation. I completed my 12 months probation without a hitch, but then got caught while high on coke breaking into a ladies underwear shop with a vibrator up my bum. I got sent to prison for 2 years, but only served 1 year exactly. I have since been to rehab, been off drugs and even given up smoking for 6 years now, and have found Jesus.
I just cant tell my girlfriend and her family about my past, for obvious reasons. There is no way I can get out of this holiday and so I guess I'm just going to have to try my luck and tick "no" on the form. Have I got a good chance of getting away with it or do you think I'll definitely get refused entry? I just don't know what to do, I feel like I cant win . None of my crimes were violent and they all happened when I was mentally unwell due to taking far too much cocaine.
Maurice Picarda
Actually, might as well flounce.
2/10, Donuts. Show more restraint next time. You over-egg the lily.
jakethesnake
In bed for Britain
Welcome to the boards dave donuts! I hope you stick around - i for one look forward to your contributions to the knobbin and sobbin threads.
editor
hiraethified
I've been watching a few of these cheapo TV shows where they film airport customs staff interviewing people coming in.
The general rule appears to be that is that if you're polite, don't draw attention to yourself in the queue and don't carry anything suspicious with you (e.g. strange coloured pills or a US employer's letter saying, "we can't wait for you to come and work with us!"), and have enough financial means to support yourself - and a return flight booked home - you're unlikely to become a cropper.
There's still a chance of course, but they're unlikely to start calling up the UK for details about a possible criminal record unless you've caught their eye.
The general rule appears to be that is that if you're polite, don't draw attention to yourself in the queue and don't carry anything suspicious with you (e.g. strange coloured pills or a US employer's letter saying, "we can't wait for you to come and work with us!"), and have enough financial means to support yourself - and a return flight booked home - you're unlikely to become a cropper.
There's still a chance of course, but they're unlikely to start calling up the UK for details about a possible criminal record unless you've caught their eye.
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Smuggle some coke onto the flight and snort two fat ones just before you reach US customs.
It'll do wonders for your alertness, repartee, and wit, and will make the customs guys think you're so interesting that not letting you in would be a travesty, and a great loss to the the people of America.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
So tights on head and a dildo up the gary may not be the best style in which to arrive in America?
Hi- Apologies if this has already been answered... My partner recently received a caution for having a small amount of class a drug on her. The problem is we are due to go to the US later in the year and she is worried that she may now not be let in!
Whats the normal proceedure- do we have have to mention the above when sending off the forms or do we tick no and hope for the best?
Furthermore how long does the caution last on your record?
Whats the normal proceedure- do we have have to mention the above when sending off the forms or do we tick no and hope for the best?
Furthermore how long does the caution last on your record?
TruXta
tired
As before, if you mention it chances are she won't get in. If you shut up, chances are no-one will be the wiser. Source: been in the same situation.
RogerRabbit
New Member
Hello my good people.
I have read the entire thread and do not believe that what I have to ask has been covered properly.
Right, I love the usa and inparticularly New York, I go each year but with friends. I go with friends because my GF has a past that involves prison.
I would like nothing more than to go to USA with my GF but obviously the whole issue around visa puts us off.
She took drugs into prison for her ex, was caught and went away her self. This was almost 10 years ago now and shes turned her life around blah blah blah, all that isnt important - you dont care about her character now etc.
So what I am asking is this, is the crime of going to prison for drugs bad enough that its shared with interpol or whoever and accessable to the US government?
from what I have read we are going to tick no on all the visa waiver Q's and just go, however if this is deemed as a serious crime they may have access to the details? or is that just terrorists and murderes and big drug barons?
so will they have that info? (we have not applied for a visa, we have not alerted the USA to her record in anyway)
also, if they do and they refuse entry - what is the punishment? will it be refusal and sent home or will it involve any jail time? I do not want her going through all that.
Cheers in advance.
Rog.
I have read the entire thread and do not believe that what I have to ask has been covered properly.
Right, I love the usa and inparticularly New York, I go each year but with friends. I go with friends because my GF has a past that involves prison.
I would like nothing more than to go to USA with my GF but obviously the whole issue around visa puts us off.
She took drugs into prison for her ex, was caught and went away her self. This was almost 10 years ago now and shes turned her life around blah blah blah, all that isnt important - you dont care about her character now etc.
So what I am asking is this, is the crime of going to prison for drugs bad enough that its shared with interpol or whoever and accessable to the US government?
from what I have read we are going to tick no on all the visa waiver Q's and just go, however if this is deemed as a serious crime they may have access to the details? or is that just terrorists and murderes and big drug barons?
so will they have that info? (we have not applied for a visa, we have not alerted the USA to her record in anyway)
also, if they do and they refuse entry - what is the punishment? will it be refusal and sent home or will it involve any jail time? I do not want her going through all that.
Cheers in advance.
Rog.
TruXta
tired
I THINK the sanction is deportation and a lengthy entry ban - sent home on the first flight essentially. Very much doubt if Interpol will have her on file. If you wanna play it safe apply for a visa and spill the beans. At least then there'll be no nerves.
RogerRabbit
New Member
We are happy to risk the ban, as if they do have her details she aint getting in for toffee anyway so its better to try than not too as we may get our holiday, or we get turned away and nothing has changed and we lose £1k for trying.
I just read up a lot about it and I understand that they dont have our police database details and that the fingerprints they take are for checking on crimes committed in USA, But i saw that interpol share info with USA on people and also that 3000 random people a year have their details shared with the USA for immigration purposes so just wanted to check that for sentences given for drugs is not deemed bad enough to share the info with other borders.
I just read up a lot about it and I understand that they dont have our police database details and that the fingerprints they take are for checking on crimes committed in USA, But i saw that interpol share info with USA on people and also that 3000 random people a year have their details shared with the USA for immigration purposes so just wanted to check that for sentences given for drugs is not deemed bad enough to share the info with other borders.
RogerRabbit
New Member
so no one can give me a definitive answer on what info is shared if its a crime relating to drugs?
trashpony
Hag
That question's already been answered on the thread. I don't know where you got the info that they share 3000 random crimes from but it seems pretty bloody unlikely/conspiraloon
RogerRabbit
New Member
On the Interpol site I think, it's all on my laptop favourites ill post when I'm online from the laptop tomorrow.
we share full records of 3000 people a year apparently at random.
also i read about the PNR which we signed up to last year which means they share info with the states which may contain criminal convictions??
not-bono-ever
meh
The PNR database in the UK is not shared with the US.It would be a foolish UK government who did allow access.
If you are seriously concerned, then maybe access the US from Canda or Mexico overland - at least that way you wont be sent back to the UK in the very very unlikely chance that you may be snagged
If you are seriously concerned, then maybe access the US from Canda or Mexico overland - at least that way you wont be sent back to the UK in the very very unlikely chance that you may be snagged
RogerRabbit
New Member
Happy to take the risk to fly direct to New York, I've read enough to be happy that they do not hold all our details, unless moral turpitude etc
I just wanted clarification on what convictions MAY show up if deemed they are against moral turpitude etc.
She went away for taking drugs into a prison, which IMO is pretty bad, but I'm hoping unless we submit a visa with all this info on that they won't know a thing.
I just wanted clarification on what convictions MAY show up if deemed they are against moral turpitude etc.
She went away for taking drugs into a prison, which IMO is pretty bad, but I'm hoping unless we submit a visa with all this info on that they won't know a thing.
not-bono-ever
meh
cant give you anything more than has been suggested elsewhre on the thread Im afraid
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