USA visa

Sgt_Pepper

Sgt_Pepper

Sgt_Pepper

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St. Helens & Blackpool
Good Evening, i'm just about to book my holiday on the internet now, i'm going to the USA for three weeks in March/April next year. 2 questions.

1) do i need to apply for a travelling visa?

2) if yes, how long before travelling should i apply for it?

:)
 
I believe it's changing/has changed that you will need to register online several days prior to travel on a US Immigration website.
 
when i went in april i just got a form to fill in on the plane, but if it's changing then i don't know
 
I've had a look at some of the info, and it seems britain is under a Visa waiver Programme. where you don't need a visa, UNLESS

the rules:

You will also probably need a visa if you fall into one of the following categories (Note: this list is not exhaustive).

You intend to stay longer than 90 days
You intend to travel to the US for a reason other than business, pleasure or transit
You have been arrested (even if not convicted)
You have a criminal record
You have a serious, communicable disease (including HIV)
You have been refused entry to the US on a previous occasion
You have been deported from the US
You have overstayed during a previous visit
If you are unsure, or if you think that your situation falls into any of the above categories, you should consult the US Embassy (see above) – you must do this well in advance of any plans to travel.


so because i got arrested 14 years ago for D&D i have to get a visa, this doesn't seem right. and nowhere does it say how long before you travel should you apply. :mad:
 
Does anyone know when the rules are changing to having to apply for the visa before travelling?
A friend of mine was a little naughty in the past and does have a criminal record - however never "went down" or anything like that.
He just wants to do the online application thing to see if he can "sail" through so to speak.

Yer I know - USA travel, criminal records.
However I know at least a couple of people who have records, who filled in the form on the plane and then just walked into the US without a single problem.

My other mate however is not up to potentially wasting air fare and getting stopped at customs, so wants to do the form thing prior to travel.
 
The police don't even have a record of your arrest (as long as it was only minor), so how could they possibly check?

Burnsy
 
Filled mines out in the plane......I know their serious forms and all that but, were u involved with Nazi Germany during WWII? Were ya? :D
 
The thing is the US has no access to our criminal records - well not yet anyway :)
This is why a couple of my friends have literally just gone to the US without even worrying.
Yes they have a record but the fact the US can't check this means that they can "get away with it" so to speak.

The only reason you would get stopped is if the US actually had their own intelligence on you.
This is usually if you are suspected of terrorism, being involved with it or drugs related.
In this situation they can of course stop you as you try and enter the country.
However as you walk through customs in the US they can't simply access the UK's criminal record database and check you don't have a record.

The friend in question (not all my mates have criminal records I'd like to point out at this time) is worried sick that he'll take a flight to the US, fill in the form on the plane and then get stopped going in to the US - no reason why he would (see above) but he is worried.
When they introduce the new system he would have to fill in the form in advance - he would then know for certain he woulldn't have any probems getting in.
He is just a worry person :)
 
I've done some research on this today, Most people will get into america without a problem, conviction or not, just try not to look all dodgy going through passport control.

I found out about visas, first of all you have to phone the American Embassy in London to make an appointment 10 min phone call at £1.20 per min. They will give you a date for an interview, to be held at the Embassy, you then have to pay $130 for the right to apply for a visa, if you don't succeede you don't get a refund.

you aslo need a certificate from the chief of police outlining your conviction, or reason for arrest @ £10

It's an expensive old doo, going to london prob have to stay over aswell.


I just cant decide wether to risk being turned away or not.



I found a story about a guy who was turned away over an arrest made in the 70's, they found out about it after an extensive interigation at the airport and various phone calls, probly to the UK.
 
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I booked a holiday in america in september, basically british airways made me fill in a page or 2 of personal info on their homepage that I beleive the americans take for this new intiative of we want to know about you before you fly.

It now says I have filled in the minimum amount of info, dont know what else they want...
 
Forget going to London, it's cheaper to go/fly to NI but they only issue so many visa's per day at each embassy. I have a friend with dual nationality (UK/US) who was in and out in 20 minutes, if you are a UK citizen you'll be looking at an interview/full day. As for declaring convictions or arrests its your call but if you are found out you will be refused entry and not be allowed in again, nice way to blow your holiday hu ?
 
Here's the website for the new requirements that came into effect on 1st August:

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Either you, or your agent/airline must complete this procedure at least 72 hours before travel to the US if you intend to take advantage of the Visa Waiver Programme. If you intend to travel anytime soon, you can do this now, as authorisation, if granted, is typically valid for two years.
 
Berserker said:
Here's the website for the new requirements that came into effect on 1st August:

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Either you, or your agent/airline must complete this procedure at least 72 hours before travel to the US if you intend to take advantage of the Visa Waiver Programme. If you intend to travel anytime soon, you can do this now, as authorisation, if granted, is typically valid for two years.
Click to expand...

Thank you - just what I was looking for, I'll get my mate to do the application now and when it comes back OK he'll know he can travel without fear.

As for the post above about being found out - as said, the US have no access to our criminal records.
So they are only going to "find out" if they have intelligence on you - highly unlikely for most crimes unless it involves drugs or terrorism.
 
I know I've taken this thread a little off-topic - moving from the requirements for a visa to the issue of criminal records etc.
I know that a few people are interested, so I've just done yet a little more research on travel to the US and found three interesting exception clauses:

(ii) Exception.-Clause (i)(I) shall not apply to an alien who committed only one crime if-

(I) the crime was committed when the alien was under 18 years of age, and the crime was committed (and the alien released from any confinement to a prison or correctional institution imposed for the crime) more than 5 years before the date of application for a visa or other documentation and the date of application for admission to the United States, or

(II) the maximum penalty possible for the crime of which the alien was convicted (or which the alien admits having committed or of which the acts that the alien admits having committed constituted the essential elements) did not exceed imprisonment for one year and, if the alien was convicted of such crime, the alien was not sentenced to a term of imprisonment in excess of 6 months (regardless of the extent to which the sentence was ultimately executed).

(B) Multiple criminal convictions.-Any alien convicted of 2 or more offenses (other than purely political offenses), regardless of whether the conviction was in a single trial or whether the offenses arose from a single scheme of misconduct and regardless of whether the offenses involved moral turpitude, for which the aggregate sentences to confinement 2/ were 5 years or more is inadmissible.
 
Sgt_Pepper said:
so because i got arrested 14 years ago for D&D i have to get a visa, this doesn't seem right. and nowhere does it say how long before you travel should you apply. :mad:
Click to expand...
I think it might be for more serious things, a lot of people I know have been arrested at one time or another. I've been arrested a few times and gotten into america fine numerous times.
 
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