Traveling to US with conviction

[TW]Fox · 24 May 2010 at 17:15

Guest2 said:
When I turned up in LA they were suspicious about why I had loads of stamps for going in and out of thailand from laos, along with stamps for fiji, newzealand and australia. They looked at my bag and said in his strong american accent "is that all you got"

Are they really that bothered about stamps? I'm off to LA in September and my girlfriend has an Iranian and Pakistani stamp in her Passport from last year. Is this going to be an issue?

Rich_L · 24 May 2010 at 17:24

[TW]Fox;16614545 said:
Are they really that bothered about stamps? I'm off to LA in September and my girlfriend has an Iranian and Pakistani stamp in her Passport from last year. Is this going to be an issue?

Not an issue that would lead to her being denied, but she's probably be asked a fair few questions quite sternly about what her business was there - no joke.

My Dad through his work had to go to Pakistan, Kazakhstan and suchlike and he always got grilled by Immigration even though he was clearly supervising a group of 20-odd kids because of the stamps in his passport - when his passport was renewed, no more problems.

There's every chance if you tick 'no' you'll get away with it, but if at any point in the future you need a 'proper' visa to visit the States, whether it is for work, marriage, or suchlike, you are pretty screwed because then they do check your previous records and they will ask why you lied on the VWP form which is pretty serious and means a lifetime ban AFAIK

Wzd · 24 May 2010 at 17:26

[TW]Fox;16614545 said:
Are they really that bothered about stamps? I'm off to LA in September and my girlfriend has an Iranian and Pakistani stamp in her Passport from last year. Is this going to be an issue?

They might ask you some questions, they quizzed me about an Egypt stamp I had in mine :confused:

Guest2 · 24 May 2010 at 17:28

[TW]Fox;16614545 said:
Are they really that bothered about stamps? I'm off to LA in September and my girlfriend has an Iranian and Pakistani stamp in her Passport from last year. Is this going to be an issue?

I had 6 thai/laos stamps and a laos and thai visa. Yes, it might be

xJcBx · 24 May 2010 at 17:30

I got a Cuba stamp, and apparently I'm already banned from a few states, but I don't believe whoever told me that. :s

Burnsy2023 · 24 May 2010 at 17:30

r2d2 said:
They are not happy wen they find out you have a conviction. A mate of mine got of the airport at florida and they literally bollocked him for lying.

Yes they can find out if u lied!

I was under the impression that the US had no information of UK convictions other than those that are serious enough to be shared with international agencies, such as terrorism stuff. Anyone know something about this?

Richie · 24 May 2010 at 17:42

I like the fact "(10) Suicide (attempted)." is in there...

They just making sure that any actual suicides dont get in ?? :confused:

Wzd · 24 May 2010 at 17:48

Richie said:
I like the fact "(10) Suicide (attempted)." is in there...

They just making sure that any actual suicides dont get in ??

Have you ever seen Weekend At Bernies?

ElliorR · 24 May 2010 at 17:54

Wzd said:
Have you ever seen Weekend At Bernies?

The US are excluding people that have? I know it's not the greatest film ever but it wasn't that bad.

Rotty · 24 May 2010 at 18:01

[TW]Fox;16614545 said:
Are they really that bothered about stamps? I'm off to LA in September and my girlfriend has an Iranian and Pakistani stamp in her Passport from last year. Is this going to be an issue?

If they see them they will almost certainly question her about them but just tell the truth ( well as long as the truth is good

) and you will be fine

whatever you do don't try being smart or argumentative with them

[TW]Fox · 24 May 2010 at 18:07

Cant see how they wont, the Iranian Visa for one is a huge great peice of paper glued to one of the pages..

Repta · 24 May 2010 at 18:17

[TW]Fox;16614545 said:
Are they really that bothered about stamps? I'm off to LA in September and my girlfriend has an Iranian and Pakistani stamp in her Passport from last year. Is this going to be an issue?

When i went to florida a couple years ago my dad had problems traveling there with stamps from iraq. Though it was only on the British side it caused problems. At the US they werent they were more interested to hear what he thought of the marines he was working with and stories he had.

It they ask just be honest about it, dont see it being a problem.

jrodga2k5 · 24 May 2010 at 18:38

My mate was recently working in Azerbaijan for a couple of weeks so when we go to the US in June I hope they don't think he was in a "Training Camp" or something like that

mysticsniper · 24 May 2010 at 18:50

xJcBx said:
I got a Cuba stamp, and apparently I'm already banned from a few states, but I don't believe whoever told me that. :s

My boss got himself a new passport, as he had several Cuban stamps in his passport, as it would be too much hassle trying to get in the states with his old one.

Sem · 24 May 2010 at 19:12

M0T said:
This has prompted me into doing some research on the subject, it seems that the embassies will tell you that you need a visa for everything, and since they cost £100+ for 1 years travel they stand to make a packet.

The actual legal requirements are somewhat different, you are only ineligable if you have commited a crime of moral turpitude or drugs offences. Helpfully they list the crimes of moral turpitude here: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/86942.pdf .

However ABH is not Moral Turpitude according to that link.

im surprised adultery is in there

seriously if you cheat on your partner there's a chance you cant get in

dowie · 24 May 2010 at 19:24

Sem said:
im surprised adultery is in there

I'm not... The place was run by christian fundamentalist for the 8 years prior to Obama getting in. then again it does seem to indicate that its been repealed.

thedoc46 · 24 May 2010 at 19:56

So SEM, surely his plane must be coming in for landing about now? Any word.. Interested to hear the outcome of this... Please keep us all updated.

Guest2 · 24 May 2010 at 21:32

xJcBx said:
I got a Cuba stamp, and apparently I'm already banned from a few states, but I don't believe whoever told me that. :s

9 years ago I went to cuba with my auntie and uncle. Two years later they went to US and were taken aside and questioned for 30 minutes about what they had been doing there. They harly look like cuban terrorists!

Van Hellseek · 24 May 2010 at 21:39

r2d2 said:
they literally bollocked him

I think you mean figuratively. I really hope the didn't literally bollock him. :eek:

RobH · 24 May 2010 at 21:52

bledd. said:

That's from the sketch show, I remember seeing the exact same sketch one on the British version, it seems the American version uses the same script. The British one starred Ronni Ancona and Tim Vine.