Going to Vegas for a week: Do I need a visa?

Davepen · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:04

Right, Im off to Vegas at the beginning of April for 6 nights.
Ive been reading about a Visa, and seen that I may have to apply for one before I go.

Does anyone know anything about this? Are there any criteria for needing/not needing a visa? Do any prior arrests have an affect on this?

Thanks

Diesel · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:08

Assuming your are British you need to do an online ESTA.

Rotty · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:08

you need to do the visa waiver here

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

you need a visa in some circumstance, previous arrests are 1 such circumstance, you may get away with going on the waiver but getting a visa is the correct approach if you have been arrested in past

you will also need to complete the APIS information, this is usually done on your airlines website

Craig1981 · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:08

Pretty sure you do to get into the USA. Your not planning on working there right? If not then all you need is a visitors visa as far as I know.

AtticusFinch · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:10

This assumes that your passport is a biometric passport and is not an older one that doesn't have the chip (becuase if that's the case you need a Visa and cannot rely on the wiaver programme anyway).

Any conviction will require a Visa (not certain on an arrest without further consequences but doubt it triggers the need for a Visa), which will require a trip to London to meet the US Immigration people and be interviewed.

Rotty · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:14

AtticusFinch said:
This assumes that your passport is a biometric passport and is not an older one that doesn't have the chip (becuase if that's the case you need a Visa and cannot rely on the wiaver programme anyway).

biometric passports are only required for passports post late 2006, all uk passports were biometric before this date, passports prior to this date just need to be machine readable and again all uk passports meet this requirement, no UK citizen should need a Visa solely on the basis of their passport type

Rotty · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:14

AtticusFinch said:
Any conviction will require a Visa (not certain on an arrest without further consequences but doubt it triggers the need for a Visa), .

technically it does, even if arrested and never charged

Davepen · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:19

so if I have say, been arrested and charged with drink driving... (please dont judge me) about 4 years ago
then I will need to apply for a full visa?

Rotty · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:24

does that class as a motoring arrest, if so then no

if it is a criminal arrest then yes

Davepen · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:26

Im really not sure?

MeEsH BaKkA · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:44

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm planning on a Vegas trip this year and have been arrested a couple of times when I was younger but have had no convictions bar from when I was about 13. I have been to America a couple of times since although not for about 5 years and I never filled anything out other than the card on the plane.

Are there new rules? Do I have to take a trip to London to get a visa now?

Rotty · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:46

this suggests it is a criminal rather than a motoring offence

the problem is that if you apply for a visa there is a fair chance you would not get it in time as you have left it too late

while no one on here can recommend you do not do the right thing I think the chances of you having a problem using the ESTA would be slim

Rotty · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:47

MeEsH BaKkA said:
Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm planning on a Vegas trip this year and have been arrested a couple of times when I was younger but have had no convictions bar from when I was about 13. I have been to America a couple of times since although not for about 5 years and I never filled anything out other than the card on the plane.

Are there new rules? Do I have to take a trip to London to get a visa now?

they are not new rules, if you have been arrested as an adult and have visited without a visa then you are a very naughty boy

JBuk · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:50

Why arrests? arrests don't mean you've done anything wrong

eatcustard · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:52

If in doubt contact the US embassy in Cockney land

Davepen · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:54

Ive checked it out and it seems that as long as you have not been arrested for a crime of "moral turpitude" then you should be ok.

Been reading about it on a drink driving forum, and many people have been through the same thing, and have emailed US customs and they said that you can use the waiver program, which is a relief as I wouldnt get a visa in time for April :S

loltim · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:56

Diesel said:
Assuming your are British you need to do an online ESTA.

has this changed recently? when i went a couple of years ago they just gave us a form to fill in on the plane when we landed in New York.

MeEsH BaKkA · 3 Mar 2011 at 11:57

Rotty said:
they are not new rules, if you have been arrested as an adult and have visited without a visa then you are a very naughty boy

I would class my self as slightly mischievous lol

Tbh though I have had an enhanced CRB check for my work and this did not flag anything? Perhaps I should give the embassy a call?

Rotty · 3 Mar 2011 at 12:00

JBuk said:
Why arrests? arrests don't mean you've done anything wrong

very true but the rules aren't made by us

Rotty · 3 Mar 2011 at 12:03

Davepen said:
Ive checked it out and it seems that as long as you have not been arrested for a crime of "moral turpitude" then you should be ok.

Been reading about it on a drink driving forum, and many people have been through the same thing, and have emailed US customs and they said that you can use the waiver program, which is a relief as I wouldnt get a visa in time for April :S

the moral turpitude bit are things you are likely to be refused a visa for, any arrest theoretically needs you to apply for a visa