Visa for holiday in US?
- Thread starter B@Th*nG
- Start date
not unless any of you have ever been arrested ( don't have to have been charged/convicted ) , there are a few other exceptions but that is the main one
there are also some rules re types of passport but all UK passports comply as long as they still have 6 months left
there are also some rules re types of passport but all UK passports comply as long as they still have 6 months left
...and to be honest with you even the arrested/convicted issue isn't a big one.
I know people who have actually served time who got into the US on business and on a holiday without any trouble what so ever.
They know who they are looking for at customs and as long as you aren't anything to do with any terrorist organisations (oh and you've got 6 months left on your passport) you are more or less guaranteed entry etc.
I know people who have actually served time who got into the US on business and on a holiday without any trouble what so ever.
They know who they are looking for at customs and as long as you aren't anything to do with any terrorist organisations (oh and you've got 6 months left on your passport) you are more or less guaranteed entry etc.
Soldato
- Joined
- 28 Oct 2003
- Posts
- 5,510
- Location
- Worthington-on-sea
Yea, and it turned out to be me. Or at least they thought it was.stoofa said:
Last time I went to the US I was about 30 seconds away from handcuffs and being searched in an uncomfortable place, and I don't mean the backseat of a Volkswagen
. Luckily they realised that similar to my name & DOB is not the same as my actual name & DOB and I was wished a nice day.The main point in issue being that the US has no access to the UK criminal records system.
So unless you are also on the US database as well they have no way of knowing if you've been arrested or convicted.
I'm not neccessarily advocating travel to the US in this manner - just if you'd got something booked and you happen to have a criminal record and not enough time to sort out applying for a visa the chances are you'd be fine.
Someone I once worked with didn't tell his employer he had a record and was then sent out to the US office on business.
He was cra... really worried that he wouldn't get in as he'd have to explain why to his boss etc.
He got to the US and just walked straight through.
So unless you are also on the US database as well they have no way of knowing if you've been arrested or convicted.
I'm not neccessarily advocating travel to the US in this manner - just if you'd got something booked and you happen to have a criminal record and not enough time to sort out applying for a visa the chances are you'd be fine.
Someone I once worked with didn't tell his employer he had a record and was then sent out to the US office on business.
He was cra... really worried that he wouldn't get in as he'd have to explain why to his boss etc.
He got to the US and just walked straight through.
Even having a visa doesn't guarantee entrance to the USA.
My visa runs out in 2008 and I had trouble getting in from Canada last year. It seems they got me either
1) confused with someone else (despite the fact I police record in the USA for an RTA for which no charges were brought)
or
2) they thought I had overstayed on my previous trip - I actually stayed 3.5 months. The fact that it was back in 1998 and I couldn't quite remember my entry and exit dates didn't help my case.
Eventually they let me in.
My visa runs out in 2008 and I had trouble getting in from Canada last year. It seems they got me either
1) confused with someone else (despite the fact I police record in the USA for an RTA for which no charges were brought)
or
2) they thought I had overstayed on my previous trip - I actually stayed 3.5 months. The fact that it was back in 1998 and I couldn't quite remember my entry and exit dates didn't help my case.
Eventually they let me in.