urgent advice needed re:visas

[janet0605]

We are flying out to Florida Wed 20th Oct and I have just had an uncomfortable thought that VISAS may be required. We're staying until Nov 2nd. We are have British passports issued last year.
Do I need to try to get a VISA?

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

You should be ok. If you have any criminal record or have ever been arrested then you will need a VISA. Otherwise you will be ok.

[Matt]

Janet, for now all you need is a machine readable passport. As you have a recently issued passport you will be fine.

Enjoy[msnsmile]

Matt

[jolliffee]

You'll be fine just relax, and get ready to enjoy[msnsmile2]

[steph_goodrum]

Janet
If you can thruthfully answer "NO" to the questions on the back of the Visa waiver form, which include, then you should be fine.
1)Have you ever been arrested and/or convicted of any offense?

2)Are you or have you ever been linked to any terrorist organisation?

3)Do you or have you ever suffered from mental health problems or any communicable disease?

4)Are you or have you ever been a drug user?

This isnt the exact wording, I cant find one to hand but is the gist of the questions that are asked and as long as the answer is no there shouldnt be a problem.

[blott]

There's a sample visa waiver form here http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=14753

[janet0605]

thanks for your replies. I will stop panicing and pack my suitcase!
thanks again everyone - I appreciate your time.

[Fletch]

Our son is 8 years old but is unable to walk or talk and is totally dependent on adults for all his needs. He has not been given any diagnosis. I have written to the US Embassy around 2 weeks ago (enclosed a sae) asking them for advice re the question about mental/physical disorder. I am sure they are not going to refuse entry to a child with special needs, but I just wanted them to clarify what will happen if I tick yes to that question.[confused]
To date, I haven't heard anything back from them. I also asked them whether he will be fingerprinted and 'iris scanned'. If so, this is likely to cause him a great deal of distress.

PS I wonder how many people answer yes to the question about espionage, terrorist activity etc. (Sorry, couldn't resist that![msnwink][msnwink]

[steph_goodrum]

"PS I wonder how many people answer yes to the question about espionage, terrorist activity etc. (Sorry, couldn't resist that!"

I always thought that was the most ridiculous question too Fletch, like anyone is going to say yes. It's obviously one of the get out clauses, if you answer noa nd they have info to the contrary then they can say you have lied.

I'm sure your son will be fine, it might be worth getting a doctors note (especially if you have medication with you).
I think the main concerns are for communicable diseases or adults who may have had mental illness which could cause them to act irrationally or violently towards others. I know of children who are terminally ill travelling without problems.
The fingerprint uses the inkless technology from what I understand so it shouldnt upset your son any more than getting a handstamp at Disney.
Hope you have a great trip.

[E. Cosgrove]

Fletch,
I am sure Steph is right. Whilst it may be a good idea to get a letter from your Doctor to explain your son's condition, just in case ( it might also be worth him/her stating that your trip is purely for pleasure and not to seek medical treatment), the question they are asking is about "mental Illness" eg paranoid schizophrenia and not "mental Handicap" a terminology being replaced by the term "learning disabilities" and "sspecial needs" which helps to differentiate between the two.
I hope you have a wonderful trip and that your son enjoys himself.

[Sputnick]

How do US authorities know if you have criminal record if you`re travelling from the UK.
A friend of mine and his wife applied for a visa as they were both arrested some time ago for possesion of stolen goods. She was never charged but he received a custodial sentence.
When he went to the US Embasy he was denied entrance to the US but she was given a visa.

[blott]

The USA are obviously not going to tell everyone their info sources are they? I think you can take it that they have computer access to UK judicial files as well as any other means of finding out about travellers to their country as required.

[Sputnick]

Thanks for reply Blott. What I`m getting at is what is the criteria for needing a visa.
The family I was refering to told Lunn Polly of their circumstances when they booked their trip but were never advised what to do.

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

If you have to answer yes to any of the questions on the VISA Waiver Form shown here - http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=14753 - then you need to get a VISA in pkenty of time before you travek as it's likely you will be denied entrance to the USA.

As to who should avise you on this then it's very much a grey area but I would argue that the people you book your flights with should make you aware of it, although they have no obligation to do so as far as I know.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Sputnick
Thanks for reply Blott. What I`m getting at is what is the criteria for needing a visa.
The family I was refering to told Lunn Polly of their circumstances when they booked their trip but were never advised what to do.
[/quote]

[E. Cosgrove]

The reason for the refusal of the visa is probably to do with the severity of the crime and the sentence it carries. I think the custodial sentence has to be less than 2 years.

Anyone applying for a visa because of a crimnal conviction also needs an MOC from the clerk of the court where they were convicted.

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

What's an "MOC" Liz?

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by E. Cosgrove
The reason for the refusal of the visa is probably to do with the severity of the crime and the sentence it carries. I think the custodial sentence has to be less than 2 years.

Anyone applying for a visa because of a crimnal conviction also needs an MOC from the clerk of the court where they were convicted.
[/quote]

[E. Cosgrove]

An MOC is a "memorandum of conviction". It needs to state the nature of the offence(s) committed, the section(s) of law contravened and the actual penalty imposed. In the event that you are unable to obtain an MOC you MUST obtain a letter stating so from the clerk of the court.

[steph_goodrum]

Fletch
I have a feeliing your son will not be required to give fingerprint and iris id anyway. I'm sure I read that it applied to everyone between the ages of something like 16 and 75. someone may have the exact wording.