visa or not??

[slade390]

Hi all, please can someone help me? The question is,do I need a visa or not. Back in 1994 when I was younger and not as mature as I am now! I got a conviction for drink driving along with an 18 month ban. Two years ago I took my son for our first visit to orlando and used the visa waiver. Now I read that the usa are tightning up on things and if you have been convicted of anything then you need to get a visa. I am a bit confused over all this and could do with some help as we are due to travel again next april. Thanks in advance.

[hamish]

I think you probably need to check with there embassy on this one although i think you will be okay but with what has happened to some folks, you never know.!!
Mind you, we let Mike Tyson in the UK.??

[Daniel Snell]

Hamish we let everyone into the uk mate[msnwink]

[jolliffee]

You should be OK, it was a British offence? But check to see. I don’t remember if you have to declare this on the immigration form but they are only looking for people that have committed an offence in the US or may pose a security risk. After all they let in all our football players this summer and loads of them have done the similar or worse!.[msnwink]

[tuzanne]

I would check this out as we had a guest recently who had a very minor drunk and disorderly charge when he was 17. He had to go down to London to get a visa in order to fly out to Orlando. The rules concerning visas/passports are changing soon anyway.

My husband sent me this summary to pass on to guests in emails if it is of any help to anyone.

PASSPORT AND VISA REQ FOR USA
Summary

If you are a British Citizen and have a Machine Readable Passport (MRP), you can continue to enter the US, for periods less than 90 days, under the US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) i.e. fill in form on the plane.

From 30th September 2004, the US VISIT programme will apply, and means you will be digitally photographed and fingerprint scanned on entry into, and departure from, the U.S.

If your passport is not MRP, from 26th October onwards, you will actually need to have a visa, to enter the U.S., issued by the U.S. embassy, before
you travel.

All applicants for immigrant visas and most applicants for non-immigrant visas are now required to have a personal interview at a US Embassy or Consulate prior to issue. The waiting time for an interview can be up to 3 weeks.

To comply with US law, which requires biometric identifiers to be collected from visa applicants by 26 October 2004, the US Embassy in London will start finger-scanning applicants for immigrant visas on 17 May, extending to non-immigrant visa applicants in August 2004. Each applicant, will be asked during the visa interview, to place their index finger on an electronic scanner.

The key thing is whether or not your passport is a " Machine Readable
Passport" (MRP). There are instructions below on how to find out if it is or not. If it is MRP, there is no change in that you can enter for up to 90 days on the Visa Waiver Programme, as has been the case the last 10-15 years. If not MRP, then, after 26th October, you will have to apply for a visa to allow entry into the U.S.

The US will be introducing changes to its entry requirements, with effect from 26 October 2004, for those wishing to enter the US under its Visa Waiver Programme (see 'ENTRY REQUIREMENTS').

All very confusing hope this helps.

Sue

[blott]

the relevant info from the US Embassy is here http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/visa/niv/vwp.htm and is two thirds of the way down the page and headed Important in red.

If you have been arrested or convicted of any offense, including traffic offenses, you are ineligible to travel under the visa waiver program and need to apply for a visa.

[slade390]

Thanks to you all,it gets a bit confusing but it has helped!

[slade390]

Just wondered if the USA actually check anyone using the visa waiver? eg. if you have a conviction in the uk but still travel on your passport and visa waiver. Who's to know you had a conviction?

[blott]

Everyone's passport is checked on the Immigration computer before it's stamped for entry.

I wouldn't advise anyone going on a visa waiver unless they can comply with the requirements as there's the real possibility of a very short holiday before being put on a flight back to the UK and being banned from visiting the US for the next ten years!

[honeybee]

Blott there will be a lot of people who have been convicted of speeding so US immigration would have a lot of work to do they will be having to put riot police in to keep the queues away. As they do say in the next few years 90% of the UK drivers wil have some points on their licence.

What they are saying is crimnal offence ie murder, GBH, stealing, arson, etc etc not speeding etc.
I know someone who applied for his 6 month visa and told them when he was 17 he went to court for getting into trouble and he had to get scotland yard to check on the data base to see if it was still there etc. If wasn't as it is taken off after so many years This guy is now 47 and had a right load of paperwork to do and two inteviews at the embassy for whatg seems nothing.


Also ALamo are not interested on the points on your licence only onces for drink driving.