Security

[hamish]

I understand all that has been said on this subject, but, i cannot agree with the tactic, that if one of the party is "guilty" of some thing, then all of the party is sent back, with the ensuing distress and embarresment this will cause, (not to mention the financial loss)expecially to young children.
No, the sins of the "father" should not be visited on the children in a fair and democratic world.
How many of us really can say hand on heart, that they know "everything" about the people they travel with, this is not meant as a slight on anyone, just a fact of life.

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

As far as I know that is not the case - it's the person who did not tell the truth on the green visa waiver form that is sent back.

I would imagine in the case cited, the airline kindly offered to take the whole family back to the UK at their request as they presumably did not want to stay on holiday without Dad.

It's up to passengers to make sure they adhere to the immigration requirements of the country they are visiting - this is nothing new in the US - as Blottie pointed out it has been the case ever since the visa waiver program was started which is many years ago.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by hamish
I understand all that has been said on this subject, but, i cannot agree with the tactic, that if one of the party is "guilty" of some thing, then all of the party is sent back, with the ensuing distress and embarresment this will cause, (not to mention the financial loss)expecially to young children.
No, the sins of the "father" should not be visited on the children in a fair and democratic world.
How many of us really can say hand on heart, that they know "everything" about the people they travel with, this is not meant as a slight on anyone, just a fact of life.
[/quote]

[tezz7628]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
The visa waiver regulations for those who have been arrested (even if this was later rescinded and no charges were brought) have been in force for some years, since the visa waiver was introduced, so it's nothing new. Before that, everyone had to apply for a visa to visit the USA as there was no visa waiver scheme.

[/quote]

at least in those days we could apply by post and not have to travel to embassy eh! blott

i remember doing it in 1980/81

[Nostromo]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk
If you have ever been arrested for anything then you need to get a VISA to visit the USA. Otherwise UK citizens can travel on the VISA waiver program which means you just take your passport and do not need to get a VISA before travel.
[/quote]

A patient of mine was arrested on suspicion of pushing drugs 3 years ago, but was not convicted as he was found to be innocent. He has no other involvement with the police. Does it mean someone like him will have a 'record' and won't be eligible for Visa Waiver?

[amy]

You do not need to be convicted to get a pncid number, arrested,or even just mfh will earn you one, I would advice he consults the US emmbassey as it is a lot closer than the US.
So as John says the word 'arrested', could be enough as there aint often smoke without fire.


<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Nostromo
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk
If you have ever been arrested for anything then you need to get a VISA to visit the USA. Otherwise UK citizens can travel on the VISA waiver program which means you just take your passport and do not need to get a VISA before travel.
[/quote]

A patient of mine was arrested on suspicion of pushing drugs 3 years ago, but was not convicted as he was found to be innocent. He has no other involvement with the police. Does it mean someone like him will have a 'record' and won't be eligible for Visa Waiver?
[/quote]

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

What does pncid and mfh mean Paul?
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by amy
You do not need to be convicted to get a pncid number, arrested,or even just mfh will earn you one, I would advice he consults the US emmbassey as it is a lot closer than the US.
So as John says the word 'arrested', could be enough as there aint often smoke without fire.

[/quote]

[amy]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk
What does pncid and mfh mean Paul?[/quote]


Pncid number is a number you get when arrestted by the UK Police, it stands for Police National Computer identification number. You can also get one of these for total innocent things aswell like going Missing from home (MFH). When you have been to court and been convicted you will then get a CRO number,(criminal records office).

If you have either of these numbers you appear on the Police National Computer(PNC)and the American immigration and other authorities have access to this infomation, you cannot hide it from them, you are better to declare it before travelling to avoid disappointment.

If it is just a simple thing like your have reported you child missing there is no need to worry as that will be clearly listed on the computer and will pose no problems at all. The main problems are with convictions that the visa is needed.

[Nostromo]

This seems unfair. What if ,say, Joe Bloggs was arrested by mistake and later released? So even if it was a case of mistaken identity on a totally innocent person, does he end up with this PNCID number, thus making him ineligible for Visa Waiver?

[Spuddybaby]

i think that US immigration is very fickle anyway.
Last year my fiance and i took atrip to New York for three nights and then onto Las Vegas for 7. As we landed in New York at Newark airport we went through normal immigration and collected our luggage fine, but then we had to go thru another small security checkpoint, which consisted of a desk and a seated guard and a standing guard.

The gurad decided to stop me at front of the queue and ask me some questions, holding up the line to do so. He asked me about where i was from, and where i was going, all of which i was happy to answer. then he asked me the odd question of who i worked for. Luckily i work for a US investment Bank in London (JPMorgan) and i had my work pass on me, so i took it out of my wallet and showed him. Its not much, just a little credit card size card with my face on it and the JPMorgan logo. He then asked my finace who also works for the same company the same qurstion and she showed her pass as well.
He saw it and immediately his attitude to me changed and he said "thanks on you go and have a nice trip"

My fiance and I walked on and out of the airport. We felt a little strange as it seemed that they guy had a real issue with us, util he found out that we worked for a US bank. We didnt want to think what would happened if we hadnt work for JPM!

[Harmony]

Please do not forget that you are asking to visit THEIR country and it is totally up to them whether they want to let you in or not. You have no RIGHT to entry although millions of visitors have done so with no problems at all. Follow the rules, answer any questions truthfully and you should have no problems, just a great holiday in a wonderful country.

Jeff