urgent advice needed re:visas

[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_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.