Applying for a Visa with a criminal record

[royplumber]

me and my mate are booked to goto florida in 4 weeks time for 2week holiday i have just read this about visa (needed to get in to the country)
i had loads of convictions about 12 years agos most serious glassing sombody in a night club and friend as simlar conviction.

Is this a problem will we get refused entry i didnt real know please help can you please personal message me also many thanks

[royplumber]

I just thought i'd let you all what happend as messages have been left.
we decided not to go to emmbassy because we only had 4 weeks left (with our record's there is no way they would let us in) couldn't cancel the holiday would not give us the money back.
what i didnt tell you all was. I felt the lord telling me to go and take me old mate ive been out of trouble for 12 years when i worked it out properly.Since i became a christian.
15 plus years ago I punched my girlfriends brother in the face but i had a glass in my hand at time
and went to jail for it he only pressed charges cos he wanted money

My mate who i took is a drug addict and got loads of form i took him and he had methodone on him in his bag from the rehab centre he attends two weeks worth. I tell you i was not 2 happy he's got tatto's (union jack tattoed on his hand and ive got em all over me hands too) so we gets to the airport security is very tight but we got through passport boarded and set off. got to orlando then we were tired sick and didnt know if we'd get past passport control my mate filled in the passport waver form in 6 times before he got it right there was no people left they'd all gone he asked me what my job was and what i was doin here i said on vacation then let us through bingo i didnt feel i was lieying on visa waver because as my convictions in uk are spent and if he said out i'd of said i didnt know cos i didnt when i first booked hoilday but traveling nine hours and getting told to go back to uk i was hateing. We got in i belive it was a miracle but even better my friend is into jesus now and he nicked my bible and is working really hard on removing his addiction from his life so i say God bless america co's blessed me so much the moral of the story is get a visa if you can just like the expert's on here encourage you all so thanks for all the possitive help because most of the christians i know told me to not go God Bless hope you don't have to endure all i did better still don't get into trouble (by the way 1,600 miles around florida in a sebring was bliss have a nice hoilday !!!!!!!!

[steph_goodrum]

I'm glad you had a good holiday Roy but travelling in your situation without a visa was a big risk and not one any of us would recommend to anybody else in your situation.
It just goes to prove the inadequacies of the US immigration system that you and your friend were allowed in and especially as your friend was also carrying methadone with him. Even with a doctors certificate I don't think it would have been legal.
The reason I find it so frustrating that you were allowed entry is that a friend of ours who had lost his mother (who he had lived with alone since his father died) and nan within a week of each other a few weeks before Christmas (this was even pre 9/11 before security was supposed to be increased), a week later he was made redundant so as you can imagine was feeling pretty low and decided to spend 3 months in Atlanta with his aunts family before looking for a new job. He had no criminal record, not even driving convictions, but because he had a ticket for 3 months, had no mortgage on his flat and no job the immigration officer decided there was a risk he might try to look for work and overstay his visa. Non of which was his intention he just wanted to get his head together before he looked for a new job as he knew he wouldnt have the opportunity to have 3 months for a while.
He was kept in detention and put back on the next plane to UK, and it was not a pleasant experience. His first visa application was refused costin ghim even more money (apparently this is quite common if you have been refused entry - to "teach you a lesson" for trying to get past the rules - none of which he did) but the next was approved ok.
I'm glad you and hopefully your friend are trying to get your lives back on track but I hope other people do not follow your example and just take a chance rather than following procedure as another person may not find the same experience as you.

[royplumber]

i agree my freind is going to church now and is still of the druggs i guess we must all take risks in life not really knoeing how things are going to turn out

[Trina]

Just thought I would let you know that the waiting time for a decision as to whether a visa will be issued to someone with a criminal record has gone up to 16 weeks. I know of a situation where it has taken since Easter to collect and fill in all the necessary paper work (Because it is such an old offence)and return it and because they had not heared anything within the 4-5 weeks originally quoted rang the contact no. They were told not to contact them again for 16 weeks unless of course they heared something from them in the meantime. There is no fast track or priority list. This couple are now going to have to cancel going to a family wedding in Hawaai because the remaining balance of the trip will be due about the 16th week and not covered then by their cancellation policy - they can not afford the risk. I have tried to console them with saying that all might not be lost and that if all proves to be okay then perhaps they can get a late booking.

The sad thing is that if visas had not cropped up in conversation then they would not have known and could well have been turned back at L.A They booked everything on the internet.

So, if there is anyone looking into this forum and has any doubt at all as to whether they need a visa then don't leave it too late to apply. This waiting list is obviously going to get longer.

Trina