Florida - Visa
Discussion
Hi all.
I'm planning on going to florida with my girlfriend but have a little problem.
About 5 years ago i was arrested. One of the charges was dropped completly and for the other i received a conditional discharge. I understand this means i haven't actually got a conviction for the charge.
Does anybody know if I'll be ok entering using the Visa Waiver program, will i have to ask permission from the US embassy or will i not be allowed in at all?
If it makes any difference i've been lots of times before but before i was arrested and all the other times i was travelling with my parents.
Thanks, MD.
I'm planning on going to florida with my girlfriend but have a little problem.
About 5 years ago i was arrested. One of the charges was dropped completly and for the other i received a conditional discharge. I understand this means i haven't actually got a conviction for the charge.
Does anybody know if I'll be ok entering using the Visa Waiver program, will i have to ask permission from the US embassy or will i not be allowed in at all?
If it makes any difference i've been lots of times before but before i was arrested and all the other times i was travelling with my parents.
Thanks, MD.
Crafty_ said:
I'd ring the US Embassy and check, if there is no conviction I'd guess you should be ok.
NO!Don't ever ring the embassy and volunteer that information, they WILL turn you back, as that's the only way they can find out about the conviction (that and the newspapers if you're famous).
The rules on this are a bit ambiguous; the Embassy will tell you ANY conviction more serious than a speeding ticket must be declared, but that's not what the state department say.
Don't post the conviction here, but read through this document and figure out whether it is a "Crime of Moral Turpitude".
www.state.gov/documents/organization/86942.pdf
If it isn't, you are fine to use the visa waiver.
And as someone with a conditional discharge, it does count as a criminal conviction, albeit "spent" after 12 months or the end of the conditional discharge period, whichever is longer.
davepoth said:
NO!
Don't ever ring the embassy and volunteer that information, they WILL turn you back, as that's the only way they can find out about the conviction (that and the newspapers if you're famous).
The rules on this are a bit ambiguous; the Embassy will tell you ANY conviction more serious than a speeding ticket must be declared, but that's not what the state department say.
Don't post the conviction here, but read through this document and figure out whether it is a "Crime of Moral Turpitude".
www.state.gov/documents/organization/86942.pdf
If it isn't, you are fine to use the visa waiver.
Beat me to it; I was going to make the same points re the embassy and moral turpitude.Don't ever ring the embassy and volunteer that information, they WILL turn you back, as that's the only way they can find out about the conviction (that and the newspapers if you're famous).
The rules on this are a bit ambiguous; the Embassy will tell you ANY conviction more serious than a speeding ticket must be declared, but that's not what the state department say.
Don't post the conviction here, but read through this document and figure out whether it is a "Crime of Moral Turpitude".
www.state.gov/documents/organization/86942.pdf
If it isn't, you are fine to use the visa waiver.
The exact question asked is:
Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; or been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or been controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?
So look it up and see if you get lumped in or not.
davepoth said:
And as someone with a conditional discharge, it does count as a criminal conviction, albeit "spent" after 12 months or the end of the conditional discharge period, whichever is longer.
Convictions aren't spent for the purposes of the VWP. But I can't see how they'd know unless you volunteer the info.jimmyjimjim said:
Convictions aren't spent for the purposes of the VWP. But I can't see how they'd know unless you volunteer the info.
Very true. "spent" in terms of the UK law only. Anecdotally (going by the tweets of I think Joey Barton who was refused a visa to play on a football tour this summer) the people in the embassy use the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act as a guide when considering applications for visas.Thom987 said:
You will be fine, they have let me in a number of times and I have a wee bit more than a conditional discharge on my record.
Certainly it's not too hard to get in. Using the aforementioned Joey Barton thing, he was refused a visa because he keeps beating the s
t out of people, but he was on holiday in the USA a couple of months ago...davepoth said:
Thom987 said:
You will be fine, they have let me in a number of times and I have a wee bit more than a conditional discharge on my record.
Certainly it's not too hard to get in. Using the aforementioned Joey Barton thing, he was refused a visa because he keeps beating the st out of people, but he was on holiday in the USA a couple of months ago...Ok thanks for the info guys.
Next question; I don't have a credit card (and for numerous reasons i can't / won't get one). My girlfriend does but she doesn't have a driving licence and she's only 21.
All the places i've looked to rent a car require you to be aged 25 with a full driving licence and a credit card in your own name. So how am i supposed to rent a car ? Does anybody know of a rental company that would let us either pay the deposit in cash or let us put the deposit on the GF's card but the hire car in my name
Or would they let us hire and pay for it in her name, paying the deposit with her CC, but without her as a driver and us paying extra to add me as an additional driver?
Is there any way round this ?
Cheers, MD.
Next question; I don't have a credit card (and for numerous reasons i can't / won't get one). My girlfriend does but she doesn't have a driving licence and she's only 21.
All the places i've looked to rent a car require you to be aged 25 with a full driving licence and a credit card in your own name. So how am i supposed to rent a car ? Does anybody know of a rental company that would let us either pay the deposit in cash or let us put the deposit on the GF's card but the hire car in my name
Or would they let us hire and pay for it in her name, paying the deposit with her CC, but without her as a driver and us paying extra to add me as an additional driver?
Is there any way round this ?
Cheers, MD.
Thom987 said:
Friend of mine doesnt have a CC, he was able to use someone elses card and his own license. He is actually on holiday at the minute so I cant ask him the finer details.
Was that in Florida, or at least America?If you could find out anything about how he did it once he's back I'd really appreciate it.
What ever happened to paying for things with money, real paper money!!
Most Dope said:
Thom987 said:
Friend of mine doesnt have a CC, he was able to use someone elses card and his own license. He is actually on holiday at the minute so I cant ask him the finer details.
Was that in Florida, or at least America?If you could find out anything about how he did it once he's back I'd really appreciate it.
What ever happened to paying for things with money, real paper money!!
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