To not even book a trip to the USA because of spent convictions?

[streetface]

We have been planning a large family holiday to USA but one of the party has spent criminal convictions for carrying a weapon, drugs and violence dating back to teens and twenties. In forties now, model citizen, hard working lovely family man but I have a feeling that all of that will be irrelevant and he will be denied entry?

I don't think it is worth taking the risk spending thousands on a holiday to be turfed away last minute. He won't get his money back either will he?

The US embassy recommend that people who are in such circumstances, do not travel under an ESTA, but apply for an actual Visa.

They recommend this even if someone has simply been cautioned (not ever charged).

If your family member enquires about a Visa before booking the trip they could get some indication from the US Embassy.

He would have to lie to get an ESTA. He needs a proper visa which is no guarantee of entry. Personally I'd holiday elsewhere, no holiday company or travel insurance will refund you for not having the correct travel documents or having fraudulent ones (in the case of an ESTA). The nature of his crimes make him an unappealing candidate.

OK prepared to be slaughtered here but if you just apply for his ESTA and click no to any convictions ect chances are he will be accepted and be approved. They don't have any access to a database with UK criminal records on it.

As long as you're not wanted by Interpol, don't have any warrants out for your arrest and don't give them any reason to investigate you further when you go through immigration it will be fine. Loads of people do it.

So are you saying not to declare it on a visa?

We were planning on doing the whole DisneyLand plus all the other parks on a three week villa based thing. Loads of children going so not sure if there is anywhere else that would compete in terms of once in a lifetime trip for them. And for some of us adults who always dreamed of Disneyland as kids but never got to go :)

What Lottie said.

Agree with lottie
Ive been loads with convictions in my teen
Unless he's wanted for mass murder or some terrorist black list he will be fine

No one has the right to enter the USA
But they really aren't interested in what you did as a teenager
Read trip advisor for this people are asking stuff like I stole some sweets when I was 16 and im now going to the states will I get in ffs
America has more to worry about than your relative

They don't even have access to our database?!!! So if you don't tell them they don't know??

That's up to him if he wants to do that, there is obviously a risk to doing that but.. that's exactly what I'd do. He would have to go to the embassy for an interview and apply for a visa otherwise.

Streetface apply for the esta before booking the holiday. When it asks if you've ever been arrested / convicted, say no. Then when you get accepted, book the holiday.

As advised just make sure now reason immigration have no reason to pull him when you arrive, i.e. No drinking on the plane, no stupid answers when they ask him questions. It will be fine, loads of people do it.

I'm off to the States in the summer but my passport needs to be renewed. Can I apply for an ESTA or whatever it is without a passport number?

streetface.......correct.

imperial no, you will need the passport number you're travelling on for your esta.

Yes but some was in early twenties. Carrying a weapon (baseball bat) drugs (cocaine) and a couple of convictions for ABH. Basically spent a lot of time fighting and taking drugs at the weekends before he grew up. I think these are pretty serious offences regardless of how long ago and particularly the weapon and drug issues as they will be funny about him getting on that plane. It's not a caution for nicking sweets.

He would be better making an appointment with the Embassy to apply for a visa. Once approved he should be fine, it would be very unlikely he'd get stopped at immigration if all his documents etc. are in order [smile}

www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?thread=75643

Thanks Lottie :)

Thanks, Lottie! Will get that sorted now.

Florida I wouldn't agree with that. America don't like drug related crimes, and there is a big chance he would be rejected if he goes through the book and applies for a visa.

I wouldn't spend all that money to risk it if he gets refused at immigration, even with an ESTA you are not guaranteed entry.

Agree with Lottie.

He will have to apply for a full VISA and visit the US Embassy in London. It says when applying for the ESTA that you can't apply if you've previously been arrested, even if this didn't lead to conviction. Therefore, when applying for the full VISA, whether he gets in will depend on the merits of his specific case. I don't think anyone on here can say he will or won't get it. He will just have to apply and see what happens.

Or just apply for an ESTA, tick the no box and book once it's through. Plenty of folk do it, it's a risk, if the ESTA is declined for any reason they may want him to visit the embassy prior to any decision being made.

bantanddec yes that's true but how will they know he has a criminal record when he arrives at immigration? Unless he tells them, they won't.

With his conviction I don't think he'll be allowed in.

Utter bollocks.
I was arrested the year before I went to America. (Not my fault I wasn't even cautioned) but I was still arrested. I ticked no to ever being arrested/detained whatever.