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?

No Lottie, I said apply for visa and I meant apply for visa. Not ESTA. He can't apply for that anyway.

stopshouting loads of people do it all the time. If he doesn't lie chances are he won't get let in anyway, America hates criminals who have been involved in drugs.

Extra checks would involve being held in immigration until they have decided if they are going to let you in or not.

goldfish yes he can. He just needs to tick no when asked about criminal convictions.
Loads of people do it.
As a convicted drugs user / dealer, if he applies for a visa I'd bet me house on him being refused.

Some people are so over cautious. I know plenty of people who have flew on an esta when they have been arrested previously and recently!!!

I second the person that told you to go to Mexico, it really is awesome.

I personally honestly think that this won't be a problem. As long as he ticks "no", of course. Being too honest in this case may be a bad idea.

They would never let him in again anyway if he didn't lie so really no point worrying about that. He won't tell them.

Just wondering about these 'extra checks' now is all..?

As someone said above.. the extra checks would be exactly that, pulling him aside to another room while they do more checks, interview him, it would more than likely only last a few hours and he'd either be let in or not

What about doing Disneyland Paris instead?

No visas required (at least until March 2019 and hopefully never).

It's called taken into secondary ( extra checks )
I had it Canada a few years ago

Wanted to know where I was staying and for home long and my address & work details took 5 mins but waiting for 30-45 mins

My advice would be if he can afford to get a cheap flight to New York or LA and do a trial run lol
You can get flights for a few hundred quid rather lose a few hundred than several thousand

The options are apply for visa spend a fair whack of money going to embassy etc and still possibly be refused or lie to get an esta.

A whole lot of people do the latter. But, if for any reason they check once he arrives, he will get turfed home.

street is he part of a demographic that you have cause to believe is more likely to be signled out...? (I'm sorry for asking such an insensitive and possibly "shitstirring" question)

I'd apply for the VISA and see if you can get insurance for denial of entry.

Sadly there's no guarantee, DP went with to Vegas for his best friend's stag do and got held in security for six hours because he looks 'foreign' (he's Quadroon).

He was eventually released after having shown twelve different officials his police badge. There's no guarantee of entry or denial for anyone these days.

There's was a Welsh teacher who was denied entry on a school trip not too long ago for the sole reason he was muslim.

We can't wait for our trip to New York in September....

Hi feedtheshark. No he's white but I think he looks like a hooligan. Skin head, tattoos, built extremely large. Looks scary. So I think he could possibly be singled out. But extra checks don't seem to be a problem even if he was. Checking his work or address or anything wouldn't matter.

OK, so he can't apply for an ETSA as he has a criminal record, you can't even apply for one if you have ever been arrested. There is no such thing as a UK spent conviction to US immigration.

He needs to apply for a Visa, attend an interview and then may or may not get a visitor visa. It takes months and you need all your police records.

Do not book a holiday before said visa is in hand.

I have a friend who we travelled with to the US for years, he had a string of convictions from when he was in his teens and early 20s for things such as fighting and drunk and disorderly. He got his visa and has had a clean record for 20+ years. He was asked at immigration about why he had a visa and not an ETSA and he told them truthfully he had a troubled youth but was now reformed.

Be aware though a visa can take 6-9 months to get.

If he looks dodgy, I wouldn't risk it!
Go somewhere else or he doesn't go.

No Paris isn't an option. We want to hire a large villa and go for three weeks. It's not just Disneyland we want to visit but the full works, Universal studios, The zoos, the lot. Mexico is too based in the complexes to entertain so many kids for so many weeks. And lots in the group have already been and don't want to go back with kids in tow.

US Immigration think all tattoos are related to gangs! I have seen them stop and question and ask what the tattoos signify.

Many people with previous convictions are allowed in (see several other PPs).
But a visa does not guarantee you entry (see wording from US Embassy).

I 3rd Mexico.
Go stay at Riu Yucatan as a large group. There is so much to do. The food is excellent and the people are so friendly.
The theme parks there are amazing.

I wonder if all of those who have lied to get in have travelled since the start of the trump administration or not and whether this new president has made a difference?

personally I just don't see that its right to lie. its a holiday and there are plenty of other places in the world to go together.

if you do lie and fill in the esta then get caught out at security it will be far more traumatic for everyone.

also, I get that the two countries don't share intelligence but that should be don't share intelligence YET. I am pretty certain that one of the outcomes of brexit and our trade deals with the USA will hinge on us sharing conviction information because it is indentified as a huge issue by Trump.

I would fully expect that in the not too distant future certain information will be shared and also wouldn't be surprised if its started already.

I'm afraid you should honestly think about going somewhere else - there's a million places in the world where you could entertain children for three weeks. If yours are set on Disneyland you could take them to Paris for a few days as a separate holiday so they don't feel like they've missed out on something you promised them.

Also, everyone is different, but I've been to the US twice and while I was mildly disappointed the first time (I built up huge expectations) I HATED it the second time - you couldn't pay me to go back! I had less of a culture shock visiting India

Eh... I don't know, sorry.
Canada?

Slightly shocked at the advice to lie on the forms. Yes you may get away with it but dread to think if they found out. Also morally plus how worried you would be at immigration.

Dh got cornered on a train by 2 homeland security cops when we were on holiday in California. He cycled somewhere and got train back with his bike. He is utterly blameless but they were very aggressive and threatened to arrest him for not having his passport on him. Apparently he was violating some law by being a foreigner not carrying his passport. He took it with him everywhere after that even to the beach!

But honestly, I've been to Mexico with our whole family (soo many little cousins. Toddler, school aged children, teens, adults...) and everybody usually found something entertaining to do.
Plus, the food is delicious.