Refusal into USA

[MrsXx4]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows someone or has first hand experience of being refused entry into America for having a criminal record. Either at the ESTA application or for application of a full visa stage?

I don’t need details unless you are willing to share but I’d like to gather what the chances would be of a refusal of an ESTA application.

thank you.

I know this is an older thread, but I'm adding this for anyone still searching for answers in 2026 because the new automated ESTA checks are brutal now, they’re flagging tiny UK cautions from a decade ago.

Getting turned around at the border is a horror story you don't want. After I got rejected the first time, the London embassy was a wall for me. I ended up using Green Evans-Schroeder to fix the mess with my ACRO record, and they actually got my B2 sorted. Honestly, if you have any record at all, don't just wing the interview like I did, it’s not worth the stress for your family