Entry into USA

[Greeny]

I need to take some employees to New York for a 'Holiday' for about a month.

One of them was a bit of a twit about 10 years ago and spent some time at Her Majesty's resort for fistycuffs.
He has been told that means they will not let him in.
Is this true or just banter?

Edited by Greeny on Tuesday 25th November 09:37

[Plotloss]

Lie and it wont get discovered, tell the truth and he might not get in.

Your call.

[Fidgits]

you should check with the US embassay.

If he arrives on the visa waiver program and they have an issue, he may not be let in - if you check in advance he should be okay.

[Hoppy2008]

agree with plotloss

[TommyTT]

He should be ok, I think its anything over a 4 year sentence that would stop him getting in, that and anything drug related. If they let me in your mate will have no probs.

[anonymous-user]

Call US embassy and see if he needs a visa - nothing worse than being refused entry and sent straight back home!!!

If he does need a visa he'll need to get a police certificate showing his criminal record and then you go for an interview at the embassy to see if they'll give you the visa.

[Hoppy2008]

garyhun said:

Call US embassy and see if he needs a visa - nothing worse than being refused entry and sent straight back home!!!

If he does need a visa he'll need to get a police certificate showing his criminal record and then you go for an interview at the embassy to see if they'll give you the visa.

My friends brother travelled to the US for a holiday and they sent him straight back for a very minor problem with his Visa.
They can be total s so check it out before you go if you are unsure.

[CY88]

There's also some changes to bear in mind if its after Jan 12th...

https://www.tlcsvisas.com/tlcs/usaInfo.aspx

My agent said "The application process may take up to approximately 15-20 minutes and authorisation is normally granted immediately but may take up to 72 hours. It is recommended that travellers apply for authorisation at the time of booking or at least 72 hours before their flight to ensure that they are able to travel."

Edited by CY88 on Tuesday 25th November 10:57

[b591]

i'd get it checked out first if it was me, a mate of mine from work took a career break (had to beg), planned everything out for a couple of months travelling the states, saved up and then as soon as he got there he got put straight back on the next plane to the UK as they thought he wouldn't leave, even with a full time job and household over here.

he left work on the friday and was back on the tuesday!

[walm]

Those Qs on the back of the green visa waiver form are a joke.
If you seriously believe that the HM Prison Service or CPS has a real-time link to those grumpy arrogant muppets who ruin your first impression of the US (immigration officers) then you are deluded.

I am sure there is some exchange of information about seriously high-priority individuals such as Bin Laden, Kim Jong-Il, Mugabe etc... but for some fisticuffs a few years ago I would strongly recommend keeping quiet.

[Greeny]

Thanks for replies. I am not looking to get him a visa as its only a 'holiday'. I think it may be prudent to make some 'on behalf of a friend' type of enquries with the embassy though!

[CY88]

Greeny said:

Thanks for replies. I am not looking to get him a visa as its only a 'holiday'. I think it may be prudent to make some 'on behalf of a friend' type of enquries with the embassy though!

The link I posted will apply to everyone, not just people looking to work.

[trooperiziz]

b591 said:

i'd get it checked out first if it was me, a mate of mine from work took a career break (had to beg), planned everything out for a couple of months travelling the states, saved up and then as soon as he got there he got put straight back on the next plane to the UK as they thought he wouldn't leave, even with a full time job and household over here.

he left work on the friday and was back on the tuesday!

What the hell did he say to the US immigration staff? There must be more to that story.

[Neil_H]

I think he should be ok as long as it wasn't drugs offences, but he will need to go to the embassy in advance.

[rude-boy]

trooperiziz said:

What the hell did he say to the US immigration staff? There must be more to that story.

At a guess

Officer: “What is the porpoise of your visit to the United States Sir?”
Friend: “I’ve taken a few months away from my job and plan on travelling your fine country as I’ve always wondered what it is like in the flesh.”
Officer: “ A few months Sir, where are you planning on travelling?”
Friend: ”Not sure, thought I’d start off here and trapse around, a few days here, a week there, and so on.”
Officer: “Can you show me the return part of your ticket please Sir?”
Friend “I don’t have one, I don’t know when I will be going back in the next few months and where from.”
Officer: “Sir, please follow me to these rooms over there Sir.” (2 other ‘officials’ appear at his side…)


ETA seen similar happen infront of me in a queue at LAX.

Edited by rude-boy on Tuesday 25th November 13:32

[mr_fibuli]

The Embassy line seems insanely strict: "Some travelers may not be eligible to enter the United States visa free under the VWP. These include people who have been arrested, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction, those with criminal records, (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law)"

However if you look at that electronic travel authorisation site thingy (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov) they use the same wording as the Visa Waiver - 5+ years in prison, or crimes of "moral turpitude" which they go on to describe as "base, vile, or depraved".

[ViperScot]

The US DO NOT have access to your criminal record. If you indicate that you do not have a criminal record on your visa waiver form (and you haven't been convicted of a crime in the US) they have no way of finding out to the contrary.

[Targarama]

ViperScot said:

The US DO NOT have access to your criminal record. If you indicate that you do not have a criminal record on your visa waiver form (and you haven't been convicted of a crime in the US) they have no way of finding out to the contrary.

Unless they decide to take you to one side and make some calls. Only likely if you're really dodgy looking. Any 'normal' looking person going over for work/vacation will get in just fine so long as they have put down somewhere to stay on the forms and know when they're coming home (no vague answers).

[ViperScot]

Los Angeles said:

ViperScot said:

The US DO NOT have access to your criminal record. If you indicate that you do not have a criminal record on your visa waiver form (and you haven't been convicted of a crime in the US) they have no way of finding out to the contrary.

You wish.

I know this from personal experience. I lived in California for 3 years and have visited there many times before and since without incident at immigration.

[Chris71]

Not wishing to hijack the thread, but does anyone know what the situation is with work/pleasure trips? I'm going over to cover a show in a few weeks time and I've been advised it might be better to say I'm on holiday, apparently they don't like people working over there, especially the media?