Can you holiday in florida with a criminal record

This is the application for the visa in the states if you read carefully the questions are about the USA not the UK. This is the application for the visa in the states if you read carefully the questions are about the USA not the UK The ESTA application specifically asks: 1.

Have you ever been arrested or convicted for a crime that resulted in serious damage to property, or serious harm to another person or government authority Have you ever violated any law related to possessing, using, or distributing illegal drugs? Do you seek to engage in or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities, espionage, sabotage, or genocide?

Have you ever committed fraud or misrepresented yourself or others to obtain, or assist others to obtain, a visa or entry into the United States? Therein lies the problem The key words in the questions though are when it states the US government.

It doesnt specifiy the government of home country. The only question that asks about fraud specifies to obtain a US Visa. The other question that asks about convictions is ask if ther person caused damage, harm, to personal belongings, persons, and the government.

I'm not sure if you catch my drift but the US words the questions pretty open. Peronsally if it were me filling out the application I would answer no to all of the questions just because of how the application is worded.

Here that would not be. Hope this makes a little sense as its hard to explain over a message. ALL the questions are directed towards the applicant's criminal record, period. I am looking to travel to florida in , and wondered if somebody could clarify the following about the visa scheme? I live in the UK. Would I be treated any differently to somebody entering via the normal visa waiver scheme? Or would I walk straight through to the usual checks? I was unsure if there are further checks or interviews etc.

I wish to try and avoid any embarrassment in-front of members of the family not aware of my issue. I look forward to hearing from you.

Obviously I can't answer with your specific situation of a criminal record but applying for a Visa involves completion of forms, photographs and a visit to the US Emabassy which can be very time consuming. When we applied for Visas their main concern was that we were going to return to the UK and were not intending to seek work in the US.

To this end proof of our home ownership, jobs etc had to be produced and they went under fine scrutiny. The Visa last 10 years, if your passport runs out in that time you travel with your expirered passport, with Visa, and your new passport.

For us the decision was made on the day, passports kept and sent by courier about three days later. When you get to US Immigration you queue with everyone else, generally we are asked why we have Visas, how long we are going to stay etc etc but it has never been of any benefit, or otherwise, at point of entry into US, we are photographed each visit and finger scan taken. Clare R.

Regards, Mark. As part of your application, you will need to apply for a police certificate and you may need to attend an interview. The US Department of State have useful information on their website about what they take into account when deciding whether or not to grant a visa. See here for further information about applying for a visa. My conviction or caution is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Other countries have different means by which they deem a person to be legally rehabilitated.

The short answer is: probably not. The US authorities do not have access to criminal record information held on the Police National Computer. However, if the authorities have particular concerns about an individual, they may request criminal record information from the Home Office by making an application through Interpol. Such requests, however, are rare. It is a criminal offence to provide false information for the purposes of obtaining a visa waiver or visa to the US. In the worst case scenario, you will be prosecuted.

Prosecution under the Immigration and Nationality Act has a maximum sentence of two years in prison. Prosecution under US Code Title 18 carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. When you check in for your flight at a UK airport, you will be asked a series of questions and your answers will be checked against the information provided in your Visa Waiver application. Similarly, when you reach immigration at a US airport, you will be asked to provide your fingerprints and again you will be asked a series of questions and your answers will be checked against your Visa Waiver application.

If your answers conflict with the information you have provided on your Visa Waiver application form, or if the authorities have any doubts about the information you have provided, you may find that you are refused entry to the US and you are returned back to the UK. It may be that you decide to withhold details of you criminal record and successfully travel to, or via, the US under the Visa Waiver Programme.

It may then be the case that at some point in the future you need to apply for a visa to the US — perhaps because you take on certain employment — and you need to travel there for longer than 90 days, or you decide to emigrate.

In order to apply for the visa, you will need to supply a copy of your Police Certificate which may disclose details of your criminal record which you had previously withheld. The US Embassy will retain details of your previous Visa Waiver and this may then give them grounds to refuse your new visa application for having previously lied about your criminal record. The US Embassy advises that they expect you to declare any arrests or convictions, regardless of the nature of the offence or the length of time that has elapsed.