Help Travelling to america with a criminal record

lightmilk

Hi all,
Im planning on going on holiday to america soon for ten days. The problem i have is that i have a criminal conviction for assault section 3 on a football field to which i got a three year suspended sentence which is over now . How do i go about applying for a tourist visa anyone being through this process any tips/help
Thanks in advance

punisher5112

lightmilk wrote: »

Hi all,
Im planning on going on holiday to america soon for ten days. The problem i have is that i have a criminal conviction for assault section 3 on a football field to which i got a three year suspended sentence which is over now . How do i go about applying for a tourist visa anyone being through this process any tips/help
Thanks in advance

Most likely they will turn you down.

They are extremely strict on convictions especially such a serious one.

Riesen_Meal

punisher5112 wrote: »

Most likely they will turn you down.

They are extremely strict on convictions especially such a serious one.

Not necessarily true, an acquaintance of mine with a lot worse conviction's than that above has been in and out of US several times in the last decade or so, but was always up front with them about his past...

I'd say enquire with immigration beforehand and see what they say or can be done, they may interview you before you go which I think is what they did with the lad I know...

Miaireland

I would suggest contacting the Americian Embassy in Dublin asap. They are the best people to advise you how to go about declaring or able to tell you if you need to apply for a special type of visa.

Endaaaagh

You will need a Visa to go. Unfortunately the only way you know if they'll grant you one or not is to book an appointment and go the embassy.

athtrasna

Book absolutely nothing until you have the visa. You sound like you're already making plans so get moving on the visa application before making any bookings.

whomitconcerns

Your not eligible for visa waiver just do standard visa app with full disclosure

prinzeugen

But do the US have access to Irish criminal records? Do they actually check everyone on the visa waver programme?

wokingvoter

prinzeugen wrote: »

But do the US have access to Irish criminal records? Do they actually check everyone on the visa waver programme?

Don't even think about attempting to hide your past conviction. You will be asked a straightforward question and if you lie it will go very badly for you

lightmilk

Thank everyone so do i contact the embassy for appointment or fill out a form

whomitconcerns

Go to their website and fill in the non immigrant visa application, part of the process is to setup an interview. Ds160 form I think but just follow the steps

vg88

probably no chance for esta, but I say you might be able to get a visa at the embassy if you prove you've changed and a good person to society.
I work with US customs in dublin airport before, it's if you spent more than a year in prison or anything involved in drugs conviction it's a no for life.

whomitconcerns

moloner4 wrote: »

probably no chance for esta, but I say you might be able to get a visa at the embassy if you prove you've changed and a good person to society.
I work with US customs in dublin airport before, it's if you spent more than a year in prison or anything involved in drugs conviction it's a no for life.

its not a "probably no esta" he is not eligible for visa waiver/esta.

He needs a standard non immigrant visa application and interview

HcksawJimDuggan

whomitconcerns wrote: »

its not a "probably no esta" he is not eligible for visa waiver/esta.

He needs a standard non immigrant visa application and interview

Does that apply to all convictions or the fact that it's a conviction for assault?

I remember looking into this before and iirc it states that you are not entitled to Visa Waiver if you have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude which can have a fairly broad meaning.

I have a conviction for intoxication in a public place from my college days, applied for the ESTA about 2 years ago and cleared through customs in the US. Not sure if I was just lucky that I wasn't flagged though.

VisibleGorilla

wokingvoter wrote: »

Don't even think about attempting to hide your past conviction. You will be asked a straightforward question and if you lie it will go very badly for you

It could go very badly. Worse is you're banned for life from the US for immigration fraud.

You will need to apply for a visa which will be rejected due to a conviction for a crime of moral turpitude. You will need to get a inadmissibility wavier yet this is not guaranteed.

Even having a visa is no guarantee you'll be allowed entry, that is up to the CBP officer at the point of entry. This process is at least 6+ months.

The US authorities only know what you tell them.

vg88

They have non access to the system for irish convictions, if you were to lie they would know only as much as another person. But if you are going to lie scan across the internet and google your name 100s of time to make damn sure there's no online record

The_Bot

moloner4 wrote: »

They have non access to the system for irish convictions, if you were to lie they would know only as much as another person. But if you are going to lie scan across the internet and google your name 100s of time to make damn sure there's no online record

If you lie and you are caught = fraudulent misrepresentation = life time ban from ever entering the US with no possibly of a waiver. Don't be a fool.

prinzeugen

wokingvoter wrote: »

Don't even think about attempting to hide your past conviction. You will be asked a straightforward question and if you lie it will go very badly for you

Eh.. I am not the OP!