Getting in to America.. Criminal Records..

ABA Boxing · Post by **ABA Boxing** » 10 May 2007, 07:24

TheRock wrote:
ABA Boxing wrote:
Hagler2002 wrote:I also know of someone who could not get in with a drink driving offense.
So if Khan gets a ban. No Vegas fights for him! LOL
Khan don't drink!

No, that wasnt the point, 140mph speeding conviction and ban is! it was related to the driving offense not the drinking part

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 10 May 2007, 08:11

Im sure its only criminal convictions you get knocked back for.

A mate of mine (many years ago) got sacked from his job for not declaring a criminal conviction, he took them to a tribunal stating he thought stealing a car and burning it out was a motoring conviction - he lost.

chris s · Post by **chris s** » 10 May 2007, 08:20

I have a mate who did 18 months and has got in twice in last 18 months without a visa and know of others who have got it in with convictions but not serious. All gave dabs in US - two were at Hatton's last fight

Also heard of cases where people did next to nothing and got stopped.

Truth is we don't know what info they have.

My guess (and that is all this is) is that when they get passengers lists while you are in the air they do full checks on random names but not all.

It could also be the new style passports tell them a lot more

If you look at US embassy site it says you MAY not be admitted (whether been convicted or even not guilty)a word which covers a multitude of things yet the green card you get on the plane says five years aggregate in clink for two offences which are basically drugs or violence or moral turpitude, which on some sites says is serious sex crimes but fornicate knows what it means.

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 10 May 2007, 11:15

I would just keep quiet and deny everything on that green card.
U are supposed to apply for a visa from the US Embassy but if that goes against u, u will be f**ked

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 10 May 2007, 11:22

Yes, if you apply for a visa, they will be much more likely to find about about any checks.

My guess is that the systems they employ that contain the information are not that well integrated. Things will be different when everyone's passport has electronic chips embedded, but when you think about how piss poor this country's own administrative systems (e.g the tax office does not share information with the benefits service, allowing people to sign on and work, even on the cards, without fear of prosecution) then how on earth are American immigration going to have a fully integrated linked in system which shows your entire criminal life......dream on.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 10 May 2007, 11:22

Coco wrote:I would just keep quiet and deny everything on that green card.
U are supposed to apply for a visa from the US Embassy but if that goes against u, u will be f**ked

Also, if it goes against you and they deny you a visa, you will most probably be banned from the states FOR LIFE.

Keep your mouth shut and hope for the best.

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 10 May 2007, 12:10

if you are not going for long then you can just do the form on the plane as long as you hold a british passport

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 10 May 2007, 12:13

Thing is, they have your name and passport number available should they want it, before you even land in the states. If anything is going to show up on you, the chances are they will be primed at immigration before they even read that green card. I filled mine out whilst in the cue for immigration, so it's not like it's that important anyway.

The green form is just part of the Visa Waiver programme which allows travellers from participating countries who are staying less than 90 days, to enter the country without a visa. The only possible downside of not filling in that information on the green card, is that should they have information on your record which they flag up, which you deny on that green card, they will not let you enter the country in the future, but that's a risk worth taking, given that if you fill YES to any of those boxes, they will almost certainly send you home on entering the country.

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 10 May 2007, 13:04

How long does a caution last? I got one for being a passenger in a stolen car about 3 years ago. I heard they get wiped after 5 years?

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 10 May 2007, 13:09

The caution is always there, it don't get wiped but they are normally ignored after 5 yrs

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 10 May 2007, 13:26

Coco wrote:The caution is always there, it don't get wiped but they are normally ignored after 5 yrs

So lets say I wanted to move to the States permantly (I don't), would the US embassy be likely to find out about it and would it be a problem?

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 10 May 2007, 13:31

If you were going on holiday the 5 yrs would be fine.
If u were 2 emmigrate I think it would be different. They take every case on it's merits, work, youth, money etc and I think a caution over 5 yrs ago would pale into insignificance if you ticked all the other boxes.
However they can use any excuse they like when it comes to it

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 10 May 2007, 13:34

Coco wrote:If you were going on holiday the 5 yrs would be fine.
If u were 2 emmigrate I think it would be different. They take every case on it's merits, work, youth, money etc and I think a caution over 5 yrs ago would pale into insignificance if you ticked all the other boxes.
However they can use any excuse they like when it comes to it

If I was going on holiday I wouldn't even admit to it, would it be best to do the same if I was emigrating?

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 10 May 2007, 13:34

If a body like the US embassy wanted to dig deep enough they could find out what they wanted pretty much.
But obviously they only go so far, as do companies who employ u and police checks etc
No-one would bother to check cautions bac over 5 yrs unless u gave them good reason 2

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 11 May 2007, 05:59

Precisely, most of the time they don't carry out exhaustive checks, but if you wanted to emigrate there, you can be sure that they would carry out exhaustive checks on you and dig up every last bit of criminal activity in your past.

KO Artist · Post by **KO Artist** » 11 May 2007, 08:10

Do they automaticaaly check your fingerprint on entering the US now?

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 11 May 2007, 10:11

They do automatically check them, but god knows what they check them against!
And the Yanks have no interest in reforming gun law because it is their god given right to bear arms!
They are far more interested in hassling people who don't fill in forms correctly

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 11 May 2007, 10:30

They are unable to reform the gun laws partly because of the powerful vested interests and lobby groups whose votes they cannot afford to lose.