family holiday to usa

kellydangerous1

im going on a family holiday to usa in may 2010 but just found out that my criminal conviction in 2001 for which i received community service and 2 year suspended sentence i need to apply for a visa whats the chance if i apply now of me making it for my holiday. i know what i need but need to make sure got chance of going

sturll

kellydangerous1 wrote: »

im going on a family holiday to usa in may 2010 but just found out that my criminal conviction in 2001 for which i received community service and 2 year suspended sentence i need to apply for a visa whats the chance if i apply now of me making it for my holiday. i know what i need but need to make sure got chance of going

What did you do?

Pssst

You need to apply asap...or if your feeling lucky,just chance it. If you registered on line at ESTA, i wonder if they would flag up that they would refuse you entry?

old_motters

Not having applied for a US Visa I don't know how long they take however, you're not unique and people often need to travel at short notice so they will act promptly I'm sure.

I would not book anything til you have the visa in your hand though.

sturll

The OP has asked for advice, but without knowing what she/he did we cannot advise accordingly.

dzug1

old_motters wrote: »

Not having applied for a US Visa I don't know how long they take however, you're not unique and people often need to travel at short notice so they will act promptly I'm sure.

I would not book anything til you have the visa in your hand though.

Act promptly? :rotfl:

Well at busy times it can take two months to get an appointment at the Embassy for starters. (Can be quicker if you are prepared to chance a cancellation becoming available)

Once you have been to the appointment the visa takes about a week - BUT if you have a criminal record that is in their view serious enough to refer your case to Washington for a decision it can take a LOT longer - several months at least.

You haven't said what your criminal record is for - only certain types of crime prevent you using the ESTA route, 'moral turpitude' being the main one. If you are looking at the US Embassy website, it's very misleading about this. They distrust (probably rightly) the British public to understand moral turpitude, so for any crime they say apply for a visa and let us decide - but you are entitled to decide for yourself.

kellydangerous1

my criminal record was for not posting mail and shredding it and burning it it was my first offence and never done anything like that berfore

Pssst

Its hardly big time Kelly. In fact its becoming the norm in some parts of the Royal Mail. Maybe you should go over here and ask in the visa section..

http://talk.uk-yankee.com

kellydangerous1

it was my only offence and i have never been in trouble before i 've just sent off for my passport to be renewed but once i get it back if i go on this esta website and put truth in will it tell me if i pass mmediately andhow long does it take to get a visa off the us embassy and what do i need to take to them

kellydangerous1

would my offence come under thiscategory or would i be ok to put no on this esta form

dzug1

kellydangerous1 wrote: »

would my offence come under thiscategory or would i be ok to put no on this esta form

Mail fraud is moral turpitude as is malicious destruction of property.

If you tick YES on the ESTA form it will tell you immediately that you can't have an ESTA and must apply for a visa. That will take several months - maybe as many as 6.

For a start the current wait time for an appointment in London is 33 days