All Things New York & £150 Flight Deals MERGED

saveapenny

lily_the_pink wrote:

The information on the visa waiver scheme is on the US Embassy website here, from my reading if you have been arrested you need to get a special restricted visa (this will involve interview at US embassy), and anyone with a criminal record (spent convictions DO count ie they are not spent as far as US immigration are concerned).

I have heard reports of it taking upto 14 weeks to get it through

lily_the_pink

saveapenny wrote:

I have heard reports of it taking upto 14 weeks to get it through

Without wishing to depress anyone, but there is not only the appointment with the US embassy to consider but also getting the documentation from police in this country.

NB, I knew this but had forgotten. Anyone who is HIV+ is also ineligible for the visa waiver program (quite how they would find out if you didnt declare it I dont know)

mercurystar999

So do you have to apply for the visas before you go?

Murphy_The_Cat

T'other thing is that you have to go to the embassy IN PERSON, not so bad if you're a Londoner, but a complete pain otherwise - there is a wait of several weeks to get an appointment. Apparently, the wait to visit the Embassy in Belfast is a shorter, which sppeds up the process considerably.

MTC

Murphy_The_Cat

mercurystar999 wrote:

So do you have to apply for the visas before you go?

If you're an ex-crim or ex-arrested, yes.

If caught at immigration you WILL get turned back, denied access and your chances of ever getting a Visa are nil.

If you're clean though, you get the Visa - waiver form on the plane.

MTC

lily_the_pink

I have been looking since yesterday for some decent accommodation in NY, hope some of the following links help (I have already found that some of the better budget places are full for the dates I want - you might have better luck on your dates) - apologies for repeating anything that anyone has already posted (just doing this so all in one place

Article on how to save money on hotels in NY (also links to other articles about how to spend 24 hours in city)
Budget hotels in NY from the Times (budget in this case = £100)
Hotel reviews on Lonely Planet website


Bed and Breakfast tend to be slightly more affordable than hotels (only slightly though):http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/
http://www.bbonline.com/ny/new+york.html

Lonely Planet discussion board listing of cheap hotels (a bit out of date but useful)
http://www.geocities.com/risen_feenix/html/NYBudgetHotels.html (another slightly more upto date)
http://www.hostels.com/en/index.html

http://www.citysonnet.com/rh.html (hosted and unhosted loft accommodation)

http://www.orbitz.com/ General hotel search engine - cant remember if on sticky
www.midashotels.com - another general hotel search engine.

Good job I got the flight cheap otherwise I really wouldnt be able to afford the price of a hotel.

ginger_nuts

for New York my brother uses www.hotwire.com
Yuo can pick the hotel but you can pick the area and price and star rating .Also if you dont book right away they will come back in about a week with a better deal .My sister in going to Canada in September and she booked via hotwire .
Edit I think New Jersey is cheaper than New York

mercurystar999

I'm worried now! I got arrested once for for being drunk! I was only 19, i didn't get convicted of nothing though. Will this make a difference??

Murphy_The_Cat

mercurystar999 wrote:

I'm worried now! I got arrested once for for being drunk! I was only 19, i didn't get convicted of nothing though. Will this make a difference??

Sadly, yes.

Contact the Embassy on their ridiulously expensive phone no, or hut around online for some details from them.

Either way, it is likely to take you a looooonnnnggggg time (someone quoted 14 weeks a while ago) and at least one day off work plus the expense of going to Belfast/Dublin to get a Visa.

Looking on the bright side though AFAIK, being arrested for being drunk won't stop you getting a visa - you just have to go through the rigmarole of getting one.

Good luck.

MTC

donna

I recently got points on my driving licence and a fine for speeding. I wasn't arrested for this as i was caught on a camera and had the paperwork come through the post automatically.

Also 15 years ago i was wrongly accused and arrested for smashing a window and was given a caution which i was told would stay on record for x no of years(5 i think).

Will i need to apply for a visa if i go?