Travelling to USA

Bobvance

Hello

in looking for some advise, when I was a student I was accused of s.assault this was a false accusation and was given an NDA.

fast forward 10 years I want to travel to the USA on the etsa application it asks if I have ever been arrested. It’s my understanding that arrested in the USA and UK are two completely different things.

this is now giving me anxiety again after I have moved on with my life. I’m looking for some advice of whether I need to apply for a visa or I can go down the etsa application.

thank you 

TadleyBaggie

Presume you mean NFA,  if it was a NDA you shouldn't be talking about it...

The question asked on the ESTA site is:

• Have you ever been convicted or arrested for a crime that resulted in serious harm to another person, severe damage to properties, or government authority?

Which seems a strange wording, because if you have been convicted then surely you were arrested. So why not just say "convicted" or "arrested", but not both? I know in other countries it is only a conviction that triggers visa entry issues. 

Suspect you might have to query this with them.

Voyager2002

Bobvance said:

Hello

in looking for some advise, when I was a student I was accused of s.assault this was a false accusation and was given an NDA.

fast forward 10 years I want to travel to the USA on the etsa application it asks if I have ever been arrested. It’s my understanding that arrested in the USA and UK are two completely different things.

this is now giving me anxiety again after I have moved on with my life. I’m looking for some advice of whether I need to apply for a visa or I can go down the etsa application.

thank you 

'Accused' could simply mean that someone told the teacher you hit them. Were the police called? I think we all know what it means to be arrested? Even if charges were dropped; you accepted a caution or you were found 'not guilty' then if the arrest was for "a crime involving moral Turpitude" then you still need a visa. Since I do not know what you mean by NDA I have no idea whether or not you were actually arrested, nor whether the accusation was of something that the USA believes involves "moral Turpitude". If you still have any documents you can check what the exact charge was, and maybe ask a US lawyer if this was a CIMT (no use asking the embassy because no matter what, they always tell you to get a visa).

Basically, no trip to the USA is worth all the nuisance, anxiety and general hassle that it involves. I suggest that you visit Cuba and Canada instead.

Bobvance

Apologies I mean NFA