juvenile arrest entering usa

Bob63

Anyone who has been arrested for a crime is ineligible to use the visa waiver program and must apply for a visa. If that arrest was for a crime of moral turpitude (which theft is) then a visa will denied. However there is a "get out of jail free card" for crimes committed by juveniles between the age of 15 and 18 in that they will not be refused entry once five years has passed since the crime was committed. Right now the OP's daughter would be refused entry to the USA but in 5 years time it wouldn't be a problem. Aged 14 or under and the child wouldn't be denied a visa.

Ref #1 - ineligibility for the visa waiver program - http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/ineligibilities/ineligibilities_1364.html

Ref #2 - exemption for 15-18 year olds - http://www.uscis.gov/propub/ProPubVAP.jsp?dockey=b3f64b51b79ca4268eb18b989d65f895

hammy_the_hammer

i think morally you ask yourself the question "have the US let in far worse criminals than myself / my son / my daughter etc "? ....that answer is pretty simple IMHO.
you then have to decide whether to lie on the VWP form in the knowledge they won't know about any convictions.