I want to visit Los Angeles next year with my partner and was looking at the visa forms. Do they usualy ask such weird questions like 'what is your mothers mothers name, what is your fathers fathers name, what is your maternal grandmothers name (which is the same as the first question etc?:

You just fill a Visa Waiver on the plane before you land. They do checks when you book the flight as you have to pay and fill in a Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

It is very rare you have to get an actual Visa stamped in your passport via the Yank Embassy

You just fill a Visa Waiver on the plane before you land. They do checks when you book the flight as you have to pay and fill in a Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

 

It is very rare you have to get an actual Visa stamped in your passport via the Yank Embassy

Provided the OP is elegible for a Visa Waiver.

They (or someone in their travelling party)

i) may not be a UK national,

ii) may have a criminal record, making them ineligible for the Visa Waiver.....

The yanks have no access to the UK Police National Computer to check Criminal Records unless the border agency in America ask you to sign a waiver.. The ESTA is used to check if you overstayed/deported etc or are on any international database such as international arrest warrants etc.

Though i agree you have to be a UK Citizen and the Visa waiver does ask if you have any criminal convictions. Tick no and they find out you will be in violation of that visa waiver and deported back to the UK.

If i rememebr correctly they call it "Moral Turpitude"

 

Though i agree you have to be a UK Citizen and the Visa waiver does ask if you have any criminal convictions. Tick no and they find out you will be in violation of that visa waiver and deported back to the UK.

 

And then ineligible for a visa (for quite some time)

and ineligible for the visa waiver (indefinitely, unless they change the rules) ........

Do not know about the yanks but the Australian Government do an exclusion for 2 years

What if a UK National is covered under the Rehabiitation of Offenders Act. He can truthfully respond with NO to any previous convictions????

What if a UK National is covered under the Rehabiitation of Offenders Act. He can truthfully respond with NO to any previous convictions????

IIRC, the Yanks don't have ROA in their legal system. To this end I believe even spent convictions need to be declared. However, it's a while since I filled in my last ESTA and not being a convict I didn't spend too much time reading the notes accompanying those sections.

I also believe that Moral Turpitude applies to a number of offences when they are made more grievous. The example I recall seeing is battery. Beating your wife with your fists is a crime. Beating your wife with a bat or similar is a crime of moral turpitude and is treated more seriously.

Furthermore, I also recall that they ask if you have ever been ARRESTED for.... Etc.....

It's quite an interesting read and there is a list of such crimes somewhere on the Federal website.

The assertion that the only info the Yanks have is that posted on Interpol et al is quite correct. And, of course, anything they've learned during previous visits to the USA...

What if a UK National is covered under the Rehabiitation of Offenders Act. He can truthfully respond with NO to any previous convictions????

ROA doesn't apply to US Ummigration law (in the same way that sometimes ROA doesn't come into effect for UK employment : things can be "exempt" from the provisions of ROA)

NACRO do have some useful info:

https://www.nacro.org.uk/resettlement-advice-service/support-for-individuals/travelling-abroad-and-immigration-to-the-uk/declaring-your-criminal-record-when-travelling-to-specific-countries/#us

I want to visit Los Angeles next year with my partner and was looking at the visa forms. Do they usualy ask such weird questions like 'what is your mothers mothers name, what is your fathers fathers name, what is your maternal grandmothers name (which is the same as the first question etc?:

Yes they do...just complete it and submit...job done....only take 5 mins to complete.

Andy

If you're Muslim and trump gets voted in you won't be going anywhere

Your offence will not be considered one of moral turpitude if:

• You were under 18 when you committed the offence.
  
• At least 5 years have elapsed since the date of your conviction or, where you were sentenced to a period of detention or imprisonment, at least 5 years have elapsed since the date of your release.
  
• The maximum possible sentence for the offence was less than 12 months (regardless of the actual sentence you received) and you were sentenced to 6 months or less.
  

That is interesting, so you can say no to any ancient criminal convictions that fall under the above characteristics.

If you're Muslim and trump gets voted in you won't be going anywhere

Except he has to get it through both houses and he has zero chance of that happening. Even his own party has said theyll stop him.

Except he has to get it through both houses and he has zero chance of that happening. Even his own party has said theyll stop him.

God help the world if he became president.

These days everything is possible, remember brexit???

Can still be impeached through their system. Or removed from office if he's incapable.

He's also hinting at pulling out of the un. North Korea ring a bell?

Guys, this is an advice thread, can we keep to topic please?

If you want to discuss Trump, I suggest a thread in the Bear Garden.

HB

I want to visit Los Angeles next year with my partner and was looking at the visa forms. Do they usualy ask such weird questions like 'what is your mothers mothers name, what is your fathers fathers name, what is your maternal grandmothers name (which is the same as the first question etc?:

Poor shortwoman..she only asked a simple question.

Refer to Post#10

Fill in the waiver form and you'll be fine. I went to Los Angeles in may for 3 weeks and the waiver took 2 mins to fill in and was authorised immediately.

ROA doesn't apply to US Ummigration law (in the same way that sometimes ROA doesn't come into effect for UK employment : things can be "exempt" from the provisions of ROA)

Indeed, it applies only to UK companies and organisations. ROA doesn't apply anywhere outside the UK.

Your offence will not be considered one of moral turpitude if:

• You were under 18 when you committed the offence.
  
• At least 5 years have elapsed since the date of your conviction or, where you were sentenced to a period of detention or imprisonment, at least 5 years have elapsed since the date of your release.
  
• The maximum possible sentence for the offence was less than 12 months (regardless of the actual sentence you received) and you were sentenced to 6 months or less.
  

That is interesting, so you can say no to any ancient criminal convictions that fall under the above characteristics.

Where did you get this information from please?