theForum

USA travel with drugs convictions and previous visit


https://forum.unlock.org.uk/Topic11130.aspx

By rocco corrado - 22 Apr 16 10:09 AM

Hello,

Apologies for going over old ground but I have 3 convictions from 1998-1999 for very small amounts of controlled substances (class a and b) I paid fines each time.

Since that time I have also visited the U.S.A. in 2005 due to my father being killed there. I did not fill out the landing card correctly. (I thought it would not include “spent” convictions that didn't involve jail time.)

Obviously the question on the on-line ETSA is far more black and white.

I would like to return to visit girlfriends family (she is american)

So looks as though I will have to apply for a VISA - but does anyone have an opinion to what extent the visit will also go against me - giving false information I'm guessing? (although unknowingly...)

And if attending VISA interview does anyone know what supporting documents would be needed / useful ?

Thanks,
By BenS - 5 Aug 15 6:55 PM

Hello,

So you have (1) already successfully entered the USA on an ESTA and (2) had no brushes with the law since then. It is therefore likely that you would have no problems getting in on an ESTA in future (regardless of legalities), ticking NO to each question.

The US authorities have no access to the PNC. They can only access data on a specific person by individual request, for which they would need reasonable grounds i.e. specific suspicion (making a random check is not reasonable grounds). They would then have to contact the UK authorities there and then, providing their reason for wanting access to your data. I.e. extremely unlikely that they would do this unless they saw a specific serious threat.

Applying for a visa is the correct legal thing to do, but for most people with any criminal record they will arbitrarily decline entry. Seems much safer for you to go on an ESTA. You are already in their system and marked as good to enter.

As you will no doubt see from your online research, people with far more serious criminal records than you have got in on an ESTA no problem. The wording of the question about moral turpitude has now changed to being about causing harm to someone else.

If you are worried you can fly from Ireland, where they have US pre-screening at both Dublin and Shannon airports. This means the US border control takes place at the departure airport. Then, when you arrive in the US, your flight is treated like a domestic flight, so there is no border control. That way, in the extremely unlikely event that you are barred entry, you only have a return flight from Ireland to worry about, rather than a same-day transatlantic flight at your own expense.
By rocco corrado - 22 Apr 16 10:09 AM

Thanks for your answer - there is a lot of interesting information there - I didn't have to fill in the ETSA the first time in 2005 - it was just the landing card on arrival and the wording was slightly different. But I am definitely already in their system - fingerprinted etc.

And no - no brushes with the law at all since then.