I do know of a couple of people who have had minor convictions who have got into the US. They just didn't declare it on their ESTA Visa Waiver applications and got through immigration without an issue.
I also know one guy who declared a minor conviction from when he was in his late teens, and was refused a US ESTA visa waiver. His way around it was to apply for the equivalent Canadian Visa Waiver, didn't declare any criminal record, was granted the visa waiver and flew into Canada no problem. He then crossed a road border into the USA without an issue.
I suspect a lot of people don't declare a criminal record and take a chance on getting in and most of them do.
On the B side of that, a chap I know rocked up to the Canadian border on his bike some years ago and when he was asked if he had a criminal record, he made a gag about a drink driving ban when he was young and he was refused entry. Turns out that a DUI in Canada is classed as a criminal felony and on the banned list.
I'm not sure how much information is available to a US immigration officer when they swipe your passport so I guess it's up to you whether you take the chance or not.
I ask because I went to court 43 years ago for behaviour liable to cause a breach of the peace and reciev a £25 fine no suspension or anything so was wondering if this might cause me a problem .
I would hate to pay out thousands on a bile tour only to be refused entry and lose the. Lot .
There must be some way of checking if there is a record. Were you a juvenile at the time? JJHI ask because I went to court 43 years ago for behaviour liable to cause a breach of the peace and reciev a £25 fine no suspension or anything so was wondering if this might cause me a problem .
I would hate to pay out thousands on a bile tour only to be refused entry and lose the. Lot .
I’ve seen the immigration service in action crossing from Canada to the USA. Don’t take any chances because you will go into custody. JJHHaving spent time with the US immigration service in the past due to visa irregularities I'd recommend that you do it right.
The question they ask is quantified by the word "serious", your conviction probably doesn't meet that criteria. ABH doesn't for example but you need to check.
ETSA criminal record
You also do a DBS check if you want a clear conscience.
DBS check
Doesn't apply in the USoA and still shows on an enhanced DBS check.I cant remember but something about the rehabilitation of offenders act and convictions only need to be declared for a certain length of time before they are expunged from records
Depending on the offence of course
I was in the same boat with minor convictions in my teens. I foolishly declared that I had some and was invited to the US embassy for an interview. This didn't go particularly well - I was initially refused and referred to the Department of Homeland Security (or whatever it's called) for more checks to be carried out. This involved me allowing the US authorities access to my criminal record, for them to verify what I told them was essentially the truth - can you remember exact dates forty odd years ago!I ask because I went to court 43 years ago for behaviour liable to cause a breach of the peace and reciev a £25 fine no suspension or anything so was wondering if this might cause me a problem .
I would hate to pay out thousands on a bile tour only to be refused entry and lose the. Lot .
That’s scary. In Ireland at that time or maybe a bit before you could have ended up in an industrial school run by religious brothers. Just google Artane Industrial school. JJHI was in the same boat with minor convictions in my teens. I foolishly declared that I had some and was invited to the US embassy for an interview. This didn't go particularly well - I was initially refused and referred to the Department of Homeland Security (or whatever it's called) for more checks to be carried out. This involved me allowing the US authorities access to my criminal record, for them to verify what I told them was essentially the truth - can you remember exact dates forty odd years ago!
Anyhow, four months or so later they granted me a visa, regrettably too late to take the holiday, costing us around many £1,000's.
The real pisser is that there's no way of the US authorities of finding out, without you giving them access to your criminal records. If I had known then what I do today, I'd never confess.
Even if your convictions are considered 'spent', they are still there. One of the records was for 2 counts of theft and burglary at Aldershot Juvenile Court, for receiving around £3.00's worth of stolen items. I was 13 at the time.
Good luck.