What types of visa can I get for travel to the US with a criminal conviction?

Question

I was convicted of Drink Driving (DR10) a few weeks ago (1st offence) and I was due to go on holiday to Peru and transit via Newark Airport and spend a few days in New York on the way back. I read on the US embassy website that I now needed a visa (if you have ever been convicted or arressted - even if the arrest didn't lead to a charge) and couldn't use the visa waiver form. So I cancelled the holiday. I am now planning to go in November and I am happy to apply for a visa at the US emabssy, but the police check required for the Embassy appointment takes 40 days and the embassy decision takes another 14. So will i have to go through this process every time I want to go to america on a non-immigrant visa? Or are there other visa types that once I have it, I can travel to the US for multiple entries over a lond period (maybe a few years)? I have read about a waiver of ineligibility - what does this allow and who is it for please? I am British and live in the UK.

Answer 1

for the official site go to

www.travel.state.gov or

http://www.state.gov/travelandbusiness/

Answer 2

DUI (as we call it across the pond) is not a 'crime involving moral turpitude', which is the only sort of crime that can bar you from the US.  So if you are a British citizen with a UK passport, you can, with a clear conscience, either apply for a US nonimmigrant visa, or travel to and through the US without a visa as long as you stay no longer than 90 days.  Here is info on the visa waiver; everybody uses it:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/withou...

Answer 3

I have been to the US many times with only my British passport, no need to get a visa. Even so, you will always be requested on an entry declaration form on which one of the must answered question is have you or not a criminal record. Depending on how serious your convicted crime is with consideration for being the first & only one, etc. they will let you know whether you can enter the country.