Well, looks like I won't be coming to the US for a holiday!

I've just been going through the requirements for a visa to enter the US as a tourist.

Just to be clear, I do have a DUI on my record from when I was young and stupid, this was over 10 years ago. Because of this I don't qualify for the visa waiver program. I've just phoned the embassy in London (at £1.20 a minute) and paid $133 for an interview. After paying this and arranging a date for the interview for the earliest date possible (5th March) I was told that it would take at least 8 weeks to process, after this I would have to send in my passport, wait for that to be processed and get it sent back (at £14 delivery each way, have to use the embassies own postal service.)

Seeing as we were due to travel on the 6th May, it doesn't look like this will all be done in time, 8 weeks from the interview is 30th April and I would still need to send the passport in and wait again.

So yes, I should have checked the requirements earlier but I did not imagine that the processing could take anywhere near as long as it does.

So for the sake of a stupid act 10 years ago, I'm now going to be out of pocket over £300 in charges and cancellation fees. :cry

Let this be a lesson to everybody, stupid acts can come back and haunt you! Also, the US requirements are beyond ludicrous, if I was a bloody terrorist, do you think I'd be going through all this rigmarole :mad

So now I'm not sure whether to cancel the holiday now and pay 20% cancellation charge or hope that all the machinery works smoothly and I get the visa and passport back in time.

 

trust me your not missing much (unless you have family here)

 

I've had a lot of experience with this, and it would be the same for any US citizen attempting to get in to the UK with a criminal record.

As to Arvald's comment of "trust me you are not missing much" I would argue that you are going around with your eyes closed and it is YOU that is missing a lot of the beauty of this country and it's amazing people

 

Canada banned me for the same reason.

Really sorry about your loss of cash though!

I am just secretly plotting my eventual overtake of the Canadian government. :cool

 

Well, it's not a secret anymore Fred!!:-D I've heard of famous conquers like 'Ivan The Terrible,' 'Vlad The Impaler,' (not really a conquerer, but what can you expect on such short notice?) and I'm just curious what your title will be??? 'Fred The Fanatic?' Just remember Fred, you must strike fear into the hearts of the Canadian people (roflmao) so they will bow to your will roflmaoroflmaoroflmao However, from what I know of the Canadians, that's not likely to happen!!!

 

I have not decided on what my official title will be. The plan goes well. I can now digitally invade Canada for $20 a year via my internet phone.

"Well, it's not a secret anymore Fred!!" It is still a secret. I have not typed any of my intentions in Canadian. :-D

 

roflmaoroflmao Be careful people, Fred has a Magic Jack...NO one is safe!!:-D

 

So you were expected to drive the plane yourself? That is so stupid. Even within the boundaries of the US people are disgruntled with some of the regulations since Sept 11, which most has nothing to do with safety issues.
I'm sorry for your loss of money and the chance to travel here.
It is a beautiful country, a bit of everything. I have hardly left California but when I mention that to people they say "why" you have it all right there.
Perhaps it will be straightened out for next year.

 

illegal immigrants from mexico can sue people in US court, but dude with DUI from 10 years ago cant get a visa?

 

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

Yup, Halo, I hadn't thought about it in years and I if I had just done the visa waiver I doubt if it would have even come up. If it takes 8 weeks to get my record back no-one would have known anyway.

I've recently started my new job and had a CRB check done for that, I'm going to take the certificate to the interview and see if they'll accept that rather than waiting the 8 weeks for a new one. Once I've had the interview I may be in a better position to decide to cancel or not. Shame 'cos the main reason for going was to watch the Shuttle launch on either the 12th or 15th and it's our anniversary on the 13th

Oh, Lev, if the UK does the same to US citizens wanting to holiday here, we're just as daft! OK, I was having a moan about the US, but more about the bureaucracy and red tape that every government feels the need for to justify themselves. I can't honestly see how this form filling helps protect the borders in any way. One of the questions on the form is:

and that is classed the same as

So even if I was wrongfully arrested, the case had never gone to court or if I'd been found 'Not Guilty' (Which I wasn't, I went into the court and held my hands up admitting I was an idiot) it's classed the same as engaging in genocide!

 

I guess you need to come in from south of the border and the good 'ol US of A will Welcome you with Bells On. Even treat you better than our own citizens.
Where in the He!! are we headed. I Love my country, but it is getting harder by the day. mad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7cm4cABZ5Q&feature=related

Please Comment on CNN newsbit.

 

As a frequent visitor to the USA i have had a multi entry visa for many years but after an accident a few years ago (my fault DUI) my visa was revoked.
As it happens i don't need it any more because i have retired,but i remember some of the crazy rules they had at immigration.
One was if you could not give an address at passport control about where you were staying entry would be refused but if you just said "the Hyatt hotel" it was ok, also they give you fruit and nuts plus all sorts of other goodies on the plane but if you don't eat them you must leave them on the plane (it's illegal to bring them into the US)

Immigration has gone overboard with rules and regs,no fluids,no medication,no PCs and so on.
I am just glad i don't have to go through all that any more.

You have my sympathy about your predicament.

 

You should have told them you were a Muslim terriost and you'd have had instant approval!