U.S.A Help Please!

Do you need a Visa to travel to America for a week's holiday?

Me and about 8 mates are going to Las Vegas in November and I have been told by a few people that if you have any criminal convictions of any kind you must see about getting a Visa because if you don't and you get to Las Vegas airport and they check your details and find that you haven't told them about your convictions they will send you home?

Is this the case? Does anyone here travel to America frequently or have you heard of this happening?

Any info would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

Never been to the US but you should get all the information you need here:

Visitor Visas Business and Pleasure

 

Markie. You do and you don't. It is always best to have one with you though and they may or may not ask for it, I think it is down to the mood of the imigration officer on the day wether he bothers about it or not.
Best to be on the safe side.

 

Look up tripadvisor.co.uk and look up forums they have info on this , Hope it helps mate .

 

i agree with Armalite, better safe than sorry. know a guy who got sent home because he had a drink driving conviction he forgot to mention.
Been to usa once myself and its the only country i have visited where they take your passport from you on entry and scan the barcode, who knows what information it reveals.

 

google for ESTA

 

Never been to Britain, mate? I took the Eurostar train from Brussels to London and guess what happened to me at the British Border Police counter at Brussels Station? You discribed it above. Passport taken away and scanned......

 

As citizen of the European Union you do not need a visa fort he US. Just be prepared having to fill out a form with useless questions aboard the plane and having to answer equally useless questions asked by the immigration officer upon arrival at the US. In either case – written and spoken – one is well advised just to give short answers like “yes” and “no” and not to tell long stories…

 

Yea, I'd have to go with this as well. It's been scanned every country I've gone into as a US citizen.
I even got interrogated in Hong Kong due to inconsistencies with the stamps (the barcode info was fine). It was a joy and a pleasure.

 

Believe it or not you do, if you want your holiday to go smoothly

Use ESTA, but make sure that you DO NOT PAY for the service. It takes all of 3 minutes. They let you know in less than a minute if you have been successful.

However, even if they tell you hat you have been approved for entry - they can still refuse entry without reason. And, importantly you have ABSOLUTLEY NO RIGHT to appeal.

You have to provide details of where you are staying etc etc

You also have to disclose ALL CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS

Im going to Vegas in four weeks time and have applied to ESTA and got my approval. Previously when going to New York, you simply had to fill out a form in the airport before speaking to an official from the US Government.

To make sure for a smooth holiday - fill out your ESTA application online

 

once or twice ! considering i was born and raised there

 

I know, I know, was just meant to be a little wordplay as the passport-scanning happeded to me in your own country...

 

Not been on for a week or so. Thanks for your help.

ESTA applications completed and approved.

Roll on Vegas!!!!!