Shoplifting and Visa Waiver Program

[bonita]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Florida

Hello everybody.

I got caught shoplifting with my cousin (teenage stuff) as I was 18 years old while I was visiting my family in Florida. They arrested me, took my fingerprints, a picture and sent me home. I had a court process in which (I think) I said I was guilty. I paid a fine of 70 dollars, made a course on a CD and made 10 hours of community service. I came back to my country as nothing happened... that was 9 years ago.

Now the story is different... I went to university, got married to a swiss man, have a baby and live and work in Europe. I have a swiss passport and a new name. The thing is that I want to visit the USA with my husband for vacations but realized I have to answer this question about -moral turpitude- to opt for the visa waiver and I dont know what to answer.

I contacted a lawyer online to solve me the problem but they answered they cannot find my name on the system, which means they might have misspelled my foreigner name.

I dont know what else to do.

1. In the case they can find my name or file number on the system, can my case be sealed even though I said I was guilty - I am not so sure but I paid a fine and made community service so that means I was convicted right?-

2. If my case cannot be sealed is there anything else I can do?

3. What if they dont find my name on the system? I have a new name anyways and a new passport. Can I say NO I HAVENT COMMITED ANY CRIME THAT INVOLVES MORAL TURPITUDE on my visa waiver application?

I would pay thousands of dollars just to solve this problem and take my baby girl to disney world
Thanks for your help.

[Mr. Knowitall]

When dealing with U.S. immigration, you should tell the truth. Odds are the offense would fall under the petty offense exception to CIMT's so as to not prevent your obtaining a visa. If you are caught lying you are done. You have a lawyer advising you, so listen to your lawyer.