Going to America

[DCS23]

Hi im from cardiff,wales and ive booked a holiday to america and now ive been notified that if i have a criminal record i might not be able to enter the country.

i was caught shoplifting when i was 16 i am not 23 does anyone know if i have to declare this as it was so long ago.

i didnt spend anytime in prison as it was my first offensive so they took my details and DNA and i was off within 3 hours.

Please can somebody help as ive paid for the holiday and im supposed to be going next june.

Thanks in advance.

[LawResearcherMissy]

If you have a criminal record, you are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program. You'll have to apply for a regular tourist visa.

We have no way of telling you if you will be approved or not.

[aaron]

I don't know how the U.K. legal system works. In many Common Law nations, a juvenile disposition is not the same as a criminal conviction - and many juvenile charges are resolved without a disposition. Are you sure you have a criminal conviction from that incident when you were a teenager?