Shoplifting - 1996 - Tourist Visa / Working Visa
My question involves criminal law for the state of: Michigan
I am a 30 year old woman living in South Asia and I think I may have a legal problem which may bar me from visiting the USA.
In 1996 I was charged with shoplifting in Ann Arbor, Michigan from Meijer. I had just turned 18 years old and I took a few things worth less than 100 dollars. I was fingerprinted, but was told not to worry as my crime would not be kept on record, if I met all the requirements.
I went to the court and the judge said, as it was my first crime, I would need to do community service and pay 100 dollars. However, the problem was that my family and I moved back to my home country, and ultimately I was unable to carry out the community service and also did not pay the 100 dollars.
Since 1996, I have moved back to my home country (in South Asia), graduated from university and have been working for 5 years, and have been far from any illegal activities.
I am repentant of the crime, but I do not know what to do, and I would like to sort out this whole mess I created 12 years ago. I feel very guilty having this criminal conviction over my head, I want to be clear of all this, apply to the US for a tourist visa, and just visit my old friends and relatives.
Do you think this is something which can be resolved, and I could come and visit America or ever even work in America? I feel terrible for having waited so long, but I just didnt know what I needed to do. I do not have any information regarding the conviction, and am not sure who I would need to contact either.
I look forward to your advice and if you think that this can be resolved, I would like to contact you regarding how to proceed further.
Thank you.
Re: Shoplifting - 1996 - Tourist Visa / Working Visa
You received an answer to your question on this thread 5 days ago. You also posted the same question on this forum over 5 days ago - I answered then and advised you to contact a Michigan attorney to research your problem, but that thread appears to have been removed for some reason. In that thread you also noted that you need to pass through the US on business.