Will Shoplifting Cause Problems With My Next Visa Application

[dharma]

Hi!
a question about shoplifting.
I was Macy's today and they caught me. Total amount was $163.98.
I didnt want any trouble and I paid $200 immediately for the Civil Recovery Law. And then they called police, and she asked some questions about me, bla bla.. And she gave me a ticket which is $429 and it is due 1/20/2010. She asked me If I want to go to court, and i said no~ because I know I am guilty.

This happened in Madison, WI. I am an international student, and holding a student visa(J1). I am graduating this year, and I will be leaving this country on the 31st december 2009. The police didn't ask, so i didn't say anything of course.

I was wondering what happens if I don't pay the money? Maybe for the future in case of applying for visa for USA, do you think is it going to be a problem? Should I pay no matter what?
Thank you so much!

[cyjeff]

Hi!
a question about shoplifting.
I was Macy's today and they caught me. Total amount was $163.98.
I didnt want any trouble and I paid $200 immediately for the Civil Recovery Law. And then they called police, and she asked some questions about me, bla bla.. And she gave me a ticket which is $429 and it is due 1/20/2010. She asked me If I want to go to court, and i said no~ because I know I am guilty.

This happened in Madison, WI. I am an international student, and holding a student visa(J1). I am graduating this year, and I will be leaving this country on the 31st december 2009. The police didn't ask, so i didn't say anything of course.

I was wondering what happens if I don't pay the money? Maybe for the future in case of applying for visa for USA, do you think is it going to be a problem? Should I pay no matter what?
Thank you so much!

A warrant will be sworn out for your arrest.

This warrant will last forever.

[PandorasBox]

The warrant will also last until the case is settled.

You ask: "Maybe for the future in case of applying for visa for USA, do you think is it going to be a problem?".

Yes - just the shoplifting alone will make it a problem. Adding a warrant for your arrest for failure to pay a court fine will make it even more of a problem, if they even approve the Visa at all.

If you do come here, say...driving in from Canada...you can be detained at entry and jailed.

If you want to come back to the USA - best to pay the fine, file for a Visa, and quit stealing.

[iceblink]

I was wondering what happens if I don't pay the money? Maybe for the future in case of applying for visa for USA, do you think is it going to be a problem? Should I pay no matter what?
Thank you so much!

Most definitely this will affect you negatively and if you ever want to enter the US again you should think twice about ignoring this issue. Even if you do pay the fine, you will still have a guilty conviction and you're going to have a problem trying to enter the States again regardless.