Australia tourist visa with criminal record
#1
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Joined: Feb 2019
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Australia tourist visa with criminal record
Good evening everyone, I am new to this so my apologies if this is in the wrong place or if these posts crop up a lot.
I am hoping to apply for a tourist visa but I have seen many people get denied them for having a criminal record and similar offences to me.
I was was charged with GBH with intent when I was 19 and sentenced for it at 21. I received 2Y 6M for it. I had a pretty crap childhood. Alcoholic/abusive dad which led to parents getting divorced, sister was in intensive care with a serious eating disorder etc (probably a bit too much information but I’ve read other cases where things such as this play a factor in decisions, I am of course not using the above to excuse my actions or behaviour). Against the advise of friends who told me to lie on the online e-visa for the USA I applied through the correct channels and was denied a visa to the USA in 2015 due to a ‘crime of moral turpitude’ and permanently excluded as a result. I have read with Australia that it’s a good idea to present your case in a very professional manner ahead of making an application. I genuinely have changed my life completely now and grown up a lot. I am 30 now, I have two children, I work as a senior support worker for vulnerable adults (I’ve done that for almost 3Y now) and most importantly I have had no issues with the law since the altercation that happened when I was a teenager (19). I guess what I am asking for is a point in the right direction and if anyone who has expertise in the area to tell me if I have any hope of obtaining a holiday visa. It is a big dream of my daughters to visit Sydney as she has cousins out there and I would love to be a part of that.
Thanks for taking your time to read my thread
Tom
I am hoping to apply for a tourist visa but I have seen many people get denied them for having a criminal record and similar offences to me.
I was was charged with GBH with intent when I was 19 and sentenced for it at 21. I received 2Y 6M for it. I had a pretty crap childhood. Alcoholic/abusive dad which led to parents getting divorced, sister was in intensive care with a serious eating disorder etc (probably a bit too much information but I’ve read other cases where things such as this play a factor in decisions, I am of course not using the above to excuse my actions or behaviour). Against the advise of friends who told me to lie on the online e-visa for the USA I applied through the correct channels and was denied a visa to the USA in 2015 due to a ‘crime of moral turpitude’ and permanently excluded as a result. I have read with Australia that it’s a good idea to present your case in a very professional manner ahead of making an application. I genuinely have changed my life completely now and grown up a lot. I am 30 now, I have two children, I work as a senior support worker for vulnerable adults (I’ve done that for almost 3Y now) and most importantly I have had no issues with the law since the altercation that happened when I was a teenager (19). I guess what I am asking for is a point in the right direction and if anyone who has expertise in the area to tell me if I have any hope of obtaining a holiday visa. It is a big dream of my daughters to visit Sydney as she has cousins out there and I would love to be a part of that.
Thanks for taking your time to read my thread
Tom
#3
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Re: Australia tourist visa with criminal record
Good evening everyone, I am new to this so my apologies if this is in the wrong place or if these posts crop up a lot.
I am hoping to apply for a tourist visa but I have seen many people get denied them for having a criminal record and similar offences to me.
I was was charged with GBH with intent when I was 19 and sentenced for it at 21. I received 2Y 6M for it. I had a pretty crap childhood. Alcoholic/abusive dad which led to parents getting divorced, sister was in intensive care with a serious eating disorder etc (probably a bit too much information but I’ve read other cases where things such as this play a factor in decisions, I am of course not using the above to excuse my actions or behaviour). Against the advise of friends who told me to lie on the online e-visa for the USA I applied through the correct channels and was denied a visa to the USA in 2015 due to a ‘crime of moral turpitude’ and permanently excluded as a result. I have read with Australia that it’s a good idea to present your case in a very professional manner ahead of making an application. I genuinely have changed my life completely now and grown up a lot. I am 30 now, I have two children, I work as a senior support worker for vulnerable adults (I’ve done that for almost 3Y now) and most importantly I have had no issues with the law since the altercation that happened when I was a teenager (19). I guess what I am asking for is a point in the right direction and if anyone who has expertise in the area to tell me if I have any hope of obtaining a holiday visa. It is a big dream of my daughters to visit Sydney as she has cousins out there and I would love to be a part of that.
Thanks for taking your time to read my thread
Tom
I am hoping to apply for a tourist visa but I have seen many people get denied them for having a criminal record and similar offences to me.
I was was charged with GBH with intent when I was 19 and sentenced for it at 21. I received 2Y 6M for it. I had a pretty crap childhood. Alcoholic/abusive dad which led to parents getting divorced, sister was in intensive care with a serious eating disorder etc (probably a bit too much information but I’ve read other cases where things such as this play a factor in decisions, I am of course not using the above to excuse my actions or behaviour). Against the advise of friends who told me to lie on the online e-visa for the USA I applied through the correct channels and was denied a visa to the USA in 2015 due to a ‘crime of moral turpitude’ and permanently excluded as a result. I have read with Australia that it’s a good idea to present your case in a very professional manner ahead of making an application. I genuinely have changed my life completely now and grown up a lot. I am 30 now, I have two children, I work as a senior support worker for vulnerable adults (I’ve done that for almost 3Y now) and most importantly I have had no issues with the law since the altercation that happened when I was a teenager (19). I guess what I am asking for is a point in the right direction and if anyone who has expertise in the area to tell me if I have any hope of obtaining a holiday visa. It is a big dream of my daughters to visit Sydney as she has cousins out there and I would love to be a part of that.
Thanks for taking your time to read my thread
Tom
Personally, I would recommend contacting a registered migration agent - my own recommendation is George Lombard, he posts on here sometimes so do a search and his contact details are in his posts. He can advise the best way to put forward your case to Immigration.
#4
Re: Australia tourist visa with criminal record
Whether you decide to apply independently or with an agent make sure you apply in good time. It can take several months for an assessment of your character to be made.
#5
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Joined: Feb 2019
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Re: Australia tourist visa with criminal record
Thanks for the replies guys, I’ve sent George an email I’ll try to update this thread as I go so anyone in a similar position has something to reference, if anyone else has further advise it would be very much appreciated
#6
Re: Australia tourist visa with criminal record
No advice about your visa, however just wanted to say (without sounding patronising as it's not intended) well done on turning your life around and being involved in such an important job in society. Challenging/harsh childhoods do have an effect on lives. Yes it's not an excuse, but can be a large reason behind antisocial behaviour.
ps don't ever listen to anyone who tells you to lie, especially on legal documents!
There is no right way of doing the wrong thing after all.
Wish you and your family all the best.
ps don't ever listen to anyone who tells you to lie, especially on legal documents!
There is no right way of doing the wrong thing after all.
Wish you and your family all the best.
#7
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Australia tourist visa with criminal record
GBH = Moral Turpitude? What did you do? Intend the "evil intent" in advance? That's what moral turpitude is all about ..... not a drunken pub fight.
#9
Just Joined
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 3
Re: Australia tourist visa with criminal record
No advice about your visa, however just wanted to say (without sounding patronising as it's not intended) well done on turning your life around and being involved in such an important job in society. Challenging/harsh childhoods do have an effect on lives. Yes it's not an excuse, but can be a large reason behind antisocial behaviour.
ps don't ever listen to anyone who tells you to lie, especially on legal documents!
There is no right way of doing the wrong thing after all.
Wish you and your family all the best.
ps don't ever listen to anyone who tells you to lie, especially on legal documents!
There is no right way of doing the wrong thing after all.
Wish you and your family all the best.
this is something I have often thought I could use to challenge the decision made as I never had an ‘evil intention’.. a friend was getting beaten up so I intervened. Unfortunately GBH with intent is a rather easy category to fall into, the intention comes from the ‘intention to cause harm’ and is nothing to do with if the crime was premeditated or not.. for example if I pushed somebody and they fell over and broke their arm I could be charged with ‘GBH’ but if I punched somebody with a closed fist and broke their jaw I could be charged with ‘GBH with intent’
#10
Re: Australia tourist visa with criminal record
this is something I have often thought I could use to challenge the decision made as I never had an ‘evil intention’.. a friend was getting beaten up so I intervened. Unfortunately GBH with intent is a rather easy category to fall into, the intention comes from the ‘intention to cause harm’ and is nothing to do with if the crime was premeditated or not.. for example if I pushed somebody and they fell over and broke their arm I could be charged with ‘GBH’ but if I punched somebody with a closed fist and broke their jaw I could be charged with ‘GBH with intent’
.
(I did jury service where the accused (who had already admitted GBH previously) was found not guilty of intent, as the bloke he punched fell over, hit his face on a bar stool and suffered injuries way beyond what would be expected from a punch).
#13
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Australia tourist visa with criminal record
Thanks man :-)
this is something I have often thought I could use to challenge the decision made as I never had an ‘evil intention’.. a friend was getting beaten up so I intervened. Unfortunately GBH with intent is a rather easy category to fall into, the intention comes from the ‘intention to cause harm’ and is nothing to do with if the crime was premeditated or not.. for example if I pushed somebody and they fell over and broke their arm I could be charged with ‘GBH’ but if I punched somebody with a closed fist and broke their jaw I could be charged with ‘GBH with intent’
I think murder in the heat of the moment isn't regarded as moral turpitude.
Anyway, make it confusing as possible so the Americans can refuse your Visa with no clear cut reason.
Not sure about Australia and how it works to criminal convictions.
#14
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Re: Australia tourist visa with criminal record
I always thought moral turpitude was something like intending to steal or intending to take drugs, and following through with that action.
I think murder in the heat of the moment isn't regarded as moral turpitude.
Anyway, make it confusing as possible so the Americans can refuse your Visa with no clear cut reason.
Not sure about Australia and how it works to criminal convictions.
I think murder in the heat of the moment isn't regarded as moral turpitude.
Anyway, make it confusing as possible so the Americans can refuse your Visa with no clear cut reason.
Not sure about Australia and how it works to criminal convictions.