Originally Posted by PupilBarrister

From an immigration stand point, you have to remember that the people that work in immigration are US citizens, who are aware more than anyone that their country imprisons more people for more crime than anywhere else in the world, their jails are full of the worst type of offenders, not that you are, but it gives the mindset and the mentality of just saying "NO" to anyone with other than what would appear on an ACPO file "NO TRACE", even people who apply for citzenship or visas, when it comes back "NO LIVE TRACE" (meaning there was something in the past but not for disclosure" get hauled into intense immigration interviews.

The one thing I would comment, is that you probably would be able to visit the US, according to the latest ESTA questions and comparing them with your declared convictions and actions.

1. Do you have a physical or mental disorder; or are you a drug abuser or addict; or do you currently have any of the following diseases (communicable diseases are specified pursuant to section 361(b) of the Public Health Service Act): Cholera, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis infectious, Plague, Smallpox, Yellow Fever, Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, including Ebola, Lassa, Marburg, Crimean-Congo, Severe acute respiratory illnesses capable of transmission to other persons and likely to cause mortality.
2. Have you ever been arrested or convicted for a crime that resulted in serious damage to property, or serious harm to another person or government authority?
3. Have you ever violated any law related to possessing, using, or distributing illegal drugs?
4. Do you seek to engage in or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities, espionage, sabotage, or genocide?
5. Have you ever committed fraud or misrepresented yourself or others to obtain, or assist others to obtain, a visa or entry into the United States?
6. Are you currently seeking employment in the United States or were you previously employed in the United States without prior permission from the U.S. government?
7. Have you ever been denied a U.S. visa you applied for with your current or previous passport, or have you ever been refused admission to the United States or withdrawn your application for admission at a U.S. port of entry?
8. Have you ever stayed in the United States longer than the admission period granted to you by the U.S. government?
9. Have you traveled to, or been present in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011?

If the criminal damage you spoke of were minor, then question 2 you could answer no to, and by implication if you were unaware or as the vast majority of clients in immigration cases state, they did not understand what CIMT stood for, and therefore you have not misrepresented yourself. You could technically clear all the hurdles of this question.

In relation to the other question you ask of living/working in the US, I have to follow the line of thought being aerated on this subject and say the chances are very slim, HOWEVER, it is refreshing to see you giving more details of the criminal convictions than covering it with mitigation.

It all depends on what you do, I have seen clients who have major offences, but not drug or violent related and as they are doctors, teachers or lawyers they get enough people to cite them references, twist the facts of the offence in their favour and promise to do everything and anything in the community they are planning to live in. One man I know, had planned to build a new school in the area!!!!! that got him in.

In essence, if there is a benefit to the USA and you know who to call to pull the strings so it goes across the right persons desk, if you are prepared to put the effort in, address your offending and speak of a new life, new world, new path, it tends to be good news.

However sadly, if your an average worker, plodding off to that god forsaken cube of a building in vauxhall and really have nothing to say other than sorry and you want a better life, then I am afraid its almost a certain no, which will be recorded and attempting to enter under the radar even with an ESTA will be impossible.

In short, there is always hope, but unless you want to spend months, even years working on trying to get in, you need to prepare yourself for the nearest you will get to Mickey Mouse and friends will be Disneyland Paris.