ledley malone

This is debatable subject and having read through many douments and information throughout the web, I am still certain that this information is not shared to US Authorities.

The EU clearly forbids all criminal record information to be shared with international authorities. It has however agreed to share information with memeber states using the ECRIS computer system. This is not yet set up although it must be introduced by 2012.

Now if the EU hasn't a database of its own as of yet, how do people predict the US authorities have the information readily available to them? The fact is they don't. The EU have an agreement with the US in regards to sharing anti terrorism information aswell as other serious international crimes, such as child abuse, drug trafficking etc but only through the means of INTERPOL. Other less serious information is not shared as the EU deem this information to be private as a human right.

Again, why do the US need to ask the applicant to provide a criminal background check if they already have it available?
Why do the UK only provide no trace or no live trace to stepped down records on Police Certificates?
Why do many convicted visitors pass through US Border Patrol without any flagging under the VISA Waiver System?

All this information should bring the subject to bed. Again I could be wrong and I'd advise anyone unsure of their elegibilty to apply for a VISA. This way you can be told legally if you can visit the US.

scrubbedexpat099

Why does it matter?

It is standard practice to ask questions that they know the answers to.

lansbury

If by shared you mean the US has computer terminals giving access to UK and/or other European systems that is still probaly true.

If by shared you mean the information is not requested and given by other means you would be wrong. It goes both ways.

meauxna

Previously discussed here:

U.S., United Kingdom Border Agencies Agree to Exchange Critical Passenger Information to Protect Borders

(Tuesday, September 23, 2008)
Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection signed a joint agreement today in Washington, D.C., with the United Kingdom Border Agency to strengthen our countries’ borders by sharing information on people who may present a threat – including illegal immigrants, smugglers and foreign criminals – before they even arrive.

US will know UK criminal records

JAJ

Anecdotally, doesn't something like 25% of the adult British population have some kind of criminal record?

One wonders why the British passport is still VWP eligible.

lansbury

Yes with the percentage of just males being higher.

Rete

Didn't you get enough of the discussion in your thread here:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=659712

This one is closed as it is a duplicate.