How long is US visa for?
May 13th 2018, 7:55 am
#16
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Re: How long is US visa for?
If it is granted, it will start as of the date of approval. It depends on whether or not you go into Administrative Processing. If that occurs, your B visa might not be issued at all or might be issued in 1 day or 1 year from the interview date. Either way, you will have an answer before August, 2019.
May 13th 2018, 8:35 am
#17
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Re: How long is US visa for?
2. When going to your interview are you allowed to take any baggage in with you. I will be staying overnight as my interview is at 8am so I will be checking out of hotel and going straight to the embassy which means I'll have a small overnight bag with me?
Thanks, your advise so far has been brilliant.
May 13th 2018, 2:17 pm
#18
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Re: How long is US visa for?
May 13th 2018, 2:31 pm
#19
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Re: How long is US visa for?
However, there is never any guarantee that it will be issued or when it will be issued and for the length of the visa. So much is up in the air but the OP appears to have things under control with a change in plans if needed to an early vacation slot and/or she needs to reapply for a new visa when applicable.PS No baggage is allowed in the US Embassy. Perhaps you can leave it at your hotel for pickup after the interview. I know many people do this routinely.
May 13th 2018, 2:36 pm
#20
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Re: How long is US visa for?
It was on this thread (post #12) that she mentions being arrested in Spain at age 18 and found not guilty. I found only two threads by the OP, this and one regarding the handwriting and/or typing of a sworn statement. Good catch on the ACRO?
May 13th 2018, 2:37 pm
#21
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Re: How long is US visa for?
Yes the arrest was in Spain and according to what I read the outcome of an arrest does not matter. The fact that I was arrested is enough that I wouldn't qualify for an esta. The ACRO/police check is listed as something I would need along with a sworn statement as I was never given any documentation/paperwork at the time in Spain.
May 13th 2018, 2:42 pm
#22
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Re: How long is US visa for?
Well that is quite evident isn't it. However, there is never any guarantee that it will be issued or when it will be issued and for the length of the visa. So much is up in the air but the OP appears to have things under control with a change in plans if needed to an early vacation slot and/or she needs to reapply for a new visa when applicable.
PS No baggage is allowed in the US Embassy. Perhaps you can leave it at your hotel for pickup after the interview. I know many people do this routinely.
However, there is never any guarantee that it will be issued or when it will be issued and for the length of the visa. So much is up in the air but the OP appears to have things under control with a change in plans if needed to an early vacation slot and/or she needs to reapply for a new visa when applicable.PS No baggage is allowed in the US Embassy. Perhaps you can leave it at your hotel for pickup after the interview. I know many people do this routinely.
May 13th 2018, 3:28 pm
#23
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Re: How long is US visa for?
Yes the arrest was in Spain and according to what I read the outcome of an arrest does not matter. The fact that I was arrested is enough that I wouldn't qualify for an esta. The ACRO/police check is listed as something I would need along with a sworn statement as I was never given any documentation/paperwork at the time in Spain.
May 13th 2018, 3:41 pm
#24
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Re: How long is US visa for?
Not sure. Basic story is I was on holiday in Spain, went to an 18-30's club night. Met a boy, spent evening drinking & dancing etc with him. Things then progressed outside club and we had consensual intercourse. The next morning I was arrested for underage sex with a minor. Apparently he was 15 using fake ID. In court it was proved that I had no idea he was only 15 and I was found not guilty and released. On the acro it says no trace but there is a historical criminal history which although the British police consider spent I would need to declare. On the info for esta it says that it doesn't matter if arrest is considered spent or that you were found not guilty you still have to declare. I guess I could get to the interview and be told I don't need a visa but I thought it was not worth the risk of getting to the states and beeninh sent home. Considering I have never been arrested or cautioned anywhere since means that the historical criminal history must refer to what happened in Spain.
May 13th 2018, 4:05 pm
#26
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Re: How long is US visa for?
I originally did an esta which was authorised because I ticked no to every question. In my naivety I didn't think my arrest was relevant. Sometime later when talking to a close friend she advised that I needed to check as she thought I was wrong. After reading the info on the US visa website I realised that I probably would need one & the only real way to know for definite would be to apply for a visa. So I have. To be honest its all quite confusing but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
May 13th 2018, 4:24 pm
#27
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Re: How long is US visa for?
Not sure. Basic story is I was on holiday in Spain, went to an 18-30's club night. Met a boy, spent evening drinking & dancing etc with him. Things then progressed outside club and we had consensual intercourse. The next morning I was arrested for underage sex with a minor. Apparently he was 15 using fake ID. In court it was proved that I had no idea he was only 15 and I was found not guilty and released. On the acro it says no trace but there is a historical criminal history which although the British police consider spent I would need to declare. On the info for esta it says that it doesn't matter if arrest is considered spent or that you were found not guilty you still have to declare. I guess I could get to the interview and be told I don't need a visa but I thought it was not worth the risk of getting to the states and beeninh sent home. Considering I have never been arrested or cautioned anywhere since means that the historical criminal history must refer to what happened in Spain.
It’s not the declaring/not declaring issue that I am questioning. We are all aware that for visa and immigration purposes there is no such thing as a spent conviction and everything must be declared. I’m just very surprised that something that happened so long ago, in another country, made it onto the current PNC - especially when the PNC was in its infancy at the time.
interssting that you were arrested for sex with a minor in a country where (at that time) the age of consent for all sexual acts for both genders was 13.
I assume you have applied for your Spanish record also - London embassy website says you will need this too
https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/ineligibilities-and-waivers-2/arrest-caution-conviction/
This could be useful for others who may have been arrested with no conviction in a foreign county.
Last edited by Twinkle0927; May 13th 2018 at 4:28 pm.
May 13th 2018, 4:32 pm
#28
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Re: How long is US visa for?
It’s not the declaring/not declaring issue that I am questioning. We are all aware that for visa and immigration purposes there is no such thing as a spent conviction and everything must be declared. I’m just very surprised that something that happened so long ago, in another country, made it onto the current PNC - especially when the PNC was in its infancy at the time.
interssting that you were arrested for sex with a minor in a country where (at that time) the age of consent for all sexual acts for both genders was 13.
I assume you have applied for your Spanish record also - London embassy website says you will need this too
https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/ineligibilities-and-waivers-2/arrest-caution-conviction/
This could be useful for others who may have been arrested with no conviction in a foreign county.
May 13th 2018, 4:48 pm
#29
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Re: How long is US visa for?
No, I just have the UK acro and sworn statement as I do not have any paperwork. I had read the link you forwarded but thought they meant the UK acro. My interview is only a 6 weeks away so will look into how long a Spanish acro takes. Could be its too late now to get one.
If it is required, it is required. And “not enough time until the interview” won’t be an acceptable excuse for not having it.
I would think you would want a copy of your arrest record for your own peace of mind. Especially as it now appeared it was a wrongful arrest as the age of consent in Spain was 12 until 1995 and raised to 13 in 1995. It wasn’t raised to 16 until 2005.
May 13th 2018, 5:09 pm
#30
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Re: How long is US visa for?
The third section on that page clearly says that for arrests, cautions and convictions in countries other than the UK and USA you need to obtain the relevant records from that country.
If it is required, it is required. And “not enough time until the interview” won’t be an acceptable excuse for not having it.
I would think you would want a copy of your arrest record for your own peace of mind. Especially as it now appeared it was a wrongful arrest as the age of consent in Spain was 12 until 1995 and raised to 13 in 1995. It wasn’t raised to 16 until 2005.
As for knowing for my peace of mind and wrongful arrest - I know everyone is different but I just want to forget the whole thing again. It was the most traumatic time of my life. An 18 year old first time abroad without parents, admittedly naive girl who learnt a harsh lesson. Even now there are many details I do not remember and I have no desire to drag it up anymore than necessary. I know that probably sounds strange, maybe one day I'll want to know.