jimber

Hey guys,
I have spent the last couple of summers working at a camp in the US. I am currently deciding whether to go back for a fourth, but I am wondering how difficult a J-1 visa would be to obtain this year. I was caught with a small amount of MDMA entering a nightclub last weekend, I have a voluntary police appointment next week, from what i've read online I should expect a warning/caution. I know these can show up on your CRB check, and in an ideal world I will get a fine/community service instead but I think that's pretty unlikely. So yeah, I was just wondering whether I have a chance of getting a visa for this summer? I'm a student so don't have a lot of money to waste on a visa application that's hihgly likely to be rejected. It was a totally out of character incidence and I have a perfectly clean record with no priors....

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys

materialcontroller

Do you have a chance of a visa? Yes.

Is it a smaller chance now that you have a recent arrest/conviction for Class A drugs? Probably.

That's about as much as anyone here can tell you.

jimber

Okay thanks, the previous two years I have submitted a postal application. I presume this year I should opt to go to the embassy so I have an opportunity to explain the incident?

materialcontroller

I think you'd have to go to the embassy for interview with an issue such as this. You will need to present all the documentary evidence regarding the conviction and will most likely need an ACPO certificate as well.

Hope it works out for you.

jimber

Thanks for your help! I'll see how it goes on Monday and take it from there. I'm relieved that they don't flatly rule out those who have police cautions from obtaining a j-1 visa as I have read in other places

materialcontroller

I'm not an expert on the J-1 and have no way of telling how strictly these types of difficulty are treated. In general, there doesn't appear to be anything stopping you from applying with a criminal history: http://london.usembassy.gov/exchange.html

DavidLemon

They might when the offense involves Class A drugs, you will never know until you present your application.

materialcontroller

I agree the OP has a metaphorical mountain to climb to be approved. The fact the offence is so recent/current is another massive obstacle that might prove too difficult to overcome. But like you say, nobody knows what will happen until the application is in and the interview takes place.

crg

It will most likely hinge on the disposition of the criminal manner. A conviction for possession of a controlled substance, but a caution would be unlikely to prevent visa issuance. Caution smaution.