rj001

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I hear that it is virtually impossible t visit or move to the us with a criminal record. I was convicted in dec 2007 for possession of cocaine and driving while disqualified for which i was given 18 weeks in prison of which i served 5. I s there no way of me going to the states eithe to visit or to move there..Any info would b appreciated thanks.

Noorah101

With that kind of drug conviction, my layman's guess would be impossible to either visit or move permanently to the USA.

Rene

Ray

Pretty much no chance ...but of course you could apply for a
visa to see

Folinskyinla

Hi:

No residence. Visit is possible, but highly unlikely.

rj001

thanks guys is that no residence ever?? or is there a period after which my conviction would be spent?

ian-mstm

Drug convictions are at the very top of the list when it comes to US immigration's reasons why they won't let you in... and they are neither forgiving nor compassionate - and they have memories like an elephant. Further, the punishment you received is largely irrelevant... what is important is what the maximum penalty might have been. For that, you'll need copies of the police and court records - which you'll need anyway when you apply for the B-2 visa... so best to get started.

Ian

fatbrit

Yep -- a change in the law. Given that our current administration is already working on a comprehensive immigration bill and that they've already declared the war on drugs a failed policy, I suppose there's some hope in there.

meauxna

..thought that was the War On Terror? Is the War On Drugs over too? It's getting hard to keep up with all these Wars On.

fatbrit

Google Obama's speech in 2004 at Northwestern University.

rj001

does anbody know if the amount of cocaine i was arrested with makes a difference iv jus read that in the states the guidlines for sentancing of someone with 0-25grammes is 10 - 16 months i was caught with 4g

fatbrit

The loophole (for want of a better term) in US immigration law for an immigrant visa is marijuana, not cocaine.

For a non-immigrant visa and without a bloody good reason for coming here (to visit your dying mother, for example), they get a little softer after a decade or two of clean living.

crg

I wouldn't say it's unlikely that you would be able to visit eventually. Your conviction is too recent to visit in the short term.

I've heard of individuals who have done a 5+ years in prison for cocaine trafficking after being caught bringing cocaine to the US who have received a 212(d)(3)(A) waiver to visit. However, a few years without a conviction or being on parole/probation would be required before a waiver would be granted.

Without a waiver, the convictions never expire. You'd need a visitor visa and a waiver forever.

rj001

thanks very much guys obviously i need to keep my head down for a bit lol hanks agen for ur help guys

Octang Frye

I like to live vicariously through others. Was it worth it? Describe the high [20 marks].

I can drink like a Mick but weed strings me out. Haven't touched it in over a decade. I think I can imagine what coke is like but I have an addictive personality so I'll steer clear.

christmasoompa

Even without the drug conviction, are you sure you'd even been able to get a visa to move to the US? The US is notoriously difficult to get into - you'll need a degree and years of experience in a specialist occupation as a minimum, and preferably a masters degree and niche skills as well.

Have a read of this to see if you'd even be able to get a work visa to move there - if you haven't got a chance anyway, no point worrying about that chance being taken away because of your conviction! http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulaski's_Ways:_How_to_Live_and_Work_in_the_USA

Then, if you wouldn't qualify for any of the more permanent visas listed, you can just concentrate on trying to get a visa for visits.