Going to Jail?
Oct 27th 2008, 2:11 pm
#16
In the pink
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,324
Re: Going to Jail?
A young guy with an English accent in a US jail with a load of drug dealers and illegal immigrants. "Shudder."
Oct 27th 2008, 2:25 pm
#17
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Going to Jail?
I know someone who has just come out, I would not want to be there.
Oct 27th 2008, 11:35 pm
#18
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 975
Re: Going to Jail?
I wouldn't come back if I were you. Consult an immigration lawyer before you even think of doing anything. Also, I don't think you'll ever be eligible for green card/citizenship.
Oct 28th 2008, 12:39 am
#19
Arrogant ****
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 4,323
Re: Going to Jail?
You're certainly not qualified to make a statement like that. An immigration lawyer would be able to give correct advice in this situation, but a jail sentence is not an automatic bar to permanent residency and then citizenship.
Oct 28th 2008, 6:09 am
#20
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 975
Re: Going to Jail?
Damn, there's a reason why I've been registered at this site for four years and make about ten posts a year.
Oct 29th 2008, 7:51 am
#21
Just Joined
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7
Re: Going to Jail?
Thanks for the comments since I posted the other night. Have a lot to think about.
Whay am I thinking of doing this? Firstly I should have dealt with it before and it's on my mind alot. I'm just finished college and have an American girlfriend whose back there for now and maybe one day would like to settle there but don't know if that would happen. As people have said, I've been told that a misedemeanor conviction isn't an automatic bar but it will make things very tough. That's why I wante dto sort this all out as best I could.
I have an appointment with the Embassy as I can't go purely on the VWP because of this and am worried just about that. I have been in touch with someone who got caught up in a similar situation and got residency after 5 years and got time served when his case came up because of how he handled it so that would be the best possible outcome. The other thing is that this happened upstate not in the city and I've been told that if the worse happens, county jail is nothing like one in the city but yeah it's still a pretty scary thought.
As I said have a lot to think about but my girlfriend is helping me out with all this and I don't plan on doing anything foolish.
Whay am I thinking of doing this? Firstly I should have dealt with it before and it's on my mind alot. I'm just finished college and have an American girlfriend whose back there for now and maybe one day would like to settle there but don't know if that would happen. As people have said, I've been told that a misedemeanor conviction isn't an automatic bar but it will make things very tough. That's why I wante dto sort this all out as best I could.
I have an appointment with the Embassy as I can't go purely on the VWP because of this and am worried just about that. I have been in touch with someone who got caught up in a similar situation and got residency after 5 years and got time served when his case came up because of how he handled it so that would be the best possible outcome. The other thing is that this happened upstate not in the city and I've been told that if the worse happens, county jail is nothing like one in the city but yeah it's still a pretty scary thought.
As I said have a lot to think about but my girlfriend is helping me out with all this and I don't plan on doing anything foolish.
Oct 29th 2008, 10:41 am
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 209
Re: Going to Jail?
Hey tough decision you have there.
I know a British person who has a drink driving conviction from the US in the early 90's. Since she travelled back and forth to the US several times on the VWP. She got so fed up with secondary inspection at POE as her name came up on the computer she decided to apply for a visa. Drugs could be an issue.
Not sure if this guy is visiting on a visa and slightly different to your situation but might be worth looking into.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/colu...ry/725074.html
I know a British person who has a drink driving conviction from the US in the early 90's. Since she travelled back and forth to the US several times on the VWP. She got so fed up with secondary inspection at POE as her name came up on the computer she decided to apply for a visa. Drugs could be an issue.
Not sure if this guy is visiting on a visa and slightly different to your situation but might be worth looking into.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/colu...ry/725074.html
Oct 30th 2008, 7:39 am
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 107
Re: Going to Jail?
Wouldn't fancy it if it was me, I think I'd just stay well away from the U.S. unless you like being buggered. Their is no promise that you'll avoid prison and potentially they may deport you after you've served your sentence.
A very uneducated response but just know the threat is enough to put me off.
A very uneducated response but just know the threat is enough to put me off.
Oct 31st 2008, 1:37 pm
#24
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Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Orlando,Florida,living in Buckinghamshire for next 6 weeks.
Posts: 1,416
and take a good supply of soap on a rope.
Oct 31st 2008, 1:46 pm
#25
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Location: Orlando,Florida,living in Buckinghamshire for next 6 weeks.
Posts: 1,416
Re: Going to Jail?
Holy shit! I certainly wouldn't do what you're planning, not in a million years. I didn't follow your previous thread, but basically nothing, no girlfriend, no lifelong dream to live in America, would get me to surrender myself to jail time in another country for a petty offense.
What's more, I can't imagine that serving your time will do a damn thing to help you ever enter the US again. If you get 90 days you'll overstay your VWP (after all, you won't go straight to jail, will you?) and then you'll have an overstay plus a previous conviction and hey presto, you'll be banned from using the VWP, and most likely will never be granted a visa.
So, the way I see this working, you'll hand yourself in and go to jail, possibly risking your life while locked up, only to be deported and not allowed to return again. Why do it? A sense of honor and moral fortitude?
What's more, I can't imagine that serving your time will do a damn thing to help you ever enter the US again. If you get 90 days you'll overstay your VWP (after all, you won't go straight to jail, will you?) and then you'll have an overstay plus a previous conviction and hey presto, you'll be banned from using the VWP, and most likely will never be granted a visa.
So, the way I see this working, you'll hand yourself in and go to jail, possibly risking your life while locked up, only to be deported and not allowed to return again. Why do it? A sense of honor and moral fortitude?
I agree with this post.Unless the OP has been given a air tight promise that he will still be allowed to pursue a future entry visa,then there really is no point in surrendering him self to jail time,and then certain deportation.I would hire an attorney right away.What offense did the OP commit?
P.S. I was under the impression that committing a crime in America by a foreign national is legal grounds for expulsion.
Oct 31st 2008, 2:02 pm
#26
Banned
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Orlando,Florida,living in Buckinghamshire for next 6 weeks.
Posts: 1,416
Re: Going to Jail?
Thanks for the comments since I posted the other night. Have a lot to think about.
Whay am I thinking of doing this? Firstly I should have dealt with it before and it's on my mind alot. I'm just finished college and have an American girlfriend whose back there for now and maybe one day would like to settle there but don't know if that would happen. As people have said, I've been told that a misedemeanor conviction isn't an automatic bar but it will make things very tough. That's why I wante dto sort this all out as best I could.
I have an appointment with the Embassy as I can't go purely on the VWP because of this and am worried just about that. I have been in touch with someone who got caught up in a similar situation and got residency after 5 years and got time served when his case came up because of how he handled it so that would be the best possible outcome. The other thing is that this happened upstate not in the city and I've been told that if the worse happens, county jail is nothing like one in the city but yeah it's still a pretty scary thought.
As I said have a lot to think about but my girlfriend is helping me out with all this and I don't plan on doing anything foolish.
Whay am I thinking of doing this? Firstly I should have dealt with it before and it's on my mind alot. I'm just finished college and have an American girlfriend whose back there for now and maybe one day would like to settle there but don't know if that would happen. As people have said, I've been told that a misedemeanor conviction isn't an automatic bar but it will make things very tough. That's why I wante dto sort this all out as best I could.
I have an appointment with the Embassy as I can't go purely on the VWP because of this and am worried just about that. I have been in touch with someone who got caught up in a similar situation and got residency after 5 years and got time served when his case came up because of how he handled it so that would be the best possible outcome. The other thing is that this happened upstate not in the city and I've been told that if the worse happens, county jail is nothing like one in the city but yeah it's still a pretty scary thought.
As I said have a lot to think about but my girlfriend is helping me out with all this and I don't plan on doing anything foolish.
Oct 31st 2008, 2:10 pm
#27
Arrogant ****
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 4,323
Re: Going to Jail?
I agree with this post.Unless the OP has been given a air tight promise that he will still be allowed to pursue a future entry visa,then there really is no point in surrendering him self to jail time,and then certain deportation.I would hire an attorney right away.What offense did the OP commit?
P.S. I was under the impression that committing a crime in America by a foreign national is legal grounds for expulsion.
P.S. I was under the impression that committing a crime in America by a foreign national is legal grounds for expulsion.
Oct 31st 2008, 4:33 pm
#29
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Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Orlando,Florida,living in Buckinghamshire for next 6 weeks.
Posts: 1,416
Oct 31st 2008, 4:34 pm
#30
Banned
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Orlando,Florida,living in Buckinghamshire for next 6 weeks.
Posts: 1,416
