I-130 visa interview (arrested at 15yoa)

[rik.caitlin 0]

Im hoping someone can help me with this enquiry. I will start by explaining my circumstance and go from there.

When i was 15 years of age i was arrested for criminal damage. I was just being a silly naive adolescent throwing stones and one happened to smash a window, regardless of naivety i was arrested and had to attend court where i was ordered to pay for the damages and received a minimal amount of community service. As i was under the age of 18 i did not receive a criminal record but a referral order that expired after 2 years (when i was 17) so now i have no criminal record but i still have to declare i was arrested.

Since 2010 i have received 3 separate J1 visas to work and study in the US, however, each time i applied for one i had to attend a 'special' interview called a VCU interview. It's such an inconvenience because i had to travel to London each time to attend this interview. I guess i'm reaping what i sowed though.

Anyway, this past march my fiancee and i got married (woohoo (: ) in Virginia but i had to return to the UK to finish school and obviously apply for a visa. We are currently working through all of the I-130 paperwork and supporting documents, all of which we now have.

My question is - when filing the I-130 is there a particular procedure we have to follow as i was arrested, how and when do i declare it, will i need to attend a different interview than normal?

Any help you can offer will be super appreciated.

[amykathleen2005 441]

You will need a police check (everyone does) and copies of all info pertaining to your case. You will have an interview regardless, and it shouldn't have an impact.

[JerseyDomRep 4]

Im hoping someone can help me with this enquiry. I will start by explaining my circumstance and go from there.

When i was 15 years of age i was arrested for criminal damage. I was just being a silly naive adolescent throwing stones and one happened to smash a window, regardless of naivety i was arrested and had to attend court where i was ordered to pay for the damages and received a minimal amount of community service. As i was under the age of 18 i did not receive a criminal record but a referral order that expired after 2 years (when i was 17) so now i have no criminal record but i still have to declare i was arrested.

Since 2010 i have received 3 separate J1 visas to work and study in the US, however, each time i applied for one i had to attend a 'special' interview called a VCU interview. It's such an inconvenience because i had to travel to London each time to attend this interview. I guess i'm reaping what i sowed though.

Anyway, this past march my fiancee and i got married (woohoo (: ) in Virginia but i had to return to the UK to finish school and obviously apply for a visa. We are currently working through all of the I-130 paperwork and supporting documents, all of which we now have.

My question is - when filing the I-130 is there a particular procedure we have to follow as i was arrested, how and when do i declare it, will i need to attend a different interview than normal?

Any help you can offer will be super appreciated.

Why dont you just get an expungment of your juvenile record. Juvenile records usually are keep confidential. I suggest you expunge your record.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Since 2010 i have received 3 separate J1 visas to work and study in the US, however, each time i applied for one i had to attend a 'special' interview called a VCU interview. It's such an inconvenience because i had to travel to London each time to attend this interview. I guess i'm reaping what i sowed though.

Anyway, this past march my fiancee and i got married (woohoo (: ) in Virginia but i had to return to the UK to finish school and obviously apply for a visa. We are currently working through all of the I-130 paperwork and supporting documents, all of which we now have.

My question is - when filing the I-130 is there a particular procedure we have to follow as i was arrested, how and when do i declare it, will i need to attend a different interview than normal?

At some point you will have to answer questions in regards to your 'criminal' past. It will not impair your application in any way, provided that you have served your time. There is no special procedure because of that episode in your life, other than at some point you need to be prepared to talk about it. We all were teenagers at some point and we all did something stupid, so do not worry too much about it. If your record in Britain is clear of any pending sentences, you are fine.

[rik.caitlin 0]

Why dont you just get an expungment of your juvenile record. Juvenile records usually are keep confidential. I suggest you expunge your record.

Thanks for your response. Is it possible to expunge a record in the UK? everything on the internet regarding expunging a juvenile record is referring to US juvenile records?

[rik.caitlin 0]

You will need a police check (everyone does) and copies of all info pertaining to your case. You will have an interview regardless, and it shouldn't have an impact.

Thanks for the info. I had a check (ACPO) last may so im guessing i need to get a new one for the I-130 this year? The info in my possession pertaining to my arrest and fine is receipt of money received by the court, referral order completion letter from the youth offending team. Do you think that will suffice?

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Expunged or not, US immigration is going to want to know about it, especially since it's already come up in prior immigration-related interviews. Don't bother trying to get this removed from your record just for immigration purposes. If it wasn't a problem for J visas, it's not going to be a problem for your K1. Juvenile criminal issues as minor as this one are not a problem, aren't CIMTs, and don't require a waiver, just clear documentation on what happened so immigration knows not to make an issue of it. Since you've already dealt with it in the past, it should be fairly easy to deal with again if it comes up, provided you have the relevant records.