British Citizen with arrests but no convictions, can’t use the VWP (ESTA) but also unable to obtain a B2 visa

[UKWrestlingFan 0]

12 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Well futbal to be exact but soccer in the US where they will play this summer

and letters from various people involved with church or other can attest to good character even get this young man introduced into a community that will help grow good character instead of those who accuse him of rape or start a fire / thats how it helps

I’ve been in a good walk of life for some time now. The false rape accusation came when I was 18. When I was 19, I really started to get my life together properly. I started working for a big corporate as a 9-5, and I also trained up and got an SIA Licence to work in frontline security, which I have also just recently renewed and continue to do.
 

I like to think I live a good life and I’m in a fairly strong position compared to others my age - I am a private tenant and rent my home at the moment but I have good savings and I’m on track to be able to secure a deposit to own a home within the next year or two. 
 

This whole arrest malarkey doesn’t even affect my life here at home because nothing ever came of it, I have a clean DBS etc. I knew it was gonna hurt to dig it all up again just to try and visit the U.S. but I can’t even begin to put into words the mental/emotional impact it’s taken on me, especially now that my friends are in Vegas on the holiday I was supposed to be going on with them. It just doesn’t seem fair.. I was honest with the U.S. when plenty of others (including them) aren’t when it comes to arrests without charge, and I got stung for it. 
 

I know it must sound daft that I care so much about simply visiting a country but I’ve wanted to do this all my life even as a kid. 

[UKWrestlingFan 0]

8 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

There's a few success stories on here of people doing stints in prison for much more serious crimes and as they waited a much longer time and evidenced good character through employment and other ventures, were able to successfully obtain a tourist visa. 

 

Not what you want to hear, but keep things in perspective, atleast you're only missing out on a wrestling show. Plenty more of the world to see with no visa requirements.

 

You'll have opportunity to visit in future, you just need to wait this one out and make an effort in the mean time to better yourself on paper to appease the CO. 

 

Good luck! 

Thanks man. The common response seems to be that I just need to keep doing what I’m doing, progressing in life etc, wait it out for a couple of years and try again then. So I guess I’ll just have to do that. Sucks, hurts in fact, but it is what it is.

[JeanneAdil 6,855]

30 minutes ago, UKWrestlingFan said:

I’ve been in a good walk of life for some time now. The false rape accusation came when I was 18. When I was 19, I really started to get my life together properly. I started working for a big corporate as a 9-5, and I also trained up and got an SIA Licence to work in frontline security, which I have also just recently renewed and continue to do.
 

I like to think I live a good life and I’m in a fairly strong position compared to others my age - I am a private tenant and rent my home at the moment but I have good savings and I’m on track to be able to secure a deposit to own a home within the next year or two. 
 

This whole arrest malarkey doesn’t even affect my life here at home because nothing ever came of it, I have a clean DBS etc. I knew it was gonna hurt to dig it all up again just to try and visit the U.S. but I can’t even begin to put into words the mental/emotional impact it’s taken on me, especially now that my friends are in Vegas on the holiday I was supposed to be going on with them. It just doesn’t seem fair.. I was honest with the U.S. when plenty of others (including them) aren’t when it comes to arrests without charge, and I got stung for it. 
 

I know it must sound daft that I care so much about simply visiting a country but I’ve wanted to do this all my life even as a kid. 

nothing daft about it

many places i want to see 

good luck

[smilingstone 271]

59 minutes ago, UKWrestlingFan said:

This whole arrest malarkey doesn’t even affect my life here at home because nothing ever came of it, I have a clean DBS etc. I knew it was gonna hurt to dig it all up again just to try and visit the U.S. but I can’t even begin to put into words the mental/emotional impact it’s taken on me

 

I was contesting with an arrest from 2005 (I was 14 at the time) for shoplifting. It didn't affect my personal nor professional life either - clean DBS and a productive career. When it came to me gathering everything for my own visa journey, I had similar feelings to you. This was something I did as a stupid teenager, thinking I was cool. I got so down about the thought of some mistake in my past possibly ruining the plans me and my now-husband had for our future, because how was I supposed to know back then that I'd be in the position I was when filing? I'm having the same feelings now that I'm filing for my GC, as I've had to tick YES on the very scary questions of having ever been arrested or convicted of any crime, at any time, anywhere. But you will move past it. I find comfort in the thought that 20 years have passed since my arrest and that is to my advantage. I am unsure if my arrest was less than 5 years ago if I'd still be in the same position. Your last arrest was only 4 years ago. I read online people advise to apply after 5 years from the arrest, but some say 10, perhaps to do with severity.

 

The wound is fresh because you're missing out on a good time with your friends, and as you say, they got to go despite apparent dishonesty - however, this may come back to bite them in the future, who knows what plans they may have. It is always best to be truthful and transparent with these things.

 

You did the right thing, even if it doesn't feel like it at the moment.

[Boiler 46,757]

Quote

Have you ever been arrested or convicted for a crime that resulted in serious damage to property, or serious harm to another person or government authority?

 

As nothing resulted, charges dismissed I would have happily answered no, too late now.

 

Personally think the question is horribly worded, but so are others.

[FromTheHills 17]

Your ESTA is gone for life. When enough time has passed apply for the B2 again. In years.