Travelling on B1/B2 Visa to the USA after serving Prison Sentence?

[mandyt 0]

Good day to you.

Hi VJs, as ususal I come here seeking answers not only for myself but for others too. Here goes. After serving a year in prison can a person travel to the USA on their existing B1/B2 Visa without complications? If there are going to be problems can you please let me have an idea as to what they will be.

Also what kinds of problems may arise if the visa needs renewal?

Thanks guys.

Edited January 19, 2011 by mandyt

[Barbara J 115]

Good day to you.

Hi VJs, as ususal I come here seeking answers not only for myself but for others too. Here goes. After serving a year in prison can a person travel to the USA on their existing B1/B2 Visa without complications? If there are going to be problems can you please let me have an idea as to what they will be.

Also what kinds of problems may arise if the visa needs renewal?

Thanks guys.

DO you have the B2 visa already? If not this would be asked when you apply and I would assume it depends on what the jail term was for. If it was for a minor offense maybe but more serious I don't like your chances.

[mandyt 0]

DO you have the B2 visa already? If not this would be asked when you apply and I would assume it depends on what the jail term was for. If it was for a minor offense maybe but more serious I don't like your chances.

Yes the guy has his B2 Visa already. He just wants to travel. He was locked up for abuse of his wife.

Thanks.

[coraliesolms 47]

They can check for certain things at the border. And somethings would make you in-admissible. The best thing would be that if they ask you "have you been convicted of any crimes?" you would have to be honest and explain to them what happened. There is no guarentee, and I would like to be able to re-assure you, but it's one of those things that if the question comes up, you might be up the creek without a paddle.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

He will have to admit on the 1-94 that he was charge with a crime in his home country, then the CBP officer will determine from that if he is admissible for admission in the US. Be prepare to not be admitted.....

[mandyt 0]

He will have to admit on the 1-94 that he was charge with a crime in his home country, then the CBP officer will determine from that if he is admissible for admission in the US. Be prepare to not be admitted.....

Thanks guys for the responses. I guess it is a "take your chances" kind of thing.

Much appreciated guys.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

When the CBP officer scans the traveler's passport, he does not see that the traveler has been in prison. He would only see if Interpol has a search warrant out for his arrest, or if he were in a US database.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Just Bob

[Krikit 1,164]

There are a number of Canadians who have been refused entry at the POE due to old convictions and they had to apply for a waiver..... So we do know that the CBP does have access to this information. At least... . they have access to the Canadian criminal records database. If they are like this with Canadians who do not require a visa to enter the US, I can imagine what it would be like for someone from another country to be scrutinized. There is also at least one VJ'er who even went through the K-1 visa process, was approved at the Consulate, and then denied entry (and had his visa cancelled by CBP) due to a past conviction which was revealed during the K-1 process.

This should be a bit helpful:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/760/kw/crime

[Krikit 1,164]

If they fall into the category of being ineligible to receive a visa, then I imagine they will be refused entry:

Classes of Aliens Ineligible to Receive Visas

[Harsh_77 718]

They might not have access to his jail records, nor does I94 ask for this information, but CBP officer is going to ask for wht he has been doing in past year. Why would he return back to his home country, why is he in US now and he will have to tell officer about him being in jail.