Travelling to US with a criminal record in the UK

I've applied for my subject access report, what else do I need before booking my visa appointment ?

I assume you've also applied for your ACRO?

This page tells you what documents you must take to your interview:

https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/tourism-visitor/required-documents/

You can take other supporting documents if you want e.g. bank statements, payslips, job reference, mortgge/rental agreement but unless the officer specifically asks for them (very unlikely in most tourist visa circumstances) he/she will not look at them. Having said that, it's better to have the paperwork and it not be needed than the other way round.

[ Edit: Edited on 20 Feb 2025, 20:55 GMT by leics2 ]

Did anyone need to fill out a Personal Data Form, VCU-1 and bring that to the interview?

[ Edit: Edited on 20 Feb 2025, 23:42 GMT by Benny1234 ]

Quoting Benny1234

Did anyone need to fill out a Personal Data Form, VCU-1 and bring that to the interview?

yes we did

Quoting Benny1234

Did anyone need to fill out a Personal Data Form, VCU-1 and bring that to the interview?

Yes, mine wasn't needed but saw a few people told to come back with it. Safer to have all documents at hand.
If you get a step down letter with your acro make sure you take that as well.

Thanks for that.

I have the police certificate(no live trace)and they also sent another document with my history on it👍

Quoting Benny1234

Thanks for that.

I have the police certificate(no live trace)and they also sent another document with my history on it👍

That document with the history on it, that's what has been referred to as the step down letter.

Fill in the form and sign vcu01 and take both.

Hey. I have a questions regarding ESTA. We are from UK. I am planning for a trip in July/August with a friend. I don’t have a criminal record but my friend has one for theft (£100 from his employer) that happened about 11 years ago. I know time spent means nothing in USA. My friend is planning to lie on the ESTA application (absolutely stupid I know, I have told them not too). But after doing some digging apparently ESTA and border control have no instantaneous access to UK police records. Also after googling what databases ESTA check I was hit with this:

ESTA checks applicant data against databases including the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB), lost and stolen passport records (including INTERPOL's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database), visa revocations, previous VWP refusals, expedited removals, and public health records.

Also the questions on the ESTA state

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?
Have you ever violated any law related to possessing, using, or distributing illegal drugs?

Which I’m guessing he can honestly answer no too?

Obviously going off that if he wasn’t to declare it out of curiosity how would they find out? If that’s the databases they check surely it wouldn’t flag anything? I have also read online on certain forums and Reddit that many many people don’t declare their criminal record and have absolutely zero issue.

Can anyone shed any light on this?