Visa to the USA and criminal record in Ukraine

Examples of Recent U.S. Visas Obtained Through the Vizaus Visa Center

Video Guide for Obtaining a U.S. Visa

Many people wish to fulfill their long-held dream of visiting the United States of America, whether as tourists or for business purposes. It is well known that a visa is required to enter this country, which can only be obtained after meeting all the main requirements of the U.S. Embassy (fully completing and submitting the necessary documents for review, passing an interview). However, if the applicant has a recent criminal conviction and urgently needs a U.S. visa, the planned trip may not materialize.

Expungement of Criminal Records

According to Ukrainian law, all citizens, without exception, who have been convicted and have not fully served their sentences, will not be able to cross the border. In such cases, the only requirement for obtaining a U.S. visa is to expunge the criminal record.

A criminal record is expunged in the following cases:

1. During the prison term, the inmate demonstrated good behavior and was released early, or the inmate served the entire sentence and was released.
2. The inmate paid all fines or completed community service as required by the sentence.
3. All charges against the inmate were dropped by the complainants.

Attention! If you have been convicted, you may be denied an immigration visa or certain categories of non-immigrant visas (J, M, etc.) at the U.S. Embassy. U.S. government agencies, like those of any other country, are wary of individuals who have committed crimes due to the risk of recidivism.

Obtaining a U.S. Visa After Expungement

If you have a criminal record and were not issued a visitor visa to the U.S. by embassy officials, you may not have been aware that a U.S. visa is only issued a certain period after serving the sentence.

U.S. Visa and Criminal Record in Ukraine:

• If you did not serve a prison term, but, for example, performed community service or paid a fine, you will be able to travel abroad only after one year.
• In the case of minor offenses, you will be able to leave Ukraine after 3 years.
• Committing medium-severity offenses restricts your ability to travel abroad for 5 years.
• In the case of particularly serious offenses, you may be completely banned from entering the United States.

The above restrictions are quite justified, as any country, including the United States, is cautious about admitting recidivist criminals into its territory.

The situation is different for Ukrainian citizens who have been convicted in the United States. In such cases, even a minor theft can result in a visa denial.

Criminal Record in the U.S. and Visa Eligibility

Cases where a visa will be denied:

• You will not be able to obtain a visa if the crime you committed in the United States was related to drugs, rape, or causing serious bodily harm.
• You will not receive a visa if you have not yet paid the required fine in the United States.

Other tips for obtaining a U.S. visa:

• It is important to include documentary evidence that your criminal record has been expunged in your application package.
• When filling out the application form, it is essential to mention that you have been convicted.
• If during the interview you are asked about certain details of the crime, answer truthfully.

Our Assistance in Processing

Obtaining a visa for individuals with a criminal record is a complex matter and requires specific knowledge not only of the intricacies of the application process but also of certain legal issues. We do not guarantee a 100% visa approval, but we will do everything in our power to increase your chances of obtaining the desired document. All that is required from you is to trust us and wait for the results of our work.

The visa will be processed within 5 days. You can inquire about the processing cost when contacting our company, as the price may vary for each visa category.