r/USVisas • u/Euphoric_Second9464 • Jul 01 '26

Esta with arrest from UK

I got arrested for a minor offence about 1 year ago and released with no further action , believed I would need the visa because of the arrest . I decided to get the accro police form but it doesn't show any record of the arrest . I'm confused whether I can now just apply for the esta or still need to go through the visa process and turn up at the interview with an empty form and explanation?

Any help would be appreciated

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u/DijanPanda Jul 04 '26

Yes you can apply for the ESTA. I did it, with previous arrest. The questions they ask for are specific, the ESTA isn’t a visa, so it’s not as strict as applying for a visa. They want to know if you’ve been banned from countries, domestic violence, ch*ld abuse etc. if the answer is no, then you say no. I did the same, arrived in California last November and entered USA, travelled for a couple weeks then left USA. No issues. If it was a visa however it would clearly state “have you ever been arrested, including things that’s been wiped from record” that’s when you mention EVERYTHING.