Has anyone travelled to the usa with a conviction after 12th january 2009 without a visa?

I went to the usa last year and i had a police caution. i had no problem entering the country as i didnt realise i had to declare my caution. Now there is the esta system since January and im wondering if i can still try and enter under the visa waiver programme as aplying for a visa will take months. Has anyone entered the country with a conviction after Jan 09?
Thanks

nope

you should be able to as a caution is not considered a conviction it is only minor if you had served a prison sentence then it might be a problem also when you fill in the esta it will tell you if you can travel out there or not I am going out there in Sept and have already filled mine in no problem

The ESTA online-application form asks the same questions as you have filled out on the green form I-94W (Arrival/Departure Record) last year:

"Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to controlled substance; or have you been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or have you been a controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or unmoral activities?"

Now what is moral turpitude? This is explained on the FAQ site of US CBP:

"Some examples of crimes involving moral turpitude include, but are not limited to, murder, rape, sexual offenses, crimes against children, prostitution, robbery, theft, fraud and crimes of violence."

Now answer the question yourself whether you may travel under the Visa Waiver Program.


Source(s):
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/about_esta/esta_faq.ctt/esta_faq.pdf