Hi,
I am currently on F1 and will be applying for my H1 this April 2008, my concern is that i have a past criminal record from 2002 and 2004 both are mstd chargers for petty theft (shop lifting) both my chargers are cleared now, no probation no nothing basically i am a free man now and have been a law abiding person ever since it was some mistake that i made in my teens which i really regret.
However while i was on F1 i traveled and applied for a F1 visa renewal in 2003 even after my 1st conviction and i got the visa somehow, where they ask on the visa form that have you ever been arrested i said NO ( basically i lied) but i still got the visa and traveled without any problem what so ever till 2005, even on the port of entry when the officer asked me if i was arrested i told him YES i was and explained him what happened and he was like that is ok sometimes it happens just make sure you don't do it again.
This happened 3 times on Port of entry with 3 different visa officers, even one of the officer wrote a note 2 my record stating not to ask me for additional papers since my case was resolved ( a very nice person i suppose).
Now my problem is that i am applying for my H1 but i have the same issue all over again, whether i should lie about it in the form or not, if i say YES i was arrested, would this affect in getting my H1, if i say NO and lie about it would that affect my case? I have my report pulled from the FBI check list and it does show on the report that i have prior convictions.
In the above scenario what would you guys suggest me? Please help me out, i would really appreciate it.
Thanks.
I am currently on F1 and will be applying for my H1 this April 2008, my concern is that i have a past criminal record from 2002 and 2004 both are mstd chargers for petty theft (shop lifting) both my chargers are cleared now, no probation no nothing basically i am a free man now and have been a law abiding person ever since it was some mistake that i made in my teens which i really regret.
However while i was on F1 i traveled and applied for a F1 visa renewal in 2003 even after my 1st conviction and i got the visa somehow, where they ask on the visa form that have you ever been arrested i said NO ( basically i lied) but i still got the visa and traveled without any problem what so ever till 2005, even on the port of entry when the officer asked me if i was arrested i told him YES i was and explained him what happened and he was like that is ok sometimes it happens just make sure you don't do it again.
This happened 3 times on Port of entry with 3 different visa officers, even one of the officer wrote a note 2 my record stating not to ask me for additional papers since my case was resolved ( a very nice person i suppose).
Now my problem is that i am applying for my H1 but i have the same issue all over again, whether i should lie about it in the form or not, if i say YES i was arrested, would this affect in getting my H1, if i say NO and lie about it would that affect my case? I have my report pulled from the FBI check list and it does show on the report that i have prior convictions.
In the above scenario what would you guys suggest me? Please help me out, i would really appreciate it.
Thanks.