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Z Visa and Criminal Record

 
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JohnCassius



Joined: 08 Feb 2012
Posts: 3
PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:26 pm    Post subject: Z Visa and Criminal Record Reply with quote
Hi everyone,

On the Z visa application it asks if you have a criminal record-- NOT "have you ever been convicted...?". I may have a juvenile record with a "continue without a finding" because of an incident when I was 15 years old. I'm mentioning this because I was able to obtain a student visa about a year ago and I think the same question was asked on the application. I read online that if you do have a criminal record you should submit your application in person, as opposed to through a visa agency, so that you can explain your situation and hopefully still obtain the visa.

My question is do I need to answer "yes" to the question even though I don't have an adult criminal record? Is it risky to answer "no"?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!
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The Great Wall of Whiner



Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Anyone who puts "yes" is basically saying "No thanks, I do not want a job".
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JohnCassius



Joined: 08 Feb 2012
Posts: 3
PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Anyone who puts "yes" is basically saying "No thanks, I do not want a job".


Well I heard that is true but if you say "no" and they check, I heard they usually check, and they find out you lied, you may NEVER be able to get a visa.

I guess I'm wondering if a juvenile record is treated any differently from an adult record in this context.
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Zero



Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
As far as I know, juvenile records don't come up on a criminal background check. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. At any rate, in 99.47 percent of cases, China is not going to check records. Also, I am not sure that all criminal records disqualify you. Rumor has it that some people are honest about drunken driving convictions and the like and still get visas. I read that at middlekingdomlife.
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Miles Smiles



Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Zero wrote:
As far as I know, juvenile records don't come up on a criminal background check. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. At any rate, in 99.47 percent of cases, China is not going to check records. Also, I am not sure that all criminal records disqualify you. Rumor has it that some people are honest about drunken driving convictions and the like and still get visas. I read that at middlekingdomlife.


This is true in the U.S..
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danasoverseasemail



Joined: 08 Jan 2012
Posts: 86
PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Great Wall of Whiner wrote:
Anyone who puts "yes" is basically saying "No thanks, I do not want a job".


This user is implying that you commit a crime and lie.
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Opiate



Joined: 10 Aug 2011
Posts: 630
Location: Qingdao
PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
danasoverseasemail wrote:
The Great Wall of Whiner wrote:
Anyone who puts "yes" is basically saying "No thanks, I do not want a job".


This user is implying that you commit a crime and lie.


No he isn't.

Either way, AFAIK they are only interested in your adult past. Nobody cares if you swiped a Snickers bar during puberty. Also, if there was no finding by the court you likely do not have a record. You were not convicted of anything from the sound of it. You can check into this in your home country. Furthermore, you can call maybe your State Department or Justice Department or whoever this is relevant to and ask them if other countries have access to your juvenile records during a visa application. If no...then check no on the box.
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wangdaning



Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 3154
PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
danasoverseasemail wrote:
The Great Wall of Whiner wrote:
Anyone who puts "yes" is basically saying "No thanks, I do not want a job".


This user is implying that you commit a crime and lie.


The guy doesn't know if he has a criminal record. Picking yes would be an equal lie. There is not an "I don't know" option. If they want to find out if you have a criminal record let them do the work, I would just assume I didn't and put no. To the best of your knowledge this is true, so it is not lying.

Giving legal advice requires that one be certified to do it. If you are not it is a crime.
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