Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TK421]

This is going to sound really stupid, but I just remembered that I have been arrested.

Now, I know you need a criminal background check from your state to get your E-2 Visa. I am pretty sure this would not even be on my record. Let me give you a quick background:

I was arrested when I was 15. My friends and I were driving a bulldozer in a construction site because the keys were left in. A cop came tearing into the site, took out his gun, ordered us to the ground and arrested us. One of my friends ran into the woods and they called in two helicopters, set up two road blocks and brought in a K-9 unit. He was eventually ran into a road block a few miles away and walked up to an officer telling them that he was the guy they were looking for. Apparently they got a call saying that people were stealing a bulldozer. It was a pretty huge operation.

After we were questioned at the station and they got the story from all four of us, that we drove it around and then parked it, we were free to go after about four hours. We were told it would be up to the construction company to press charges. They did not press charges, therefore I have no felony or misdemeanor on my record. Even if the construction company did press charges, I would not be charged with anything because I arrived at the construction site after they were done driving the bulldozer and they had parked it, so I did not participate in the driving or any illegality. I was simply meeting up with them on my bike to hang out.

The police were embarrassed about the huge fiasco when they found out the true story and that we were kids. It was pretty crazy.

What I'm wondering is if the arrest will be on my record, despite the fact that it happened when I was 15. If so, will this affect my visa? Because, technically, I have no criminal record per se. I wasn't even finger printed and I still have no finger prints on file.

I'm in my 20s now and have matured a ton since I was 15, so please don't judge me for this asinine story haha feel free to laugh at it though. It's pretty ridiculous. My friend could have been charged with grand theft auto they told him.

So should I worry about it?

[Daegudavid]

Don't give details on Dave's ESL - people here will just laugh at you.

In the UK, your record is wiped at 16 or 18, I can't recall which. Also, anything minor from so long ago is under the radar of a Korean visa search.

You should be fine.

[TK421]

Im in the USA so hopefully the rules are similar, I'll have to look into it.

And I only gave people details because I felt like the story is interesting in a ridiculous way and I don't mind telling the story of four stupid kids. I don't mind being laughed at for this one, especially since none of it was my fault.

[Cheonmunka]

Man, that's really dumb of the cops. Cripes, kids are kids.

[ccikulin]

You don't have to worry. I know for a fact that your record is wiped when you turn 18 in the US. Only really serious crimes like arson, murder, etc would show up. I know for a fact because I got arrested after a few friends and myself found our way into an elementary school on a Saturday night and ended up having a giant milk carton fight that made a huge mess all over the school. Long story short, one of the other guys thought it was so cool that he had to go and tell everyone else about it and we ended up getting caught. Had to go to court and work community service for 8 months and everything. But as of now I have a completely clean criminal record. So don't worry.

[Carla]

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

[kinerry]

[poeticjustice]

Nice story!

Anyway, I was arrested at a protest once when I was 20 where some people held down a cop and bit off three of his fingers. Since I was more of a bystander than a participator, they let me go the next morning but did take my information.

It didn't show up on anything when I had my police check done, so you should be fine!