Criminal History Questions

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post, and before anything, I want to share my deep gratitude to the creators and members of this truly informative page! My husband and I are preparing to send in our application mid-February so we're equally nervous, confused, yet still optimistic that we'll finally reunite very soon.

My first question refers to my criminal history. I was born and raised in Hawaii and received a DUI when I was 20 years old. That was almost 6 years ago and since then I fulfilled my sentence (community service, drivers ed course, etc) and also have had no other issues with the law since then.
What documents do I need to include in our application to prove that I no longer have any criminal implications??

My next questions regards the Visa Vignette. I understand the visa approval process can result in a very unpredictable time frame, so I don't understand how once the application is approved, you literally only have 30 days to pick up and leave the country to arrive in the UK before your visa vignette expires. For example, if you pay the priority pricing to get your application to be processed within 30 days, you honestly should not purchase a plane ticket yet because you don't know for sure that your application will process before then, right?
Thirty days just seems like a very short amount of time to pack up leave and tie up all your loose ends?

Sorry if my questions have already been answered. I've been perusing this board for all sorts of insight and so far, i've already learned so much. So again, thank you for any continued clarity and insight.

Aloha from Hawaii,
Chad 

Welcome to the forum .

My first question refers to my criminal history. I was born and raised in Hawaii and received a DUI when I was 20 years old. That was almost 6 years ago and since then I fulfilled my sentence (community service, drivers ed course, etc) and also have had no other issues with the law since then.
What documents do I need to include in our application to prove that I no longer have any criminal implications??

As long as it did not involve jail time, it should be spent after 5 years, so it won't affect the application anyway, plus they can only refuse the visa due to it if it happened in the last 12 months.

You'll need to declare it on your application form, and include a copy of your police record, along with any court documents you have from the conviction.

My next questions regards the Visa Vignette. I understand the visa approval process can result in a very unpredictable time frame, so I don't understand how once the application is approved, you literally only have 30 days to pick up and leave the country to arrive in the UK before your visa vignette expires. For example, if you pay the priority pricing to get your application to be processed within 30 days, you honestly should not purchase a plane ticket yet because you don't know for sure that your application will process before then, right?

You definitely should not purchase any flights before you have your visa and you have checked it for errors. UKVI advise that you do not book any travel before your visa has been issued, just in case it is delayed or refused and you cannot travel.

Thirty days just seems like a very short amount of time to pack up leave and tie up all your loose ends?

It is, but sadly that's the way it is.

You used to only have 28 days from the visa start date, then they added 3 months to the visa length to give you 3 months and 28 days, but then they changed it to a 30-day vignette, and a separate 33-month BRP card.

What you do is on the application form, you list your Intended Travel Date... the date you wish your 30 days to start from.

- If the visa is processed before this date, they should make it valid either from the date you put on the form, or recently it's been made valid from 7 days before that date.

- If date has passed before the visa is processed, it will instead be made valid for 30 days either from the date the decision is made, or a few days after.

- If you need more time to tie up loose ends, one option is to fly to the UK within the 30 days, pick up your BRP and then fly back to the US to sort things out.

Hi Ksand24!

Thank you so much for the speedy and informative reply.

For my police record, will an online printout suffice or do i need to request an official document. An on that document will an embossed department seal from the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center suffice or do i need to additionally request it to be notorized and/or certified. Their website explains:
"Criminal history record checks processed by the CHRC Unit will have our embossed department seal. Please indicate in your request if you would like to have the results notarized and/or certified. There is an additional $20 fee for each certification."

Thanks again for the help!

-Chad

For my police record, will an online printout suffice or do i need to request an official document. An on that document will an embossed department seal from the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center suffice or do i need to additionally request it to be notorized and/or certified. Their website explains:
"Criminal history record checks processed by the CHRC Unit will have our embossed department seal. Please indicate in your request if you would like to have the results notarized and/or certified. There is an additional $20 fee for each certification."

You need to request the official document from the authorities.

There shouldn't be any need for it to be certified/notarised, as the official document you receive will be considered original.

And hang onto it.  You'll need it for each application.