Dismissed/dropped charges - spouse visa

Hello everyone,

After lots of really solid advice from the denizens of this forum, my wife and I are near our intended date of application, in about 2 weeks.

An issue has come up that I hadn't thought about, because in my mind its ancient history:

In 2006 I had a misdemeanor possession charge. It was dropped because it was a pretty bogus charge to begin with.

In 2010, I was charged with a trumped up felony charge. The charge was highly disproprotionate to the actual event. This charge too, was dropped. No court. Just community service.

On the spouse Visa application, I am asked about convictions. Certainly, these are not convictions. However, it does ask about warnings, penalties, and other reprimands (that's close to the wording but not it exactly). Would being charged count under this? Do I need to disclose having been charged?

If I do need to disclose dismissed charges,  I've read elsewhere on the forum (for convictions though) about providing the relevant documentation, and explaining in my cover letter.

Any info on this? I recently applied for a job and initially was denied until I asked them to review, and they saw that the felony charge had been dismissed. Dont want the same thing to happen with my Visa!!!

Thank you all, the advice is so appreciated.

Hello everyone,

After lots of really solid advice from the denizens of this forum, my wife and I are near our intended date of application, in about 2 weeks.

An issue has come up that I hadn't thought about, because in my mind its ancient history:

In 2006 I had a misdemeanor possession charge. It was dropped because it was a pretty bogus charge to begin with.

In 2010, I was charged with a trumped up felony charge. The charge was highly disproprotionate to the actual event. This charge too, was dropped. No court. Just community service.

On the spouse Visa application, I am asked about convictions. Certainly, these are not convictions. However, it does ask about warnings, penalties, and other reprimands (that's close to the wording but not it exactly). Would being charged count under this? Do I need to disclose having been charged?

If I do need to disclose dismissed charges,  I've read elsewhere on the forum (for convictions though) about providing the relevant documentation, and explaining in my cover letter.

Any info on this? I recently applied for a job and initially was denied until I asked them to review, and they saw that the felony charge had been dismissed. Dont want the same thing to happen with my Visa!!!

Thank you all, the advice is so appreciated.

Declare them.

You can write a letter explaining the charges and their dismissal in your own words so that you can clearly get the facts across but yes, declare the charges.

And do include any paperwork you have on them.

Ok, I can get proof of the dismissals from the District Clerk. I'll include those certified copies and explanations in my cover letter. This visa... yikes.

I have a separate question now - but still asking here as to not create a new thread.

I got home with my documents and I sloshed a few drops of coffee on the proof of dismissal (!! Idiot)

A corner has a faint stain and there's a faint stain of a droplet.

I read once that the standards for documents are pretty high - no tears or wrinkles. I don't see how one can be expected to send perfectly unmarred documents, especially out of hundreds of pages. Is it purely if the damage affects legibility?

I scanned the caffeinated document to see how it looks and the stains arent noticable, so I'm assuming it's fine.

The proof of dismissal was a certified copy in 2010, I got a copy of that. Do I need this certified copy, to itself be certified? Seems insane to ask but this Visa is insane.

Thank you!