Criminal record... Yes or No? Please help

Legal Visa & Residency
1

Hi all,

I won a scholarship (HES) to study in Taiwan and I’m going to LA for an orientation on Tuesday. They are going to process my resident visa application right then and there. One question on the application asks if I have a criminal record. Maybe I do, maybe I don’t… I was arrested for criminal trespassing a few years ago but the charges were dismissed by the court. I never even went in to a police station. I had an FBI background check done last year for other reasons and it turned up zero. AND YET, a quick online search of Arizona’s court records can show everything to anyone…

Do you think I need to disclose any of this in my application, or when I get to TECO in LA? Do I even HAVE a “criminal record” to your knowledge? I have found so much conflicting information about this online. I am leaning towards telling my story in LA, but this has me worried because I have little to no documentation of the case’s disposition. And of course there is no way for me to get any official documents by Tuesday.

Thanks for any advice,
B

2

AFAIK, the only time you need to produce a criminal background check is when/if you apply for an APRC (permanent residence) or JFRV (married to a local). No records are required for standard visitors or resident visas, although there is that question on the application. If you answer yes, they may ask for an explanation and then make a determination.

3

If your FBI report is clean, you’re clean. That’s the standard Taiwan’s authorities go by for US citizens.

4

Can you do a police check on yourself to find out?

5

I’ve produced 3 or 4 criminal records … and it’s always the same, because the moment I canceled my residency in Belgium they only can give me a paper until the day I canceled it … waste of my time, money, ink and paper.

6

Just say NO. Let them hunt you down. Dont hunt yourself down :slight_smile: