I recently discovered by chance through an internet search that I have a criminal record with a misdemeanor class A in Florida. The record seems to be 4 years old. The thing is that I did not know about it at all.
I'm a European citizen (living in Europe) and I visited Florida 5 years ago. First of all I need to say that I didn't commit what I am apparently accused for! One day I was walking on the sidewalk and the police stopped me. They checked my ID and said they are looking for a suspect who looks similar to me. So, they checked my ID and said everything is OK and that was it. I was NOT arrested NOR taken to the police station. NO fingerprints or photographs were taken and I did NOT have to pay a fine. I have never been to court either. Soon (maybe a week) after this I left the US. I guess the criminal record has something to do with this ID check, since it was the only time I have ever been in contact with the police.
How can I have a criminal record? Can I be convicted for something and not know about it. Can they convict me while I'm absent (back in Europe).
I don't really understand this record but might it be that this record exists because I was a suspect but I was not convicted?
Also, it seems that the crime that this record is about falls into the category of 'moral turpitude' crimes. After this incident I have travelled to the US many times always ticking the box on the arrival/departure form that I have never committed any moral turpitude crime. I have never had any problems at the border!
Now I want to apply for a visa but I don't know if I should mention this on the application since I have no papers about this to show at the embassy... Since I have never had any problems at the border in the last years, I thought that this whole record might be sort of wrong or that the record does not indicate that I was convicted.
Can anyone help me with this issue?
Thanks!
I'm a European citizen (living in Europe) and I visited Florida 5 years ago. First of all I need to say that I didn't commit what I am apparently accused for! One day I was walking on the sidewalk and the police stopped me. They checked my ID and said they are looking for a suspect who looks similar to me. So, they checked my ID and said everything is OK and that was it. I was NOT arrested NOR taken to the police station. NO fingerprints or photographs were taken and I did NOT have to pay a fine. I have never been to court either. Soon (maybe a week) after this I left the US. I guess the criminal record has something to do with this ID check, since it was the only time I have ever been in contact with the police.
How can I have a criminal record? Can I be convicted for something and not know about it. Can they convict me while I'm absent (back in Europe).
I don't really understand this record but might it be that this record exists because I was a suspect but I was not convicted?
Also, it seems that the crime that this record is about falls into the category of 'moral turpitude' crimes. After this incident I have travelled to the US many times always ticking the box on the arrival/departure form that I have never committed any moral turpitude crime. I have never had any problems at the border!
Now I want to apply for a visa but I don't know if I should mention this on the application since I have no papers about this to show at the embassy... Since I have never had any problems at the border in the last years, I thought that this whole record might be sort of wrong or that the record does not indicate that I was convicted.
Can anyone help me with this issue?
Thanks!