What like Turkey? Do you still have to have a crisp, freshly minted £10 note to enter there?

Don't know, never been there and never will.

When you see how much of your air fare is made up of various government duties, $14 is a drop in the ocean.

I remember doing that.
Couldn't hand over two fivers (or a twenty note for two people) ... nope, one ten pound note per person, no exceptions, no deviations ... and no forms to fill in.

I was asked by the border staff 'are you here for illegal or immoral purposes'. I said I was there to spend 2 weeks getting drunk and chasing skirt.

They didn't see the funny side of it.

The Canucks are even worse. Try giving the old "I saw a sign saying drink canada dry and I thought i'd give it a go" and see how far you get through the entry gate.

My entry into Barbados was always facilitated by the fact that the hotel owner that I was sub-contracted to employed an old Bajun on a full time salary for no other reason than he was the brother of the head of security at the airport.

When not needed for airport runs the old lad sat in the shade with the taxi drivers and gassed the day away but when someone like me arrived with goods in his multiple flight bags that really should have been declared for import duty, the old lad walked through to customs in the arrivals hall and stood by the VIP gate with a sign with your name on, a nod to a police officer and a simple stamp in the passport and no questions at all and he'd even get a porter to carry your well packed bags for you.

I've been spoiled now and detest the welcome that awaits at most immigration halls.

Give this government a chance, they can't screw everyone at the same time, this will take just a little longer to implement but they will, even the EU may go for that one as a money spinner

What would one suggest for somebody who has a minor conviction eg. drunk and disorderly?

Would it be wiser to risk not declaring this or go to London apply and pay for a visa which probably wouldn't be granted anyway?

I've been told they would only contact the UK to check a criminal record if they had very good reason to be suspicious.

Just asking for a friend like.....

I may have posted this little story before, but when I worked for an American airline (until very recently), we were made aware of a chap in his 50s who travelled with his family. He arrived at US Immigration and was asked to step aside for an interview (if this ever happens be prepared for a looooong wait), eventually being refused entry and put on the next flight back. His family were permitted to enter.

Turned out he had received a caution for shoplifting when he was about 12 years old, but hadn't declared it. As far as he was aware he had a completely clean record. I believe he was of Asian (Pakistani) origin, whether that has anything to do with it is another story.

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFLcavjFADkThe US Embassy are pretty clear about the issue.[/url But then they would say that.

I'd declare it. You [size=85(or your friend

)[/size don't want to arrive and be turned away. It's unlikely you'll be denied a visa for such a minor offence if that's all you've [size=85(sorry, your friend)[/size has got.

You don't need to travel anywhere - do it online at the [url=https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ESTA site[/url and don't pay more than $14 for it.

Which begs the question ... how did the US authorities know?

Here's a Freedom of Information response on [url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-by-the-us-authorities-to-information-held-on-the-police-national-computerAccess by US authorities to the Police National Computer[/url.

Must admit, at the time we thought it was very odd and that the explanation supplied above was the case regarding information sharing. I can only assume he was flagged up due to his Pakistani origins - US Immigration can request additional checks on a limited number of travellers as far as I recall. The incident took place around 2007.

Of course, there may be more to it than the gentleman in question revealed...we'll never know.