Will an arrest 25 years ago stop me from getting a Russian Visa?

[ionizer]

Hi, this is kind of embarrasing, but what the he!!, ask the experts...  I am planning a trip to St. Petersburg for this summer, and I was looking at a copy of the Visa application.  It asks if you have ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime, and says if you answer yes to any, you need to see the consular officer or some such.  Well, in 1983 I was arrested in Las Vegas but never charged or convicted of anything.  I really do not have time to go to D.C. (nor do I want to).  Will it matter if I just "forget" to mention it?  I mean it was 25 years ago...  Anyway, I passed an FBI background check for my Federal job (although I DID list it on the application!).  I know I could go to UA with no problems, but I really feel like I HAVE to see the Hermitage and the Winter Palace before anything politically bad happens!!
Thanks in advance for any advice, Ken

[ScottinCrimea]

And if you answer no, how would they ever find out that this wasn't true?

[ionizer]

I'm not sure.  I guess I was just wondering if they do a background check?  I am maybe worrying over nothing, but I don't want to lose deposits, etc., if they are going to deny me...  Thanks

[viking]

No, they don't. And most police records do not back that far ( usually 5 years) unless there was a capital offense. Now, if you are on the FBI's or Homeland Security's list as a potential terrorist....

[ionizer]

Awesome!  Thanks, I thought so, but I wasn't sure just how far they would go to make sure they were safe from an unsavory American.  

[UTRO]

Nyet, Nyet Bolshoi Ken! Arrested, Stayed, Found not Guilty, Thrown out of Court, Charges Dropped, Found not Guilty after an Appeal = No Criminal Record and therefore No INTERPOL Record. For any Nation to go beyond searching Surface and INTERPOL records is neither viable, reasonable or worth their effort! If you still feel uneasy, have your local Constabulary perform a Federal Criminal Record check on yourself.
I believe that the, "Have you ever been arrested" question is put on the Visa Application to fester guilt and admittance. Perhaps hoping to expose more of yourself than is possibly discoverable by any means that they have As you may have been particularily aware, through your criminal life  most applications ask if you have, "ever been found guilty of an offence which you haven't been granted a pardon for."
Interestingly enough, the Canadian version of the Russian Visa Application doesn't ask anything about whether you've been charged, arrested or convicted of a Criminal Offence.

[viking]

But if he is unsavory that could be maybe 20 years in a Siberian Gulag upon arrival!!!

[UTRO]

But if he is unsavory that could be maybe 20 years in a Siberian Gulag upon arrival!!!

Yes!?! But at least he can say he made it in!!    .....by the looks of that Avatar he has......I really wonder! 

[BC]

Interestingly enough, the Canadian version of the Russian Visa Application doesn't ask anything about whether you've been charged, arrested or convicted of a Criminal Offence.

Same for EU folks.  The supplemental form seems to be for USC's only along with higher fees - all tit for tat diplomacy.

[Phil dAmore]

What they don't know won't hurt them.

Just make sure you don't leave any blank spaces on the visa app.  They don't like blank spaces.

[mendeleyev]

Ditto on the good answers here.  We Americonskis also do the dates opposite from the European style.  Don't make a mistake on the form or you'll be turned away.  June 5, 2008 is not 06-05-08.  It is 05-06-08.  Day-Month-Year.

Also there are several Consular offices around the country.  I use the one in Seattle but could also choose from San Franciso or LA from our Phoenix location.  Check the Russian Embassy (Washington) website for consular offices around the USA.

[Andrew]

I have no clue how it works in  USA, but here in South Africa, I have been arrested countless times for stupid things like swearing at a cop or 200 in the 60 zone and that cr@p. However NONE of it goes on my record, only if I was convicted for a capital offence or white collar crime would there be anything on my record.........Maybe its the same in USA???

[viking]

Yup. Same thing here. You can get a hundred speeding tickets, but they are tickets (and a fine) but no criminal record. Even being arrested means little. The cops could have made a mistake and they let you go.

[turniptruck]

Are we being 'clever'?

[Kuna]

Are we being 'clever'?

I don't know... your country of residence shows Antartica????  Are we being clever?   

[Al_C]

If you were only arrested but never convicted of an offense in the U.S., the record is sealed and the arrest expunged.

So the answer is NO.