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Thread: Visa Application with Criminal Background

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[quote=GUEST77130,357569]Hi there,
I have been working for a company in Australia that also has an office in Shanghai. Last May our work travel agent organised all of the airline tickets, accommodation and then sent the visa application to the employees who were travelling to Shanghai for 4 days of work so they could fill it out. The company I work for (I have been there since early 2006) do not know I have a criminal record in Australia (in my early 20s back in 1997 I stole $69 from the retailer I worked for by doing a refund (with a receipt) but I signed another persons signature as doing the refund (it was classed as fraud under $2000) and I kept the cash. I am completely remorseful for what I did and I have not reoffended since (the court hearing was February 1998). I do not wish to be punished for the rest of my life because of a big mistake I made when I was young and stupid. I pleaded guilty and a conviction was recorded against me. Fast forward to 1998 and I come across the question on the China Visa application " do you have a criminal record in China or other country" I answered "no"-thinking honestly that after a 10 year period your record is wiped/classed as spent and you do not need to declare it-I was obviously mislead by people who advised me of this incorrect information. My Visa was approved. Also as my place of employment was organising this work trip, I did not want them to find out that I have a criminal record-because I am classed as a great employee and do not want the stigma attached that a record can give especially after 11 years of not reoffending. I am currently in the process of gathering information for my application for a tourist visa to the USA-they require court records, Name, DOB and fingerprint check-hopefully they will see in an interview that I am genuinely remorseful for what I did and that I have been morally responsible ever since my conviction. Now I am worried that I should have declared my criminal record to the Chinese Embassy-it was an honest mistake that I didn't as I thought you didn't have to declare it after a certain period of time. I have since learnt that criminal records are recorded against your name forever. So my question is-next time I have to visit China for work I wish to be honest and declare that I do have a record-and  advise them that I said no on the previous application because I believed it was wiped/and that I didn't have to declare a record from over 10 years ago. But even though I am advising them of this honest mistake, I am worried that they will refuse my next Visa based on this-and I do not want to lose my job/damage my relationship with my employer of nearly 3 years based on this. Any advice would be appreciated on best way to handle this sensitive situation.[/quote]

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