Visa waiver and arrest record

[Rambo]

I was thinking of organising a guys holiday to Las Vegas over the new year. If someone has an arrest record with the UK police and has been denied a tourist visa on an old passport will they be caught out if trying to enter through the visa waiver program, by not mentioning the arrest or previous visa refusal?

Are they more likely to be stricter with a group of guys?

[Christophe]

My answers to your questions are Yes (to the first one) and No (to the second one - I think they're strict on everyone in this regard, and the fact that the person's passport might have changed won't help to circumvent the rule, since the person's record will be tied to the person, not the passport). But it is possible to apply for, and be granted, a visa in the circumstances that you describe. (PS: Hope you all get there and enjoy yourselves!)

[JAJ]

I was thinking of organising a guys holiday to Las Vegas over the new year. If someone has an arrest record with the UK police and has been denied a tourist visa on an old passport will they be caught out if trying to enter through the visa waiver program, by not mentioning the arrest or previous visa refusal?

Are they more likely to be stricter with a group of guys?

Arrest record is a no-no for the visa waiver:
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/vi ... tions.html

For visa refusal, it depends on the reason.
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/fa ... tml#niv109