Will my unpayed conviction effect my youth mobility scheme

[thetree]

Hello im applying for youth mobility scheme with a new zealand passport. But i noticed in the conviction section it says to list all convictions. In 2011, i got a ticket for stealing only 12$ worth of food. I didnt get arrested, just got a paper that i was to go to court, but mised the court date, and only ended up with a fine that has now maximized to 1,800 $. `this happened in usa as im originally from there, but i dont have a warrent or anything just that payment. will this effect my visa acceptance? is it even a conviction if its only a misdemeanor? should i pay it off first?

[The Station Agent]

Pay it off and hope no-one notices. In theory if you get a conviction and a fine you're supposed to admit it and get special clearance, but in practice generally it's only a refusal matter if you would have gone to jail had the offence been committed here.

If you admit to it you'll have to get court records etc.