Nairalanders, I’m applying for a foreign visa and they are asking if I have ever been arrested. Some years ago, a policeman had hit me unjustly and I hit him back in anger. I was arrested, detained and charged to court for assaulting a man in uniform. We later settled out of court and the case was closed. I’d like to know what and what normally follows when a case like this is disclosed at a foreign embassy. Many thanks for your response.

Before i can state my opinion on the issue, it is necessary to know what country you had the police assault case and which of the foreign embassies you intend applying to.

Assault was in Nigeria and embasy US.

Alright then. If you want that visa, do not disclose the assault in the forms. Besides, it's not like nigeria has an online data base of people with police cases, court cases, convictions,et al so you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Funkybaby, thanks. But what I wish to know is what steps they normally would take with such declaration. I want to think that they are not that , ?? to refuse one a visa just for saying the truth, without trying to acertain things. Or they don't go any further?

They wont do anything with the declaration other than to gladingly refuse your visa application. What are they investigating or ascertaining? Lol. US embassy aint nigerian police or bureau of public prosecution.

Nigerian police deemed it ideal to charge you to court for assault after conducting all 'investigations'. Why should US embassy doubt the police? To the US embassy, you have a criminal record-period !!

Do you know the gravity of assaulting a police officer in uniform whether you were provoked or not. Forget about your 'out of court settlement'. Na naija those things dey happen. In Europe, you will slug it out in court and you will be thrown to jail if you are guilty.

US embassy will think you are very temperamental and you have serious issues controlling your temper and they would probably have serious doubts on if you are a changed man after the incident.

If you want the visa, leave out the assault info but if you are a goody-two-shoes, then include it. You can even attach copies of the court proceedings with your application. After the interview, please come back and share your testimony.

Don't just mention it cos u don shoot urself already , Even if u are genuine , it is an opportunity to deny u , But if na say UK , US , Australia, Germany et al u hit a cop just forget it , cos of d databse of crimes n events dey possess

Adios

temisafety:

Nairalanders, I’m applying for a foreign visa and they are asking if I have ever been arrested. Some years ago, a policeman had hit me unjustly and I hit him back in anger. I was arrested, detained and charged to court for assaulting a man in uniform. We later settled out of court and the case was closed. I’d like to know what and what normally follows when a case like this is disclosed at a foreign embassy. Many thanks for your response.

You only need to be slightly concerned if you intend to travel to America if:

1) You have teka'd (gave ur fingerprint) at any point in time?

2) You intend to use the same name that you used before?

Still my take on this would be for you not to spill because oyinbo people are overtly sensitive, common raising one's voice can be deemed as aggression, talkless of you their staff before their own korokoro eyes.

temisafety:

Nairalanders, I’m applying for a foreign visa and they are asking if I have ever been arrested. Some years ago, a policeman had hit me unjustly and I hit him back in anger. I was arrested, detained and charged to court for assaulting a man in uniform. We later settled out of court and the case was closed. I’d like to know what and what normally follows when a case like this is disclosed at a foreign embassy. Many thanks for your response.

abeg stay back in Naija.
We have enough criminals in America.