Can Anthony Joshua enter the US? He has a cannabis conviction

[Heavyfist]

He never went to prison, but he was was sentenced to a 12-month community order and 100 hours’ unpaid work for possessing cannabis. He wasn't charged with intention to supply, just possession.

Technically, no. If you are even arrested for any drug crime, not even convicted, you cannot enter the US. Expecially since, the UK shares all criminal data with USA, one of the very few countries.

If you are convicted, that makes it even more difficult.

You can get around this, the department of homeland security can give you a waiver, so its definitely possible. They do this for some, only some big time stars, or celebrities. If you are bringing in a lot of money, improving the economy then they might make an exception.

Usually, this is only done for the very biggest music stars.

[Weebler I]

Again, i would find that weird. Why stick wit just the UK when there is money and fans to be made in the states?

If a fortune teller told me today that he will never fight in the states then i'd say his career went pear shaped.

We're used to seeing a quality fighter across the water worth travelling for in a blockbuster fight, but that HW fighter doesn't exist in the US right now. If anything you go in the opposite direction towards continental Europe for good opposition in that division.

It would be different if there was a US PPV heavyweight to pair him with, but a foreigner knocking over Chris Arreola on regular HBO is not going to do much. Why compromise a lucrative UK PPV with the timezones?

In terms of cracking the US generally it's tough for a foreign fighter in terms of making big money, Golovkin and Kovalev still haven't managed it after a couple of years, neither has Klitschko.

Joshua would need an extended period of fighting over there to make his name and make it worthwhile, and what's the point if he can make huge money in the UK? (which he surely will if he's really the goods)

[deathofaclown]

I've been to visit the USA from the UK and also play some shows with my band in USA and i had been caught with heroin possession and ketamine (dark days, that i'm not proud of and they are behind me). I never served any jail time, i was only ordered to attend rehab and a suspended sentence that would pull me in if i didn't stick to the rehab, drug testing and all that stuff.

I only just got back from visiting NYC and going back in July and never had any problems. Maybe i'm just lucky and never been thoroughly checked out or something even though i've needed 2 different kinds of visa's, but if i can enter with these things in my past, i'm sure a little cannabis bust and community service is no problem.

[Heavyfist]

I've been to visit the USA from the UK and also play some shows with my band in USA and i had been caught with heroin possession and ketamine (dark days, that i'm not proud of and they are behind me). I never served any jail time, i was only ordered to attend rehab and a suspended sentence that would pull me in if i didn't stick to the rehab, drug testing and all that stuff.

I only just got back from visiting NYC and going back in July and never had any problems. Maybe i'm just lucky and never been thoroughly checked out or something even though i've needed 2 different kinds of visa's, but if i can enter with these things in my past, i'm sure a little cannabis bust and community service is no problem.

The only reason you have gotten by is because of ESTA, the visitor visa program. They don't have time to check for your criminal background.

But, because you have visited America and lied about your criminal background you can never go on any other kind of visa. If you apply for a visa at an embassy and they find your criminal background with a background check you will be banned for life from entering America.

You lied on our entrance application and on our ESTA application. Any time you enter America you could easily be deported and banned for life.

Joshua's crime is well known, so they wouldn't even need to bother with a background check.

[LacedUp]

I've been to visit the USA from the UK and also play some shows with my band in USA and i had been caught with heroin possession and ketamine (dark days, that i'm not proud of and they are behind me). I never served any jail time, i was only ordered to attend rehab and a suspended sentence that would pull me in if i didn't stick to the rehab, drug testing and all that stuff.

I only just got back from visiting NYC and going back in July and never had any problems. Maybe i'm just lucky and never been thoroughly checked out or something even though i've needed 2 different kinds of visa's, but if i can enter with these things in my past, i'm sure a little cannabis bust and community service is no problem.

Wow dude.

[Dolezal]

He is more likely not to be allowed because he's black.

NAACP will fight for him.

[BWC]

I agree, but I did say need as opposed to want.

If he makes it, he's going to be PPV in the UK and unless a new US HW comes along, he's not going to need to cross the Atlantic.

Not a doubt in my mind he'll have at least one fight with Jennings or Wilder. Even if you think Wilder sucks horribly and is the worst boxer of all.time, he is easily a top 5 HW for the next 5-10 years and there's no denying the marketability of a Joshua-Wilder fight. People are already talking about it. It's going to happen..

[Scott9945]

Believe me, if this guy can bring in major money (and pay taxes on it) in the US, they'll have no problem getting him in the country.

[saintpat]

y'all are wrong ...america has probably the most strict border laws on the planet .... simple possession of one gram of weed and you will be refused from entering ..even a D.U.I and you'll be refused..I know this personally ..maybe for a high profile celebrity or athlete they may bend the rules

I assume those who answered are Americans ..so you have no clue how ridiculous your border laws are

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time, haha.

The way it works is we let Keith Richards in when the Rollings Stones tour, so that means the next 10,000 drug offenders who apply are turned down to balance it out.

[Scipio2009]

tangential question

what did Martin Murray do that's barred him from ever fighting in the US?