Shoplifting

[redhatsony]

Shoplifting, petty theft

Hi,
I am caught while shoplifting an item which is less than $10. They didn't call the police. It is told me that I cannot go to that store for 1 year. They took a pic of me. I don't remember if they took my fingerprints.They sent me a mail which says that I should pay $150 . I paid that.

Now I am planning to go to Canada. Do they refuse my visa request? Is it shown in my criminal records? By the way, I don't have SSN. I am here with student's spouse visa(f2).

I will be very glad if you give some information to me.
Thanks for ANY help

 

[calatty]

Since you weren't even arrested, the offense will not be on your record and will not affect your ability to get a visa.

 

[okamsrazor]

Sounds like she was arrested to me. The store had her sign a written confession, they probably turned that over to the police who sent her a ticket in the mail. She signed it and paid the $150. The ticket is technically an arrest. She never went to court to challenge it and I can not imagine the store simply sending out a $150 ticket on their own.

 

[Jerbee99]

Pretty smart of them if they did... wouldn't that be illegal, though?