(2-part post):
LCI4rky:
You've asked for the whole procedure. Here goes:
First you'll need to get your police certificates from the Association of Chief Police Officers:
http://www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp
While you're waiting for those you can book your interviews with the US Embassy: (The certificates take up to a fortnight. The current waiting time for interviews is 15 days):
http://london.usembas...tact_information.html
You should also complete the online form, DS-160, and check that you have all of the relevant documents and photographs ready for your interview:
http://london.usembassy.gov/b2.html
The processing time for visa applications is currently 4 days. Where a person has not been convicted of a crime of 'moral turpitude', the US Embassy staff have discretionary powers to issue a visa. ABH is not normally considered a crime of moral turpitude, so given the length of time which has passed, it's likely that your friend with an ABH conviction will be given a visa at that stage.