Getting a USA Visa with unspent UK Criminal Conviction for drug dealing

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Frankly, while being honest is the morally right thing to do, it is extremely unlikely to get you into the US anytime in the decade to come, if ever. Drug trafficking specifically will ban you for life from getting a visa or entry, and obtaining a waiver (essentially legal forgiveness) is impossible except in the case of "a single offense of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana [for personal use only]", as stated by the US Department of State

My advice is apply for an ESTA and do not declare the crime. Contrary to popular belief, the US does not have access to UK criminal records, however they may ask you to provide it yourself for a visa interview, as visa applications are scrutinised more carefully than applications for visa-free entry at ports of entry.

Try to find anything related to your crime on Google. If it's nowhere to be found, and you act normally at the port of entry, you will be fine, just as numerous others in your situation

The only other somewhat realistic option is simply visiting other parts of the world for the next decade or so, and then giving the US a shot. Unfortunately, however, you may very well not receive a waiver (of visa ineligibility) even after, say, 30 years - the law usually doesn't provide for it as explained above.

So in actuality, I'd say outright: if you want to have a good chance of ever visiting, don't apply for a visa, but go visa-free (with an ESTA of course). That said, again, look up your case on Google to see whether it's likely to be found

This may not be the answer you want, but the fact is that the legal doors (i.e. not involving lying) are shut and unlikely to open again.

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