In an effort to keep this site organized and the comments on the topic of each post, comments, questions and suggestions regarding International Travel will be moved to this post. Please use this for all further immigration / emigration / customs related contributions.
NEW: International Megan’s Law – International Travel Action Group
Also see:
International Travel – Mexico
Living with 290: Traveling to Cabo San Lucas
Resources for International Travel
DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP)
The Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) is a single point of contact for individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties they experienced during their travel screening at transportation hubs—like airports and train stations—or crossing U.S. borders,
http://www.dhs.gov/dhs-trip
Tip from comments:
Go onto the Homeland Security web site and file whats called a Redress (your addressing your being held up or perhaps miss flights/etc due to constantly being stopped when you re-enter the country). Then, when you travel and re-enter the country, hand both the paper (they will email you a very official paper) and your passport to Customs. The first time I did this, the Customs Officer seemed to not know what it was and the Supervisor read it and I was on my way.
Canada
Inadmissibility – Reasons for inadmissibility – Overcome criminal convictions – Deemed rehabilitation
Rehabilitation For Persons Who Are Inadmissible to Canada Because of Past Criminal Activity
Related
International Travel for Residents of AWA States – AWA compliant States
Question: Has anyone else had issues when traveling Internationally? I was plead non contest to a wobbler 17 years ago and the charge has since been expunged/summary probation as well. I still have to register, but its nuts. Every time I go through Customs and show my passport, I’m halted, detained and normally have to go to a secondary screening where I’m just allowed to leave? Its very embarrassing. Normally, no one will answer any questions. I’ve missed flights, almost missed flights and its very hard when your traveling with 2-small children. I’ve had a few of the customs supervisors see the screen (when they scan your passport) and make a comment, “thats ancient history, have a great day.” Or, sorry for the delay. ALthough, I’ve had a few bullies talk to me terribly and they were beyond rude! The last guy (LAX) told me that I should carry my Proof of Registration? I informed him there was no law requiring me to do this. He changed his attitude after seeing my wife and 2 children? In Texas, I was informed my one of the officers to file whats called a Redress? It has done nothing for me? Any thoughts or similar experiences?
Traveling International:
The U.S. Government issued me a passport and did not inquire as to my registration status on the application and I did not volunteer information not specifically requested.
(They *want* you to leave the country)
I have traveled extensively outside the U.S.A. and have *never* been asked about my registry status on any visa application. Thailand seems especially welcoming, but that’s another story.
Life is considerably safer outside the U.S. for a variety of reasons, not just the wholesale perversion of justice and belligerence of the Police Agencies. Nowhere, on three continents, have I encountered a question, problem or even so much as a raised eyebrow.
It’s only upon reentering the U.S. where discomfort strikes. It’s America’s problem, and I’ve been advised by Homeland Security (several times) upon crossing the border returning, to pay attention to my Duty to Register after seventy-two hours. I just smile and suppress the urge to spit in the officer’s eye.
Leaving’s easy. It’s coming back that’s tough.
Bill, correct. Thats what I mean. In summary, whenever I’m re-entering the US, this is when I get stopped and normally detained. Normally, they say nothing to me and just check something on a computer and send me on my way. I have only had a few guys mention the registration status/maybe they are thinking I’m on the run or something? I’ve personally only had one person ask this? Normally, they don’t mention or answer me when I ask why I’m being detained? THen, they send me on my way. Otherwise, I’ve had no issues going to other countries/the issue has been expunged/summary probation/17 years ago. I’m hoping this California tier system goes into affect soon
DZ, thank you for the sincere response. I actually travelled to Canada about 4-5 years ago and didn’t have any issues? They did stop me (coming back into the US), but didn’t ask me anything or ect. The charge was reduced/expunged since 2002. So, I would imagine the border patrol has such information. I have also heard that Japan is a bit hard/not related to this/to enter as well. I’ve heard of celebrities (Robert Downey, Jr) being banned or almost now allowed to enter their country. Interesting topic.
I commented on this in another thread about being detained at LAX upon returning from overseas. It was brief and they let me go on with my dad. I was really worried about coming home from a cruise to Mexico, but the customs guy scanned my passport and told me to have a nice day. Shwew!
I applied for a rehabilitation waiver in order to relocate and work in Canada. I paid a lawyer several thousand dollars plus an extra grand for the rehab app. My application was denied. I have read on other sites about RSOs stopped at the border and having to hang back while their families go into Vancouver to enjoy a day trip.
I also read of a business man traveling to Asia who had an unexpected lay over in Japan. They stopped him cold and in order to continue on his journey he had to pay for two security guards to make sure he stayed in his hotel room during the layover. Crazy.
As my little ones get older I can’t imagine subjecting them to the BS they will experience at the hands of their classmates – kids can be cruel – so I am in a bit of a scramble to find a solution that will keep my family together without having them pay for the sins of their father.
If any RSOs with wife and kids is successfully navigating these treacherous waters and has any ideas regarding living arrangements, alternative countries, etc., please let me know. Staying here seems unfathomable. I am aiming for Western Europe, the place our forefathers left because it was so f’d up. Now look at us…
This is way off topic, but during my one week trip to China I lost 5 pounds.
During my one week cruise, I gained 5 pounds.
Just sayin’.
I had no problems going to Japan as a tourist in 2007. I am stopped each and everything I reenter the USA however. They always look at my computer, pics on digital camera, etc. I find it very intrusive but now when I travel I make sure to have uploaded everything to a remote website (although I have nothing at all illegal) and just load in photos of churches for them to look at…just messing with them…I mean fair is fair!
I’ve been stopped so many times being a frequent international traveler that I take it as just one more joke (like the TSA search)!
Has anyone visited Belgium or Tahiti?
Here are some dated but helpful comments / travel experiences:
http://constitutionalfights.wordpress.com/international-travel/
I travel to Mexico about 4-6 times a year to work on a home in Baja. I drive down with friends and walk the border when returning, leaving all of my belongings in the vehicle with the others. Only once have they gone through my cell phone and bag, but that was when I remained in the vehicle. Each time I tell the Border Cops to send me to secondary, where I sit for 5 minutes and then released to meet my friends on the other side. One time the Border Cop was indignant that I reminded him of his duty to send me to secondary and then let me walk on through. I carry nothing with me except a passport and ID. I believe that many Border Cops and probation/parole officers were the kids that got bullied in gym class and now carry guns…pretty scary the power they have been given.
I was in Mexico last month and when I cam back. I expected this and was pulled aside twice. I tell them Im late for my night flight.
and what is “secondary” ?
I travel to tijuana every weekend, I always let the officer that I go to secondary revision. At times the officer just lets me through amd the rest I get sent. The revision is quick since the same officers are always there and the know me. They do a quick car search and on my way out. Only once did an officer try to say something regarding my visits but I stopped him before he finished never had any other problems. I would like to live in tijuana and work in otay Mesa, ca. But have to see what type of problems I could encounter with that plan.
Well, it seems like I started a wonderful topic of discussion. I agree with a lot of your comments. First, the first person you come in contact with via the border is usually very low key and professional. I truly agree with that. Thereafter, a supervisor is called and in Miami, they are normally very professional and have you on your way in minutes. Very courteous. At LAX, the first person is normally very low key and professional, but the secondary officer is rather rude, crude and not cool at all. The first time I came to LAX, they checked my baggage and ect. The second time, they were rude as well and informed me I should keep a copy of my registration certificate/proof of registration? In summary, my charge has been long reduced to a misdemeanor and expunged. Furthermore, I received Summary Probation? In summary, I informed him in a professional manner that there was no law requiring this? He didn’t know what to say. Then, he asked where my luggage was? I told him it was with my wife and 3 children? Hmmm. I was escorted out and left. In Miami, the supervisor took a look at the screen and told me to have a good day, it was “Ancient History”. He told me to have a good day. I almost feel they get off on harassing people. Thanks for the input. Ohhhhh, this is an important piece of information. When in Miami my second time, I was lead to secondary screening. This time, I was told to have a good day and an officer told me to get whats called a (REDRESS). In summary, if you go online, you can file this to Customs and bring it with you. Its typically for those who are detained repeatedly, miss flights due to this and ect. I brought it on my second to last trip and the customs agent showed it to the supervisor and was let go. I forgot it this time. I might recommend doing this. I will refile one again and ask for a point of clarification with respect to asking why I’m continued to be detained. Check it out. Truly
One added thing: I actually visited Canada about 5-6 years ago and had no issues, but my offense had been reduced to a misdemeanor and expunged by this time. I was stopped/first International Travel Since 96 offense, for a moment, but let go immediately after they probably ran me on my way back.
Does anyone know?
If I plan on taking my family to a Resort Hotel in San Diego this summer and I plan on staying 3 days 2 nights do I have to Tell the city or the Hotel of my RSO status?
Any info appreciated
@Jeff – Are you on parole or probation? If not you are probably just fine. When I was on parole in ’95 I went to Vegas for a wedding and checked in with the local PD as per the requirements. If you’re not under any supervision I say go ahead and have a great time without feling like you have to check in with The Man. And if you’re going to Sea World, free those poor Killer Whales and dolphins, will you?
PS – I highly recommend touring the USS Midway.
I recommend this. It worked. Go onto the Homeland Security web site and file whats called a Redress (your addressing your being held up or perhaps miss flights/ect due to constantly being stopped when you re-enter the country). Then, when you travel and re-enter the country, hand both the paper (they will email you a very official paper) and your passport to Customs. The first time I did this, the Customs Officer seemed to not know what it was and the Supervisor Read it and I was on my way. LETS TRY THIS. It worked for me. Good luck.
I have traveled 3X internationally since getting off of probation. Every time was through Miami Intl and each time I have been detained for secondary inspection due to my RSO status (which was due to a misdemeanor). They then proceed to go through every inch of my luggage, every image in my camera and also my laptop. Typical delay is about an hour so I plan my connection flight accordingly. My offense happened 9 years ago and I completed probation without issue over 4 years ago. Afterwards I complained to TSA on two of the three occasions that I was detained and both times they wrote back saying this will happen for the rest of my life.
These comments really make me angry. Your detained, bags are searched and your harassed for a misdemeanor? I initially plead to a felony/reduced to a misdemeanor and dismissed/expunged. For all intense purposes, Ive never been convicted of a felony/summary probation. In essence, I cant believe this is happening. Miami is relaxed and LAX is terrible. The last guy I ran into asked, know why you are hear? I responded, no? He went on to talk about how I should be carrying the receipt from my registration? I told him I was unaware of any law requiring this? Then, he asked what I did for a living? I have a graduate degree and very educated? I didnt tell him this, but I asked how much longer this would take and was I being detained to be asked about my place of employment? The guy was clearly feeling me out? I wonder how I would have been treated if I were ? WHo knows. This is terrible
I have heard that recently Interpol becomes involved. I know of one gentleman that had the visa for the county he was visiting, ok’d to leave the US, ended up in the country and was held and detained and then shipped back to the US. He also can not get his wife into the country due to the Adam Walsh law.
I travel to Baja quite often to surf, fish and sail. I can’t get a passport so I just take my CA ID and birth certificate to get back. The state won’t issue me a passport due to back child support and federal taxes, which was a result of my felony conviction in 2006. I have since had that conviction expunged and will attempt to acquire a certificate of rehabilitation when the time comes, but in the mean time I will continue this little game with the government.
Oh, the customs people always tell me to get a passport, and I always say I can’t, and they always let me through. I guess it’s because I’m so laid back about the process that they no longer bother messing with me. I’m just a middle aged laid back surfer dude these days. I sail my boat down there quite often and rarely check into customs when I get back so I prefer to travel down there that way. Maybe next time I won’t even come back!
I found this interesting (as in ‘scary as all hell’)
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130208/17415621927/homeland-security-not-searching-your-laptop-doesnt-benefit-your-civil-liberties-so-we-can-do-it.shtml
Apparently DHS has decided they can search any electronic device they wish at the border- and in fact within 100 miles of the border (maybe even any entry into the US, so 100 miles from every international airport?) and they have decided it does not violate anyone’s constitutional rights to do so.
Need help. If any RSO out there has traveled to India and can provide insite on what an RSO can expect. Please please share. Will have to trval for work and this might cost me my job if I can’t travel to India or my RSO statis gets out.
A fairly recent decision about searches of digital devices at Airports. (March 2013)
Ninth Circuit Rules En Banc:
Border Search of Laptop Requires ‘Reasonable Suspicion’
Border Patrol agents must have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity before conducting comprehensive searches of laptops or other digital devices, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Eight judges of an 11-judge limited en banc court rejected the government’s claim that its authority to conduct suspicionless searches of persons entering the country extends to forensic examinations of electronic devices, even when those devices have to be taken to distant locations for more intensive review than can occur at a point of entry.
“A person’s digital life ought not be hijacked simply by crossing a border,” Judge M. Margaret McKeown wrote for the court. Civil liberties activists called the decision a significant victory for privacy rights, even though the panel upheld the search specifically at issue in the case, while the government seemed likely to seek Supreme Court review. …
http://www.metnews.com/articles/2013/coot031113.htm
First, allow me to provide you with a little background. I am 32 years old and, in 2007, I plead no contest to a single charge of California penal code 311.11 (possession of child pornography). In addition to a sentence of 90 days in jail, I was ordered to 1 year of Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings (52 meetings in all), 3 years of summary (informal, unsupervised) probation, and, of course, lifetime registration as a sex offender. I’ve had zero problems since my sentencing; not even a speeding ticket.
Last month, my wife and I travelled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. I had already scoured the web to resolve my anticipation of what to expect when I arrived in Mexico, as well as what to expect when I returned, so I had a healthy knowledge of what crossing the borders was going to be like. Thanks to numerous blog posts and forums (especially the ones here) I wasn’t expecting any trouble getting into Mexico, but dreaded coming home!
The day of our trip finally arrived and off to LAX we went. We had no problems boarding our flight and, when the plane finally landed in Mexico, I was expecting a breezy transition through Mexico’s immigration process. First off, the airport in Cabo is extremely modern and is identical to that of any airport here in the U.S., so the immigration checkpoint is just like any you will find here. After waiting our turn, it was finally time for my wife and I to hand our e-passports and immigration papers to the Mexican immigration officer. He swiped my wife’s first and cleared her without incident. Then, he swiped mine and spent the next minute reading something on his computer screen. He then advised me that “CBP has flagged your passport, and you’re going to need to go with this officer right here”, pointing to an officer standing about 2 feet away. My heart dropped! I wasn’t expecting this! Immediately, I had terrible thoughts of being detained in Mexico while they try to figure out what to do with me. Obviously, the thought of not actually being able to enjoy this trip with my wife also crossed through my mind. But, without any other options, off I went with the immigration officer to a little office that overlooks the checkpoint.
The officer and I sat down in the office, and he studied some paperwork that had apparently been printed by the first officer who had swiped my passport. He then asked me some very basic questions:
1) Where are you staying?
2) Why are you visiting Mexico?
3) How long will you be in Mexico?
4) What crime were you convicted of in the United States?
I answered all of his questions honestly, and he then asked me for my travel paperwork. I handed him the confirmation sent by my hotel, as well as proof of a return airline ticket. He photocopied these things, handed them back, and wished me a nice vacation. He was actually a very pleasant man and this whole ordeal only took approximately 5 minutes after which, my wife and I were on our way to enjoy a week in paradise!
After our week was up, we boarded the flight to return home. My heart had been pounding all day and the thought of clearing immigration at LAX was literally, sickening! I could only imagine what hell awaited me once I got off the plane. After a few hours, the plane finally landed at LAX and off we went to clear immigration.
After waiting our turn at the checkpoint, it was time to be processed back into the U.S. The immigration officer swiped my wife’s passport and cleared her immediately. Then, the officer swiped mine. The officer studied her computer screen for 3-4 minutes before advising me that I would have to go through secondary screening. I advised the officer that I was well aware of this and she must have been surprised by my response, as she asked “Really? You knew you would be going to secondary?” I told her that I was acutely aware, and off we went to a secondary screening area. The first officer advised the secondary screening officer that I was a “S.O.”, and required processing. This new officer was actually very nice and pleasant! The only question he asked me was what crime it was that I was convicted of. I advised him, and he then proceeded to search the only bag I had on me, which was a backpack (our large luggage bags were checked with the airline and my wife was now waiting for those bags to come off the conveyer system). To say that he searched my backpack is a loose term. Really, he just open the pouches and peeked around inside. After about 5 minutes, I was cleared to move along! In fact, I actually beat my wife as I was first to get out the door. It took her at least another 5 minutes to get our bags off the conveyer belt and meet me.
All in all, my worry was actually for nothing. While I was surprised that “CBP had flagged my passport” and therefore, was not expecting any hassle clearing immigration in Mexico, that experience was actually better than clearing TSA on an average day! And as for the dreaded return home: not really a problem at all! Just a quick look inside my backpack and I was on my end.
Now, this is only MY experience and I cannot speak for other people. More importantly, I am sure that the officers handling the immigration process have just as much to do with it as anything else. It is entirely possible that the immigration officers could be having a bad day as well, and that will be reflected in how they process you in. Either way, anyone travelling anywhere should expect some hassle and should not be surprised when they are told that their passport “has been flagged”.
Noname….I travel to Mexico usually between 4-6 times a year for long weekends in Rosarito. While there with friends, I work on their home, relax, travel freely and totally enjoy myself. Returning home can be frustrating, so when we’re near the border, I hop out of the car and walk across the border. When checking my passport, I also politely mention that I’ll have to go to “secondary”. I leave everything in the vehicle and meet them on the other side.
I have applied for a Travelers Redress Control Number from DHS and, if granted, I’ll have few problems crossing. An online application can be filled out through the DHS website if you’re interested.