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
Hello, I just discovered this site. I am a Los Angeles man born and raised. I am taking a trip to China. My first time to leave the country, other than Mexico for a weekend.
My Crime, 1995- Misdemeanor 290, verbal abuse, child endangerment. Pleaded no contest. Spent weekends picking up trash on the freeway and attended 100 SAA meetings. Summary probation with the Judge. 10 years later case dismissed/expunged from my record. I am not on the Public offender data base. I am not considered a danger according to the state of California. I do register once a year and have registered for the last 20 years. This is all absolutely the worst nightmare of my life.
Money is not a problem. I am financially stable and comfortable. I wish to enjoy China for two weeks. But, in the back of my mind I have these feelings about the law. So here I am, reading all of your good posts, and wondering about all the insanity of those who would make laws.
I had to apply for the Visa to China. I Answered NO to any criminal record, Since the one and only Misdemeanor I had, was removed from my record. I was told by the service I went thru that they usually don’t check anyway. But, Now I have to worry about the freaking TSA upon my return. I will not bring any electronics and keep my baggage to a minimum. This is all such bogus behavior that I am reading about at LAX. I was also wondering why the last four times I returned from Mexico, I had to submit to the secondary inspection. They never told me why. I just figured I was unlucky. Now I know!!
I am meeting a nice, professional woman, in China. I plan to stay with her for the duration of the trip. She knows everything and has assured me that all will be well.
Okay, so if I might ask for some help from those of you with more knowledge than myself. Do I have to tell my local police that I am going on Vacation for two weeks? Am I required to tell my vacation country about my situation?
What about this federal provision that says minimum 15 years for a Tier 1? Should I hire another lawyer and see if I can get off since its been almost 20 years now?
I am very thankful for any and all advice regarding these questions. Hoping for a few reponses.
Brazil…. and so it goes.
http://www.sdh.gov.br/noticias/2014/junho/brasil-barra-condenado-por-pedofilia
copy and paste the text into google.com/translate .
Ironically it would seem that the age of consent in Brazil is 14 and this person’s offense involved a US minor under 16 – assuming that most US states have different statutes for minors under 14. Oh well.
I am traveling to China next month. I have sought out Legal Advice now on how to deal with California. I will submit a flight itinerary to my Local Santa Ana PD. My Visa from the Chinese Consulate was approved. I have been assured by a few people, that I will have no problem with China Customs on this matter.
My case is an expunged 20 year old Misdemeanor and I am not on the public registry.
My question is who exactly do I contact at Santa Ana PD to turn in my Flight plans? My usual register requirement is to see the Officers at the Jail Portion of SAPD. I guess just start there eh? I would hate to see the wrong people and have them trash my papers and suffer some kind of federal problem later.
What do you all think?
I was just turned away from Cancun Mexico two days ago (Jun 18th). I’ve been there a dozen times before but the main “interrogator” informed me they just started this program. I felt like a high-profile criminal as they met me at terminal entry and escorted me to their room, asked me a bunch of questions and denied me. I was forced to fly back right there while my wife was forced to stay behind. What scared me the most was the fact that she is pregnant and they treated her like a common criminal.
For those of you thinking of going to Cancun, forget it.
*Also, I was informed by immigration official that the following countries will also turned you away immediately…
– Singapore
– Taiwan
– Canada (this I already knew)
– Philippines
– Japan
– Thailand
– Australia
– New Zealand
This story is a BIG deal!
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-no-fly-list-violates-rights-federal-ruling-20140624-story.html
The judge’s ruling could offer us a way to challenge this mess.
Hello All,
I am going on a cruise in a few months, that leaves out of Miami. It is a 7 day cruise, from sunday to sunday (actually less than 7 days) that visits 5 different countries, Mexico is one of them. I know people have had problems getting into Mexico. However, I am not “flying” in. There is no plane to send me back on, and I will not even be in these countries for a full 8 hours.
I will be visiting Grand Cayman, Caymand Islands; Cozumel, Mexico, and Belize. I do not need a passport, so I will only have my drivers license and birth certificate. Can anyone tell me what types of problems to expect, mainly those who have been on cruises.
Thanks for any help you could give
Regarding Travel to Jamaica, in case anyone is interested. After emailing a half dozen authorities in Jamaica, I finally received this response. This is good news:
Dear Sir,
I write to acknowledge receipt of your email sent on July 28, 2014, to the Ministry Of Justice Customer Service Web Portal.
I have reviewed your email, and note that you are seeking clarification on whether a person charged with a felony sex offence in the United States of America would be prohibited from travelling to Jamaica.
Please be advised that the present legislation in Jamaica which governs sex offenders, does not prohibit the entry of offenders from other jurisdictions. Currently, upon entering Jamaica there is no criminal background check done by immigration officers. Thus, there is no way of actually knowing the past criminal record of visitors entering the island.
Accordingly, persons are not denied entry for said purpose, however, should any such individual commit a sex offence or any other crime while on Jamaican soil, the matter would be different.
That being said therefore, you are free to enter Jamaica at this time. However, kindly note, that the Jamaican Government undertakes reviews of all legislation from time to time, to accord with international best practices and policy decisions. To this end, the legislation relating to a local Sex Offenders Registry is one such area that is currently being reviewed.
I trust that this information has provided you with clarity, and we wish you all the best.
Kind Regards,
Nardia P. Andrews
Legal Officer
Ministry of Justice
2 Oxford Road,
NCB South Tower,
Kingston 5.
ARGENTINA – WARNING DO NOT GO
Tuesday my partner and I went for a vacation in Buenos Aires. We had been there many many times with the last visit in 2012.
My incident happened in 1996. Is a level 1 and was never an issue with traveling to ANY country (including Argentina) until today and have been there a dozen times…nothing has changed in my status.
I was denied entry. My partner was not but of course choose to leave with me. I was held for 8 hours in the terminal being watch all the time (even when going to the restroom). Finally when the night’s flight back to the USA was ready to board I was taken to the plane where my partner was waiting.
I was then given back my passport and put on the plane.
The total loss was $4000 in tickets (had to pay to have the dates changed for the same day return). $500 deposit on an apartment rented online.
So we can now add ARGENTINA as a prohibited destination. Very sad.
The authorities stated to me that I was perfectly fine with them (no problems and paperwork in order) BUT they had instructions FROM THE US GOVERNMENT that I have an on going issue and they requested (the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) that I be returned!
The government is telling these countries that we are NOT allowed to travel.
It is time that this is stopped! We are being held captive within the boarders of the USA even though we are supposed to have the freedom of travel.
This incident occurred 09/09/2014.
I feel it is really sad that America is displaying its own citizens as criminals. Just what many countries who are fed up with us preaching our superiority to the world want. What an opportunity to deny an American entry — at America’s own request. A healthy country defends the honor of its own citizens, including those who have paid their debt. We are seeing the end of our legitimacy on the world stage.
These are the questions that I have: Does this ban on travel and the U.S. foreign notification apply only to those who are subject to Megan’s Law? Have registrants who are not subject to disclosure been denied entry?
There seems to be a whole lots of confusion regarding international travel, but we all know that, for the most part, any RSO is banned from traveling to some countries. The sad part of it all is that it is an enhancement to a completed sentence. Well, just one more “penalty”. How many penalties does it take to make a punishment? There have been lots of very good suggestions and links posted here, and most have been valuable for me.
I travel to Baja about every other month. The place I go is between TJ and Ensenada and I feel perfectly safe there, actually safer than I feel at home in central California. Crossing the border back into the US has become very routine. If I stay in my vehicle with others, we’ll all go to secondary. If I walk across, most of the time I’m sent to secondary and maybe have to sit there for 5-10 minutes before I’m let go to cross. Labor Day, the officer looked at my passport, didn’t scan it, and sent me on my way. All of 2 minutes to cross the border at 4 am. I met my friends on the other side and we were on our way.
My next adventure will be a trip to a popular tourist destination in mainland Mexico. I’m thinking of flying out of Tijuana International Airport to the given location. I’ll do my homework first, because I can’t afford to lose money on a flight to nowhere. I will post the results, if any, about my adventure.
Regarding my experiences in Mexico; I drive into Baja, always with friends and the homeowner of the house I work on. All very close friends. So far, no problems at all. I know I can stay in Mexico for up to 180 days, but I also know I have to notify my local law enforcement of my leaving for any extended period of time. My trips have been little 3 day jaunts so far.
Here’s another question though; if I fly out of TJ to another location in Mexico does anybody know if the mexican authorities do background checks and send that info onto the destination authorities? I’ll be going to the Mexican Consulate and asking them questions while being a vague as I can. Last thing I want is to land in a Mexican jail.
@Mike
I have considered all of that and I’m working on the legal means to travel within Mexico. There are FM-2 or FM-3 visas for working in Mexico for a Mexican employer/citizen with a business. There is also the FMM tourist card issued by the Mexican immigration Department. I can travel freely within the tourist zones of Baja, but going anywhere else will be a challenge. I’m working on it, and as I said, I do not want to end up in a Mexican jail.
Thanks very much for the input.
David Kennerly: Just in case it is not clear, my last post was a Reply to you.
Joe;
Thanks and I’ll add that to my list of things to look up.You’re completely correct in that we need to know the laws and our rights; both are changing daily it seems; laws are more confusing, rights are diminishing. More research for sure. I appreciate everyone’s input.
Interesting Info I Found On International Travel
http://www.interstatecompact.org/
Below appears to be what is perhaps the actual form?? Who knows with this
secret sh*t…
http://www.interstatecompact.org/Portals/0/library/misc/USMS_InternationalTravelForm.pdf
http://smart.gov/caselaw/handbook_sept2014.pdf
From this document
QUOTE:
"International Relocation and Registration"
In 2011, the SORNA Supplemental Guidelines were issued by the Department of
Justice, and added a requirement to SORNA’s baseline standards that
jurisdictions were
required to have their offenders inform them of any intended international
travel at least 21
days prior to that travel taking place.131 Per these standards, offenders are to
provide
authorities with information regarding their itinerary and intended
destinations, among
other items, and registration jurisdictions are required to provide this
information to the
National Sex Offender Targeting Center of the United States Marshals Service.
Prosecution of failure to register cases once a person has left the country has
proven
difficult on the federal level. While at least one circuit has held that a
person can be
prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. §2250 for a failure to update their state
registration to reflect
that they had departed the country,132 other circuits have held to the
contrary.133
To date, eighteen foreign countries have some form of nationwide or provincial
sex
offender registration systems. South Korea, the Province of Western Australia,
and two
Canadian provinces also make some information publicly available via
websites,134 while
other countries have different community notification procedures.135 In 2014,
the SMART
Office issued the Global Overview of Sex Offender Registration and Notification
Systems,
provides more information on international registration and notification
systems.
136 "
END QUOTE
We all know that more and more countries are denying entry to RSO from the US and with my own recent denial of entry (for the first time ever) to Argentina on 09/09/2014 (I have been there many time before this incident) I am wondering if anyone has had the opposite experience?
Has anyone recently traveled internationally FROM THE USA to the destination country and been allowed in?
Were you questioned at all OR were you treated as any other tourist to the host country?
IF YES, would you kindly share with us that country? We are beginning to find out (by trail and error – very expensive) where we can NOT go…let’s save some money and share where we CAN go.
Thank you!
Has anyone taken a cruise recently and had any trouble? Cruises are different as you are only in countries less than 8 hours. Has anyone gone recently with Mexico included?
I am cruising toward the end of the year to a handful of countries and will report on my experience on my return.
JoeM:
Thanks for the tip on Frankfurt. In answer, my trip involved a plane change on the east coast, On the return I passed quickly through customs and was not even sent to secondary inspection. I believe this was a fluke – the guy seemed to have made up his mind about me before swiping my passport. This was a vacation trip, and I don’t take vacations in the US because it’s cumbersome, humiliating and dangerous. It also gives me some satisfaction to spend my money outside the US.
All of this advise is very helpful. I am kind of in a bind.. I’m a RSO, and I have a trip coming up that has been planned and paid for 2 years, to the Bahamas, but I was not aware of the 21 day notice that is required to be submitted to government officials. I have not seen many, if any posts about travel experiences to Nassau… Has anyone had any recent travels there, or heard any horror stories about entry into Nassau? My entry point back in the US is Miami. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Which states have adopted the 21 day notice? I live in a state that is not SORNA compliant and does not have a 21 day notice requirement but only requires notice of my travel itinerary within 3 days of leaving my house each time I will be away for 3 or more days.
Suppose I were to simply go to the airport and buy my ticket and leave without giving the gov’t. any advance notice at all? In this scenario, I would have no intention of returning to the US.
Yes, I am/was actually giving serious thought to expatriating. Now I’m not so sure. All I know is that I am not going to live the rest of my life as 3/5 of a citizen.
I have a battery from 1998. Wobbler, reduced/expunged summary probation. Expunged back in 2000. No issues prior or after. I’ve visited Canada and that was about 3-4 years ago. I walked into Canada without any issues. When I came back, I was stopped, they didn’t explain, ran me and let me know. Very respectful. I just visited Canada last year again/driving and came in without issues. When I re-entered the country, they where again very respectful, but I had to pull into a rest stop area and they ran me and I was on their way. Very respectful, but it took at least an hour. I’ve visited Costa Rica as well. No issues. I re-entered the US via FLorida and they where professional and courteous. As I walked out the door, the gentleman recommended I obtain a redress. I have, but I’ve never carried the paper work with me. I came through Florida a 2nd time from the Cayman Islands and the supervisor came up as I was stopped, scanned the screen and I was on my way. His comment, that was ancient history? Now, whenever I’ve came through LAX, the people working their are rude and very unfriendly. One fat guy looked like he was getting off by detaining us. Checked our baggage ect. The 2nd time, the man was attempting to anger me, but he saw I had kids with me. HE stated I was supposed to carry the receipt from registering at all times! I acted shocked. NOT TRUE. He honestly didn’t seem to know what to ask or ect and I was on my way. LAX is very rude, Florida, cordial and I’ve had no issues entering another Country so far. Its expunged, but still required to register.
I recently traveled overseas, mainly on business. I have been convicted of possession of CP, but am off all supervision. I had no problems at all going into my destination country. It was when I re-entered the USA in CA where the problems began.
As soon as I presented my passport to the first official at check-in I was immediately treated very rudely as the officer very loudly began to question me and demanded to know who gave me permission to leave the country, etc. It was humiliating because many of the other travelers waiting in line were listening. When I was allowed to proceed to the baggage claims area, I was followed by two guards with their hands on their sidearms.
As soon as I claimed my bags I was placed in an enclosed room where I underwent isolation, repeated searches and questioning for several hours. I missed three connecting flights. When I complained about missing the flights, I was threatened with being taken “downtown where I would really have to worry about things”. At no time was I belligerent, argumentative, or disrespectful!
Finally another officer came in. We sat down and he asked me a couple of questions in a decent manner and cleared the way for me to leave.
It is truly a sad commentary on our country when a person who has paid his time and still has to deal with all of the restrictions and unjust harassment in the local where he lives also must face and fear ridiculous treatments such as this just to re-enter his home country.
FS