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
Was hoping some one could share any knowledge about visiting any Carribean islands on vacation. I am leaning toward D.R. or Jamaica. However I am curious if maybe I should possibly try one of the smaller island countries such as Antigua or The Grenadines or The Bahamas. I have also considered Dutch owned Aruba and Curaçao and French owned Martinique. Does anyone have any experiences or know of any of these locations denying entry? Or even better, has anyone had successs in visiting any of these on vacation recently? Any info./knowledge is greatly appreciated
Virginia warned you. It’s not just us. http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2015/02/05/coming-soon-no-travel-or-passport-if-you-owe-irs/
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I’M POSTING. HOPEFULLY, SINCE THE SITE IS SUPPOSED TO BE FAIR THE POST WILL APPEAR.
ANYONE WITH EXPERIENCE TRAVEL TO THE UK. I HOLD US AND UK CITIZENSHIP. WAITING FOR US PASSPORT RENEWAL AND UK RENEWAL.
IF THIS QUESTION IS OFFENSIVE, PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY.
THANKS
John Smith, what is your question?
Your comment contained only statements, no questions.
Please explain what it is you are asking.
Two weeks ago, transiting in Tokyo and on my way to Taipei, I was pulled aside and asked to call Taiwan Toayuan Airport immigration. I called and they told me I would be denied entry in to Taiwan, if I chose to continue on my next flight. They said the U.S. government had provided them information that I have a criminal record but no details.
I changed my plans and flew to Korea and was able to get in there without difficulty.
I plead guilty to enticing a minor via the internet (actually an undercover cop) over 7 years ago.
Upon my return to the U.S. (usually harassment that the rest of you receive), I contacted an immigration attorney in Taiwan and was told I cannot enter the country for 3 years and can apply for a special visa then.
I am required to travel to Asia for work but am concerned I won’t be able to get in to many countries.
Thanks to our own government for throwing us under the bus.
Wish I could combat this somehow…
I inquired about getting into Canada and I was sent this application form – and a request for $200:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/rehabil.asp
I’ve posted here earlier with my details on being denied entry to Mexico. So now, I’m getting ready to potentially visit Puerto Rico for my anniversary with wife and baby.
Does anyone know or have experience with PR? I’m a US citizen and the last I read was it’s a US territory and you don’t need a passport… ??
Also, does anyone know if I will still need to go through immigration and customs on the way back home (or on PR as well)?
International travel: At last month’s Dallas RSOL conference a class on travel overseas was given by Paul Rigney. This thread probably the last place to reveal any new ideas as we are public….
Out of curiosity, why isn’t the ruling by the Supreme Court last year, which makes it illegal to conduct warrantless searches on electronics except in imminent danger circumstances, being enforced? Are they implying that travelling while registered construes an “imminent danger” exception?
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/06/cops-must-have-a-warrant-to-search-cell-phones-rules-supreme-court/
There are so many bits and pieces in this thread all over, and so much of it now is a couple years old and maybe outdated.
It would be helpful if CARSOL could put together a thread with instructions about what do to get to any of various countries. That could be updated as needed if anything changes.
I would like to find a way to go to England. From all I read here, I can’t. The only thing to do that I find here is to file for redress — but that would not be possible until after I already had flown and had trouble — that defeats the purpose, I’m just talking of a one-time trip. I have an old friend I have promised to visit and I just need to do that now. Gee, I can’t go there and get rejected upon arrival, and that being bad enough, but then also have to explain to him why I failed to show.
The thread I propose could also include alternate tactics. For one, I was wondering if I got a flight out of Tijuana, could I avoid the trouble. I could walk across the border, and go to the airport there. From what I understand, it is the booking of the US flight that sparks this message being sent by the US. But if I don’t book a US flight, instead book a Mexican flight, can I avoid that and will that mean I have no problem on the receiving side? AS I understand it, Mexico would not get that info if I walk across.
Or will they get the info via my passport anyway? (And I’m afraid if the word got out to do this tactic, Mexico would do something to block us.) Gee, an entrepreneur could probably make plenty of money booking these kind of flights. But another detail, would I have to somehow book it in Mexico, not from the US, as would simply booking it via the US company for the Mexican airline cause the US to send the info or otherwise raise flags? But it seems that info is sent after the flight door is closed, and the US would not know about that for a Mexican flight.
Even if that tactic would work, someone would have to test it out.
I also just came across some info that worries me about that tactic. Walking across the border at Tijuana has always been something you didn’t even need a passport to do, just need ID and proof of citizenship, like a birth certificate or military ID. There was a recent article in the newspaper saying Mexico is now opening a new facility for people walking across the border at San Ysidro (San Diego) to Tijuana. It said you need a passport — it said you always have, it just wasn’t asked for, but that isn’t so (but for this tactic, I would need a passport for the other country to which I’m traveling anyway). And they will be doing a full border check, apparently very much as if you had just flown in. That is something you used to not have to deal with until you were 60 miles into Mexico.
I’ve been deep down in Mexico in years gone by and never had a passport (since 9/11, you need a passport to re-enter the US if you travel by air or sea) — you simply get a 30-day Visitor’s Permit upon arrival. Now this article says you need a passport just to walk across to Tijuana. But also, part of what the new facility will have will be a special bridge to use to walk over to the Tijuana airport — convenient.
Again, if all registrants suddenly start booking flights to San Diego or other border cities and then walking across the border to Mexico to go to the airport, I have to think someone is going to block us.
Anyway, a thread telling what to do, and different tactical approaches, to be able to be admitted upon arrival the first time is needed. And those steps might vary some by country of destination.
It also would be helpful to explain the qualifications for redress — people have pretty much simply said to apply for a redress, but what do you have to show to get it? Is that going to be as a easy to get as a COR?! Are we going to need to go bankrupt by hiring a lawyer to get that?
This is a fascinating and disturbing article about Interpol’s relationship to the current state of travel freedom. It does not address the issue of registered sex offenders or the green notices said to alert countries to their peregrinations but instead discusses both Red Notices and “Diffusions” and the inherent violations of human rights which accompany Interpol’s practice of treating each of its many member countries’ criminal justice systems as democratically principled and legitimate and all of their requested arrests and detentions as acting in good faith.
Much of what is said about “Diffusions” (distinct from “Red Notices” and potentially more egregious) and “Red Notices” can be applied to the system of “Green Notices” which we are up against.
This is a truly internationalized machine of state oppression that needs to be fought and defeated.
http://www.fed-soc.org/publications/detail/interpols-transnational-policing-by-red-notice-and-diffusions-procedural-standards-systemic-abuses-and-reforms-necessary-to-assure-fairness-and-integrity
Most of us are, by now, aware that the United States Marshal’s Service (USMS) operates the National Sex Offender Targeting Center (sounds very civil, and not at all like punishment). USMS worked with INTERPOL and the Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking Office (SMART Office), to develop a “Notification of International Travel” system, allowing the United States to alert other countries whenever a registered citizen intends to leave the country.
Together, along with numerous other agencies, they formed the “Angel Watch” center. According to a FOIA request, “these notifications are also sent to the USMS intelligence analyst sitting at the Customs and Border Protection National Targeting Center so that a standard Travel Notification Form can be completed and sent to INTERPOL. This new process closes a loophole and allows the USMS to send INTERPOL notices to both the NCBs and RSOs as per our agreement.” In other words, the USMS works with INTERPOL whenever one of us wants to travel. INTERPOL creates a “Green” notice, and forwards that to the country we intend on arriving at. The receiving country has advance notice of our arrival (which is why so many of us are met at the plane’s door the moment it arrives at the gate) and, in a lot of cases, the receiving country immediately removes us and sends us back.
After doing a bit of research, we are actually allowed to file a complaint against INTERPOL (link provided below). According to INTERPOL, “Action is taken within the limits of existing laws in different countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Our Constitution prohibits ‘any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character’.”
By now, there should be no doubt that sex offender registration is nothing BUT political. Numerous studies, including those conducted by several government organizations, completely disprove the myth that registration does anything more than garner votes. It’s a purely political scheme! Additionally, such Universal Human Rights includes:
• Article 12: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
• Article 13:
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
• (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Given INERPOL’s constitution, and these declarations of human rights, I think it is high time that every single person who is denied entry into another country based on nothing more than previous conviction (especially one that is decades old), files a complaint with INTERPOL. Perhaps, with enough complaints, they will begin investigating this issue further and come to their own determination that issuing “green” notices, at least in its current form, is a violation. If we can get them to stop issuing these arbitrary notices, then that could be a big win for us.
Links are found here:
http://www.interpol.int/About-INTERPOL/Structure-and-governance/CCF/Contact-the-Commission
http://www.governmentattic.org/12docs/USMSsexOffenderTargetingCtrRpts_2014.pdf
That’s just my thought though.
http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/jmd/pages/attachments/2015/02/01/15._interpol_washington_ipol.pdf
This document is informative also, but from 2010.
http://ojp.gov/smart/pdfs/InternationalTrackingofSexOffendersWorkingGroup.pdf
Following the message, INTERPOL Washington will then issue a Green Notice for the convicted sex offender. This Green Notice will remain in effect for a period of five years, unless the offender is removed from the registry pursuant to legal, court action. The= issue of the secure message helps foreign countries determine admissibility of the convicted sex offender. In those instances where a convicted sex offender is admitted into a country and purchases a ticket to a separate, unidentified foreign destination to possibly reoffend, the Green Notice will be in place to serve as a notification system to the ancillary inbound country
Giving something a try and would like input.
Single misdemeanor conviction of 647.6. Wife and kids are Japanese citizens. I can get a spousal visa (to move permanently) to her country. My plan is for all four of us to show up at the Japanese airport with translated letters from attorneys/psychologists. After calling several consulates, I get the same answer as the rest of us… “try it and see, we don’t know.” After months of searching online I’ve found only one anecdote of a transit passenger being denied entry and confined to a hotel room. Any thoughts?
I’m hoping to travel to Macau, China next year. Does anyone know if I will be allowed in? Will China be alerted to my travel plans in advance?
It seems that some posters have traveled extensively, and recently, if I read them correctly (I have been curious as to places they have had successful entry). Other individuals have complained about entry back into the US…this doesn’t concern me; the petty harassment is only an inconvenience, without reason to arrest you…just wait it out. This is the only rational response…don’t allow this to get under your skin, but do practice saying as little as possible.
Be that as it may, it does not seem that as many of these trips have been logged as to Destination as would be possible…I have also been guilty of not posting information that might be helpful, (or not).
Flew LAX London, April 2014…no problems at all
Flew LAX Barcelona, May 2014 No problems with entry
Flew Barcelona>Paris>London…staying again in London for 3 days, no problem, May 2014, returning to LAX
Europe seems to be OK, and London was for me, though I have been to London many times which might be a factor in my admission.
Live in a Non-SORA state, gave no notification of pending travel
I am a lifetime RSO, involving a child, though it didn’t seem so at the time…30+ years ago.
I hope this is helpful to some…though please note that my information is 18 months old now.
Good Luck to All
After notifying my local county authorities I flew out of my home in Atlanta with my 70 year old Mom heading to our first international trip to Costa Rica. Immediately when I walked off the plane there were two CR immigration police. They denied me entry based on me being a sex offender and put me and my Mother on the next plane out of the country. It was a bad situation that could have been worse. I told my Mom if there hadn’t been a flight I would have been put in a holding cell until one came up. She was very upset..my crime was 15 years ago. I am not on any kind of probation and I did everything according to the letter of the law. It was so shitty…so disappointing. I have been reading up on CR for a decade…total waste of time..
“Copy and paste this and send it to all of us”
God bless you!
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Alert act now!
The U.S. Senate passed International Megan’s Law with amendments and sent it back to the U.S. House of Representatives for approval.
The Senate passed HR 515 formerly known as “International Megan’s Law” with another NEW title “InternationalMegan’s Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders” and added a section about passports.
Essentially, all current passports for folks CONVICTED of a sex offense/s MUST be reissued, with the words “SEX OFFENDER” prominently displayed on the passport. And all new passports for folks convicted of sex offenses will be issued with same wording.
The Senate also added a section for appropriating funding ($6,000,000) for each of these years (2017-2019) to implement International Megan’s Law.
Advocates and their families and others need to immediately contact their U.S. House Representatives and object to the entire IML bill (and concept), and any other similar bills that may arise.
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Really? glad to know, I thought it was right because Illinois voices sent this to me over the holidays.
I was stopped and detained in the Panama Airport last February on my to Brazil. This would have been my 4th consecutive trip there via Panama. I was interviewed, bags searched, phones seized ($300 to get them back), held for over 4 hours, and sent back to LAX. The Panamanian officer who was assigned to guard me said that they received information from the US of my travel.
Again….this happened in February 2015, BEFORE any international travel bill was voted on or enacted! Ironically, it was the easiest return through customs in LAX.
I’ve been off the registry for almost a year now but haven’t tried traveling internationally since then (due to a traumatizing attempt to visit Mexico while still registered). Has anybody in a similar situation tried traveling to the Carribbean recently and what were your results? My trip is booked to the Dominican Republic, but I will cancel it if there is good reason to do so. Any feedback is appreciated!
What is the rule on notifying your jurisdiction of any intended overseas travel if you are NOT on probation of parole? Do you have any obligation to let anyone know? Just wondering for any future possible travel plans.
I had posted this in another thread, but think it is better to locate it here…
To date, I have not been affected by any of the same difficulties experienced by others in going to international destinations, but my situation is a bit different which may explain why.
In 1989, pled to federal receipt of CP (govt mailed the video) (note that possession was still legal under federal law). Sentence was probation. Incarcerative sentences were apparently relatively rare at that time.
Explicitly told was not required to register, as possession of CP in California did not become illegal until 1/1/1990, and then the age cutoff was 14 and not 18. It was not a registerable offense either. In the 1993 legislative session, the age was raised to 18, and it was also made registerable.
By this time I was also off probation altogether.
I have travelled internationally regularly all this time, but most in terms of when these notices started going out in 2014 to the UK, France and Netherlands, and also in 2014 to Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. In 2015 travelled to the UK, and also went on a Caribbean cruise. No issues on any of these trips. Also recently obtained a 3-year Russia visa and 10-year China visa.
Questions are 1) Is it likely I have not had any issues because I am not on any registry? and 2) will IML implementation cause this to change in any way?
Any insights appreciated. Thanks.
The IML says that you have to be currently required to register to get the passport identifier, but the notice provision is a bit more ambiguous, but seems to be ‘just’ codifying what they are already doing in practice, which has not caused me any issues.