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
There is HOPE!!!
Travel for work to Canada aprox. 3-4 times a year. Went my first 2 times successfully w no issues. Third time I was turned around at the gates of Canada saying inadmissable. Hired an Canadian Immagration attorney to represent me & apply for “Criminal Rehabilitation” under Canada’s laws. Attorney walked me thru quite a bit of paperwork. After over 18 months of waiting to hear back; e-mail & certificate were send back last week stating it was approved & my past criminality was no longer an issue to travel to Canada.
Not sure how this will play out w IML gaining steam.
I have read that Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruises ban registered sex offenders. What about Holland America cruises? The line is registered in the Netherlands, but the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corp. Would the restriction extend to all Carnival owned ships? Does anyone have any recent experience. Needless to say there’s nothing about this on the Holland America website. It would be helpful if RTAG posted cruise ship info.
I am going to jamaica next june for my wedding. Has anyone heard of a r.s.o being denied entry. I talked to the head of security and recieved a email saying i will not be denied as long as i am not on probation or parole and have a return ticket and money for my trip. I am just worried that i will be wasting alot of money if they tell me im not allowed in thier country
Secret — you can go to the Bahamas (Grand Bahama Island) without using a password. Only need a certified birth certificate and drivers license on a ferry from Fort Lauderdale called Bahamas Ferry Express. Once you’re there, you can go to other islands within the Bahamas with no problem. I haven’t done this, but their website is very explicit about it. If anyone does accomplish this, please let the group know that it works. This is one of the only nations I have found where a US citizen can visit without a passport.
http://gobahamasplus.com/fast-ferry-info/
Just be careful not to stay in Florida so long before you leave that you have to register there. Read carefully the details on the CRSOL state-by-state US Sex Offender Registration Laws.
I’d still love to hear about any new cruise updates (denied/allowed boarding). From my experience with cruises in the past, you don’t need a password for a closed-loop cruise (leave/return same US destination on a Caribbean itinerary) and you can leave the ship in any port with your ship ID and not have to go through customs with a passport. This sounds like a great work-around.
Thanks erwin. Trip is paid for. But i do have travel ins. I have not read any stories online about r.s.o bieng turned away so im hoping its only happned a handful of times and i will have the letter from the head of security from the jamaican consulate with me saying i will not be turned away but they can do whatever they want when i am at customs so i guess all i can do is pray it doesnt ruin the trip for my wife. My crime was in 03 and i was 18 and she was 15
Thanks for the feedback. We have a few ppl that booked already but the resort company we are going thru has locations in bahammas. Im sure that its pretty simple to change locations but my wife was realy set on jamaica. I am however second guessing it due to the comments. Soes anyone have a link to where sex offenders have been denied into jamaica thanks
Too bad someone isn’t doing a documentary on registants attempting to travel and being turned away from countries. Weddings cancelled, savings down the drain. No child saved but many lives disrupted because of ot all. That should be on tape, if not to convince the boneheads to change the laws, at least to show future generations how stupid this country was.
My (future) wife is constantly asking me to just chance going down to Mexico for the weekend to visit her family. I have so far refused. However, a family member of hers — who just got off parole last month for a sexual offense — has obtained his passport this week and is planning to leave shortly to go to Taiwan for a week. He obviously has not notified anyone 21 days in advance.
This has led to some headbutting in my life, because why won’t I do the same? I know SOME countries will still permit me to enter. Question is: How do I go about doing all that? I don’t even know the correct people to notify, etc. I’m not willing to chance just HOPING no one messes with me either coming or going. What’s the process for travelling?
The only problem with telling people about why you’re a 290 is that at some point it gets tiring to keep bringing up your past mistake. By always having to explain it, you are acknowledging that it defines your entire life.
*update*
He made it there without issue, enjoyed his one week stay, and came back into LAX without trouble, save for a short detour to special-processing — in which he was not bothered or separated from his wife — where he had a 1-minute “interview” of: Why did you go? What do you both do for a living? Are you carrying money, and how much?
Planning a possible trip with wife and son next year that includes a visit to DC. They want to see the White House but know you have to go through a ‘check’ before a tour. While I have to register, my counts were expunged 2 years ago. Does anyone know if there would be any issue?
Everyone, I successfully moved out of the country. Two days ago, I moved permanently to Japan–I have a visa, residence card, everything. There were a lot of questions asked, documentation requested, and interviews conducted, but in the end I was admitted with no issues whatsoever. Thank God.
The actual sentence can’t be more than a year. I was sentenced to less than that. When you arrive in Japan, you have to fill out a disembarkation card that asks if you have been convicted of a crime in Japan or the US. Japan is not ‘hooked into’ some Batman database, and although they do fingerprint and photograph you upon arrival, it’s an internal system for immigration. While I’m not an immigration attorney and can’t really give legal advice, I do know that your criminal history is self-reported on that card, so if you don’t tell them, they won’t know. I was emigrating, so I had to disclose and explain everything.
Anyone find any luck moving to Germany?
dang! everyone lookin to scram ? where is the love ? lol , under the bus we go
Anyone exit USA without passport going to the free trade zone recently as a temporary intransit point.
Any experiences shared greatly appreciated.
If the US is not made aware of travel, is a green notice still generated?
STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUES FINAL RULE FOR SO PASSPORTS!!
https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-21087.pdf
http://thehill.com/regulation/294121-state-department-restricts-passports-for-sex-offenders
Hi Everyone,
I am new to this board and forum. I was drawn here because of what happened to me a few weeks ago. I wanted to share and seek advice as well.
I am a RSO in California (not published on any websites) and my offense happened over 17 years ago. I have been traveling internationally pretty regularly for the past 4 years without incident with my partner of 5 years. We have been to Japan, Taiwan (3 times), Hong Kong (twice), Dubai, France, UK and Panama (more on this one in a second), all without incident.(Unless you count me being harassed every time at Immigration)
So, several months ago we planned a trip to Panama to celebrate our 5th Anniversary. We get there, and immediately someone is waiting for me, asks to see my Passport. After several hours, and much humiliation, (searching luggage and phone) I am informed that I am being deported due to Article 50 of the Panamanian Constitution. Need to say I was upset since I had already been there before without incident, but nothing I could do.
So first question to the group, has anyone else experienced this in Panama before?
Secondly, and understandably, I am now extremely paranoid about our upcoming trips. I am hoping to receive some clarification, information or help on the below questions and scenarios.
We are traveling to Singapore, Bali and Taiwan. Singapore is a 24 hour layover, Bali is several days as well is Taiwan. It will be my fourth time in Taiwan, and we will be visiting my partner’s family.
So based upon my initial research on this board, it looks like connecting through Singapore might cause me not to be admitted and screw up our trip. So based upon the opinion of the group, should I risk going through Singapore, or should we reroute our trip?
Now, on to the bulk of my question. I have read elsewhere that Taiwan is very tough on RSO’s and do not allow us in. Since I have been there 3 times without incident (most recently in January), can I expect to be allowed back in this time? Is this actually happening? Does anyone know? Obviously this is one part of the trip we cannot change..
Can anyone clarify? Point me in the right direction?
Much appreciated,
AF
AF, did you successfully travel to those countries yet?
Hi Everyone,
A question for the group. As I mentioned in a previous post, I got deported from Panama a few months ago. My question is this, from what I have been able to gather, Airlines do not conduct background checks. If this is indeed the case, how did Panama find out about me? Do they have the resources to scan each landing passenger? As far as I know I am not on any Do Not Fly list, altho I am pulled aside for extra checking each time I return. Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
AF
@AF, can we talk in email? My partner and I have some questions. We thought the 21 days notice is federal now so even California needs to do that now.
@austin
Not yet, I’m afraid I don’t know much more than anyone else here. I only found this website in September/October when I was refused entry into Panama. I had traveled successfully to Europe as recently as June. Needless to say when Panama hit, I was quite disturbed and upset. Especially given my upcoming plans.
http://www.smart.gov/sorna-map.htm
Says we have not implemented many parts of SORNA. This whole thing is very
I also found something on the prison legal news regarding California and SORNA.
I’m quite nervous and scared about everything. Even more so now given the recent election results.
AF
Hi Everyone,
I somehow wonder, given all the information that I have read on here and elsewhere, if I have slipped through the cracks.
I am not listed on the California Sex Offender Website, nor the National One.
I am regularly pulled aside for extra examination upon returning to the US, but nothing more than that. I never had an issue until Panama in September.
Maybe because I am not any websites, I have slipped through some of the proverbial cracks. Perhaps now it is coming back to haunt me.
Should I hire an Attorney to find out if I am required to notify the Marshall’s regarding my travel plans? Or is that kicking the bee’s nest?
Thanks,
AF
Does anyone have any experience traveling to Australia? I live in California. I know I need a passport and a VISA.
Thanks!