We have updated our main International Travel section. It features:
- List of Schengen Nations (allowing entry to registrants);
- Resources (including a CA DOJ Travel Notification Form); and
- User Submitted Travel Reports.
This post is linked from the Main Menu at the top of the site.
1. The 26 Schengen Nations (which allow registrants to visit)
As an agreement, Schengen was signed among the five out of ten countries of the European Union members back then, on the 14th June 1985. Under the Schengen agreement, travelling from one Schengen country to another is done without any passport and immigration controls or any other formalities previously required.
Austria
Belgium
Czech republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Note: US Citizens are visa exempt when visiting the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180 day period (List of Countries, Section B or map). The European Commission is proposing creating a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for such travelers, beginning in 2021 – which may or may not take criminal convictions into account. ETIAS Fact Sheet April 2018 – July 2018
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2. Resources
Forms
Publications
- RTAG Travel Matrix
- IML Dispatch (SMART Office, Feb 2016)
- ETIAS
Old Posts
- International Travel after IML (2016)
- International Travel – Mexico (2014)
- International Travel (2013)
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Not sure what to do.. I am listed in the National database under my old name from Texas but am no longer required to register in my new state in WA. I called WA to give a 21 day notice and they said since I do not register any longer, they would not be taking my paperwork. Texas told me since I do not live there, they wont take my paperwork either. I do not have a special marked passport but under the IML rules, i am a “covered” offender, because I am listed on the national site because Texas will never take me off. To add to the confusion, Texas only has my old name on their site.. I changed my name once I got off the registry here in WA… Any suggestions on what I should do?
Left Paris for Croatia this morning. As I exited they scanned passports and again not a second look. Flew cze airlines with a stop in Prague scanned again no issues. Landed in Split scanned again no issues. On a boat cruising the Croatian islands the next 8 days and not anticipating any issues until we come back to the lovely USA. We saw USA play Sweden in La Havre, Toured the D-day beaches and the Palace of Versailles while in France. Did a lot in 2 1/2 days.
Since I was a kid, I have had a life long dream of visiting south asia. There is something beautiful about the culture, the differences but connectives of the people from each country. I think that asian people have been very interesting to me as well. I wanted to know if there was any way I could visit any asian countries on the registry? I have a case of possession of CP and not sure if I would ever get off the registry. I know now Thailand will not accept, what about malaysia, or Indonesia, or China, or Taiwan . THANK YOU in advance
The National Park is awesome. On the drive up from Dubrovnik stop at Makarska. Awesome town without the congestion of Split or Dubrovnik. Lots of day trips you can take to the islands. Stari Grad on Hvar was amazing.
I am in San Diego, Ca and Just did my yearly with the Sheriff dept. and they wanted me to sign a paper explaining the IML. I told them I would not sign it, they ask me why not and I used the (and) statement in the law that says you need to meet both requirements. They said ok and just wrote refuse to sign. They said it was only if I wanted to go vacation out of the country, I ask them what if I was leaving the country for good, they told me I would just have to sign out of the California registry and the IML would not apply. Comments???
Just got off the phone with the Attorney Generals office again and I asked a few questions.
1) if I’m moving from the state I register in to another country, do I have to report 21 days in advance. Answer was that it would be nice but notifying the current jurisdiction would suffice. You would have to re register upon returning if you ever do so.
2) if I move to a new state and they don’t require me to register but my previous state did, do I have to notify the new state of residence of international travel. Answer was No. You only need to report if you are currently registering in a jurisdiction.
3) Once I am abroad, do I have to notify the US when going to a different country? Answer was No. Once outside the US and successfully in another country, you don’t have to notify US of any other travel. Just reregister upon returning, if your US jurisdiction requires you to.
Question #4- if you’re on Fla. perpetual list does that change any of the above answers.
Ugh.. just got back from Europe in may and now received the letter to surrender the passport for the “marked” passport. Anyone knows when I go to get new passport, do I need to tell them on the application that I need a passport with the mark or it’s automatic thing?
Secondly, can marked passport still go to Europe okay?
Hello fellow citizens ,
I am getting older and I want to travel overseas and see some of the world , I predicted this whole International Megans list just prior to my conviction so even though my passport had a bout 5 years left on it I renewed it , now it is good until 2023 so it is not marked or flagged so I am going to try to use it . Any advise ? Since it is not marked do you think I can get away with out filling out the California Intended travel form ? My victim was a 30yo woman 261(a)(4) if that makes any difference . Any advise would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
@Everyone
I apologize for giving out information based on what I was told by my brother in the State Department at the time IML was signed into law.
Until I have time to go back and read and study the law, and find out who is right and who is wrong, please DISREGARD any information I have posted regarding giving 21 day notice before traveling.
Thank you.
(Now back into my hidey hole…)
Winding down the cruise portion of the trip. Just left Korcula and headed for the island of Mjet then on Friday we will be in Dubrovnik. I did forget to mention when you board the boat the Captain collects all the passports. So if you have the sor stamp get the passport cover so it would be hard to expose if someone feels like checking out in depth everyone’s passport. It’s nice the boats have wifi🇭🇷
Mike here is a little tidbit. When driving up from Dubrovnik there is a little slice of Bosnia you go through and you’ll have to present your passport. Then in about 2 miles or so you’ll have to present it again reentering Croatia. Stay in the far left lane that is for all passports. Other lane is for EU and a couple others. If you’re on a bus they make everyone exit to present it. Kinda whack but no big deal. Sailed right thru. It’s going to be very hot when you are here. Do the walls early morning or late at night. It’s packed there and hot. Make sure you find some Cevapcci to eat. It’s excellent. Do the Buzza bar. Side of a cliff and really awesome view. Heading to wife’s families village in Hercegovina tomorrow than we fly back on the 4th. Will report back reentering experience then. Everyone speaks pretty good English here FYI. My wife is fluent so that was a bonus.
Will be making my way back today. I’ve had no issues with anyone scanning my passports. No extra time looking at and no funny looks until this morning scanning my passport in Munich. She saw something on the screen and looked at all my stamps. Stamped me and said have a good day sir. I’ve been thru 4 countries and probably have 12 stamps. My wife’s flight was cancelled and they offered to reschedule for July 19th!!!!WTH. I had to spend 3k to get them on another airline and that one doesn’t even leave until the 5th. Never fly with Level. They are cheap but pay the extra for a real airline.
Ok so after dealing with my wife’s flight
Mine got cancelled also. Lufthansa was great. Booked me a new hotel and new flight after waiting in a 2hr line. New flight was Munich to Frankfurt / Frankfurt to Seattle/Seattle LAX. No problems with my passport in Any country I visited. I got a little nervous about Seattle customs. During the flight a fight attendant approached me and told me someone would be meeting me at the exit because I have a tight connection. So my mind starts going wondering who it will be. Turns out it was a Lufthansa rep who gave me an express pass thru customs. They bring me all the way to the front and got a really cool inspector who pulled up my passport. We chatted and he excused himself and they told me someone would be downstairs at baggage to meet with me. Gave my passport to the officer who told me to get my bag and meet her at the exit. I knew secondary was coming.
Got interviewed. Where I visited etc…they had my bags up there to check but said never mind and hope you make it to your connection. As I walked out with the lady CBP she said “you know why we pulled you out right” I said yes and thank you for being very professional. I had to deal with 3 different CBP agents they all were very nice and polite. A+ for Seattle.
Looks like this conference is in Texas. A bit pricing, but if anyone can attend, would be great to geet feedback on this one session. https://www.eventscribe.com/2019/CACC/fsPopup.asp?efp=RVJJU1FaRlU1OTMz&PresentationID=510744&rnd=0.6325008&mode=presinfo
Here’s the conference info: http://www.cacconference.org/
Does anyone know if it makes a difference traveling to a country like Jamaica and Costa Rica if you have an identifier or not? These are countries that have no laws against admitting sex offenders, but some sex offenders have reported being sent home from them anyway since IML. I’ve been to Jamaica three times with no issue, but that was all before 2016. Even though my offense is 1 count of cp, when I renewed my passport last month, there was no identifier on it. I’m not sure if that was lucky oversight, or because my federal charge specified I had no victims.
In any case, I’m wondering if countries like the two I listed above make any distinction between those with passports with the special identifier and those that don’t? Does anyone have any experience of getting in since 2016, or suggest ways I could find out?
Thanks for your time.
Hi, so just to give me an average time. How long does it take to get the passport after apply for a passport and have the mark with the expedite method?
Oh my god, I just saw that Tahiti does not turn away RSO visiting? Is that true? So I can visit Bora Bora with my partner then? That’s always been the place we want to go for anniversary. I appreciate that travel matrix; however, it does not say what happened or how it happened even with the success ones, and how long ago was it, etc. We really need those kind of data points to educate ourselves better for traveling.
http://registranttag.org/resources/travel-matrix/
Hellooooo, Rosa Parks!
https://www.wcjb.com/content/news/Levy-County-deputies-arrest-sex-offender-trying-to-leave-the-country-512855611.html
Offense date: 1993
@Rueben
Recently, you needed to do short notice travel to Central America for business relating to your deceased father. What did you end up doing for the travel notification and how did the travel go with it? We’d be interested to hear your experience.
Here’s a wild fantasy/speculation: What if the UK goes ahead with Brexit and leaves the EU. I have read that the UK countries except England — Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales — may not go along with that and stay in the EU as member states. Wonder if there’s any chance they might then be Schengen and allow us in. As a life-long Anglophile I know I’ll never see London again, but visiting Scotland and Norther Island and Wales would be a delight.
Anyone go to Portugal recently? I know it’s Schengen and should theoretically be no problem, but, of course, I’m nervous. Going on a vacation there in Sept with my wife. Flying Newark to Porto and returning Lisbon to Chicago (my home).
Hi everyone! I’ve seen that sex offenders are able to travel to Schengen Nations, I’m looking to travel to Spain will I get stopped and questioned etc never traveled while being a sex offender. Will I have a stamped passport? I was 18 when I got charged, the “victim” was my at the time 17 year old girlfriend who sent me pictures of herself when she was 16, so I got charged with 1 count CP. I have been reading that if the victim is under 18 then it would get a stamp now I’m not sure about CP charge sorry a lot of questions just wondering and looking to get as much info as I can
Does anyone know definitely of someone from a non-SORNA-compliant state who was arrested by federal marshals for not complying with the IML 21-day foreign travel notice, if that person did register the travel with local police according to their procedure (3 days in advance in Illinois, for example)?
I have read rumors but no one seems to know any facts for sure on this.
how does the country you are going to find out about your conviction? is it only because the 21 day notice thing or can they see it when they scan your passport? I’ve been reading some of the posts can’t really find anything about this, if it has been posted before my bad didn’t see it.