International Travel 2022

Okay, so I’m tired of waiting for my long term visa to approve as they have held my passport at the Director Generals office for three months now. Not sure what’s taking so long to get the signature.

But it’s messing with my other visa which is actually more important to me as it’s where I make most of my income.

So gonna go the the headquarters tomorrow in the capital to see what the holdup is. Like the local office has just been waiting to get my passport back but someone at the tippy top is holding it(probably because u did it the way you’re supposed to instead of bribery 🙃) will let you know how it turns out.

Hi. I am planning to travel to Germany and the Czech Republic in one week. I have not submitted any paperwork to any government body or agency. What are the implications? Any suggestions from the community? Thanks for your help.

There’s still confusion over IML, so let me try to clarify. Please check my math.

There are three components in IML -the passport marker, the 21-day Notice of International Travel, and the Green Notices that may be sent out when you travel. They each apply differently.

The 21-day Notice applies only if you’re still required *under Federal SORNA* to register. That is, you need to determine your offense’s Federal tier and calculate if you’re still required to register *under SORNA* (tier 1 = 10 or 15 years, tier 2 = 25 years, tier 3 =lifetime registration). So, if you’re tier 1 and more than 10 years have passed since conviction (if you weren’t incarcerated), and you maintained a clean record, then you no longer have to register under Federal SORNA and do NOT have to provide this 21-Day Notice as far as *Federal SORNA* goes (check with your State to see if they nevertheless require this Notice). If you were incarcerated then the 10 years starts to run upon your release date (from confinement). The *Federal* obligation per your Tier automatically drops off -you don’t need to petition a Court to end your Federal obligation.

As far as the passport marker goes, it applies only if you’re still (“currently”) required to register in any state or territory and you have a sex conviction against a minor.

As far as the Green Notices go, they will send these if you have ever had a conviction against a minor OR if you still appear on the *National* registry. This would seem to mean that even if your conviction is not against a minor but still had to register in your state and you moved out of state/territory and are no longer required to register in your new state/territory, but your prior state has not removed you from its registry, you will still appear on the National Registry (because it’s just an compendium of state/territorial registries) and thus a Green Notice can be sent out to your travel destination.

IOW, each of these three IML components has its own definition of to whom it applies.

Section 5 (the “Green Notice” Section) says, “In this section, the term “sex offender” means– (1) a sex offender under SORNA; or (2) a person required to register under the sex offender registration program of any jurisdiction or included in the National Sex Offender Registry.

Section 6 of IML (the “Notice of Travel” section – “Requirement That Sex Offenders Provide International Travel Related Information To Sex Offender Registries”) says, “Whoever–(1) is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.)… As such, the notice provision appears to only apply to those who are required to register under SORNA (federal requirement and not merely another jurisdiction).

Finally, Section 8 of IML covers the “UNIQUE PASSPORT IDENTIFIERS FOR COVERED SEX OFFENDERS.” While the title suggests the identifiers apply to “covered sex offenders” as defined in the definition section of IML (and would be “offense based”), Section 8 has it’s own definition of “covered sex offender”, which is: “(1) the term `covered sex offender’ means an individual who–(A) is a sex offender, as defined in section 4(f) of the International Megan’s Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders; and (B) is currently required to register under the sex offender registration program of any jurisdiction;” In other words, the “branded passport” would apply to registrants currently required to register under the sex offender registration program of any jurisdiction who have a conviction against a minor.

I had posted earlier on my planned trip to India to see my sick elderly mother (92-year-old) and the troubles in getting Indian visa (I’m a naturalized US citizen). I’m a Tier 1 sex offender (possession of CP). My e-visa was rejected, but the paper tourist visa (10-year multiple entry) was approved by the Indian consulate in New York. The application format is the same in both cases, but paper visa application required additional documents to be mailed along with the passport. I did include a letter explaining the need and the purpose for my trip. The visa is stamped on my passport.

I will be giving the 21-day notification to the local state police as required by the IML. I have booked my flight tickets and will be in India for 2 weeks (early October 2022). What are the chances that I will not be allowed entry into Chennai (India port of entry) and be asked to return to USA right away?

I have another concern: I applied for a new passport in January 2022 and included a letter identifying myself as a sex offender and requesting that the passport be issued according to IML. I received the new passport, but there is no “unique identifier” anywhere in the passport. When I received my naturalization certificate back from the passport office in a separate mail, there was a standard letter from DHS/ICE indicating that my passport is being issued with the identifier since I’m a RSO. I will be carrying this letter along with my passport during travel to India in case any questions asked. Do you see any issues with this passport situation? Thanks.

U.S. Marshals Service | International Megan’s Law Complaint Form for Traveling Sex Offenders

IML Complaints, anyone? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Frustrating! So I figured I would check my FBI criminal record before planning a trip abroad to be sure the included information is accurate, and sure enough it’s not. I was charged back in the mid 90s with non-contact indecent exposure with a minor but the charge appears in the record as “fondling.”

Has anyone noticed the same with their FBI record? Do the marshals pull from the FBI, or directly from the National registry?

I wonder if any of this might make any difference as far as green notices or secondary or really anything having to do with IML/foreign travel. For one, the distinction would seem to impact my Federal tier designation. I’m tier 1 based on my actual charge and sentence, whereas fondling would probably bump me up….

Looking over the record the problem seems to be with the reported NCIC Offense Code by the State -it’s listed as 3601 (fondling, child victim) instead of 3614 (Indecent Exposure to minor).

Everything else is accurate, including my sentence to strictly probation.

There is a process for challenging errors in the report and I plan to do that at some point. I have to dig up my charging and court docs and submit those along with explanation. Agh.

Can someone tell me exactly how vague or specific the IML notice actually is. For instance, is it like the passport stamp that says only that you committed an offense without actually telling what offense or the adjudication of the offense. Or does the notice give all the parameters, such as type of offense original date, adjudication, etc. I figure the more vague the notice is, the less chance of a country actually taking the time to give you an opportunity to challenge them if they refuse entry. Especially since so many of the offenses here aren’t even considered offenses in some of the countries denying access.
I bet Mexico would be surprised to learn they denied access to someone for exposing themselves, when you can walk down any T.J. Street and see at least three guys pissing on a wall in front of a bar.

Hey everyone, I have a few questions and a comment after my recent travel to Mexico. First off, I was told by the registration office in Fresno that the form that is attached on this page for 21 day notice is no longer the form we need. The detective told me that the form I had was old (I printed the one from here), he said that was the form they used to use a while back. He also said that the old way was that we fill out the form, turn it in and it goes in our file just in case US Customs/Immigration calls
to see if we gave notice. He said that they really never got a call from anyone. The new form is a US Marshall’s Form, he told me that they have to fax it in to the US Marshall’s office now (which he said is a big pin in the ass for them), so he gave me the right form to fill out. I asked him where I could find the new form and he wasn’t sure, he said the US Marshall’s supplied the form for them. So, just an FYI, I don’t think the 2016 form works anymore!

Secondly, everything went great in Mexico, and when I came back to the US, I was sent to secondary (I fully expected that), when the agent ran my passport he said, what are the last 4 of your Social. I gave it to him and he said, have you ever been in trouble before, to which I said yes. He said, do you have anything to declare, I said no and he sent me on my way, the whole thing was less than 3 minutes, so he was cool about it! My question is, with Tiered Registry in California, once I am removed from the registry (hopefully any day now, just waiting for the judge to sign my paperwork) will my passport still be flagged upon re-entry? Will green notices still be sent when leaving the country? I guess what I am wondering is, does all of that trigger because I have to register or because I have a conviction? If anyone knows the answer, I’d love to know!! Thanks!

Hello people! I am curious to know if anyone has been successful entering Colombia? Please comment story below!! This is urgent

Of all the things I’ve educated myself on about the registry, travel and notification, one thing has eluded me. That is, How do you petition to be removed from the Federal SORNA registry, if in fact you actually need to. I found info and guidelines about each state, but not SORNA.

Planning first international travels as RSO. My plan is to visit CROATIA, SPAIN, and PORTUGAL. Flying into Zagreb, Croatia and then flying to Barcelona, Spain. Train to Portugal and then fly back to the USA from Portugal. Still on probation for another 2 years (offense 3 years ago). I have my probation officer’s approval for the trip. I have finished court required counseling.  

I have been told these countries should NOT be a problem. Has anyone recently visited any of these countries? And RSO travel issue? Any tips for my travel?

Someone recently suggested I should fly into Germany and then train to Croatia, Spain, and/or Portugal. This technically is possible, but would be a significant time delay. Is entering Europe by flying to Germany critical for RSO travel success?

I will notify the USA at least 21 day prior to my international travel (International Megan’s Law), but what about notification / registration once in Croatia, Spain and Portugal? I am required to notify local authorities in any way once I pass through customs? You know, like when I travel from Texas to California for more than 7 days, I have to notify local Texas and California authorities. 

21 Day Notice Questions (International Megan’s Law)
I found a federal outline of required info for the 21 Day notification – SMART.ojp.gov website. Any tips on how much detail to provide – assume one should provide requested information as efficiently as possible. Try not to be overly detailed. 

One section of the outline requests “Contact information within destination country” – that is my contact info?? What about  “Notifying agency and contact information” – is that local Croatia, Spain, and Portugal contact info?? If so, where do I find that information?

Another section requests “Purpose of Travel: Business, Deportation, Military, Relation, Other (specify)” I am going for vacation. Is that a problem? I expect to report “Other – Vacation”. Is travel easier if you select “Business” for example? 

What if my itinerary changes mid trip, for example I stay in one place longer or shorter than planned. Or flights get canceled and I have to fly a day or two later back to the USA. Do I have to update the 21 day notice once I am on my trip?

Overall anything else I should know before I head to Europe in October?

Thanks

Full web link for the 21 day notice outline:

Just wanted to share an international travel experience- went to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with a stop in Germany on the way. My husband is the PFR and gave his 21 day notice. Kazak officials did stare at his passport and stare at the screen a million times, asked for another form of ID but we couldn’t figure out if it was because he doesn’t look like his passport photo or because of a notice. They brought several other officers into the booth, eventually bringing in a supervisor. They asked why we were there and when we said to visit a friend they said “Welcome to Kazakhstan, have a good visit!” No issues at all in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is really quite magical, I would recommend Samarkand.
The somewhat surprising thing was that the German officials held MY passport (not my husbands) and brought in a supervisor to look at it because I have an Iraqi Visa from DoD Contractor work. But they didn’t blink an eye with him, which seems to be typical for Germany. Still, their reaction to my passport was interesting.
I will of course update on any other travels in the future!

I dont know if I have a current or future Registry lawsuit but I also just had a similiar issue I have seen here with alerts. I am Married to a Foreign National over 20 years and now I have been told my Immigration request to become a Resident or Citizen might be impossible simply because I am on the Registry here in the US!. Its deemed a National Security threat! This country will look passed the Felony (10 Years) but wont even allow you into the country if you are on the Registry. I have been working on this for years and would have had no issues till recently. Another way we continue to be punished.