This post is intended as a place for discussions about International Travel ONLY.
For more information and previous discussions on the topic, please see International Travel 2022, International Travel 2021, International Travel 2020Β and International Travel 2019.
In this International Travel 2023 post, the information is identical to the International Travel 2022 post. We added a new post for 2023 in order to keep the discussion manageable. Please help us by sticking to the topic of International Travel only.
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From 2020: 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 BΒ or map). Β The European Commission is proposing activation of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for such travelers, beginning sometime in 2023Β – 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
Older Posts
- International Travel 2022 (2022)
- International Travel 2021 (2021)
- International Travel 2020 (2020)
- International Travel 2019 (2019)
- International Travel after IML (2016)
- International Travel – Mexico (2014)
- International Travel 2013 (2013)
Currently in Germany for a brief vacation. 21 day notice given, passport mark of shame in place. Flew through Amsterdam to Munich. They stamped my passport like anyone else. Asked my fianceβ and I the purpose of our visit and that was it. Germany is beautiful. Trying to prepare myself for being pulled into secondary in the states.
Flew back from Switzerland. They wanted to ask
me additional questions upon arriving back in the US, but they were too busy. Anyone know if we can refuse secondary questions?
Interesting day. I returned from Munich Germany and as expected sent to secondary. They went through all my bags, tablet and phone then released me. Bunch of crap
a friend of mine living in Cambodia just applied for a new passport and they gave him the stamp. did the law change he has emailed angle watch and no answer. I have help a guy living in Romania remove the stamp just 6 months ago or less. Does anyone have any ideals or suggestions..
Howdy yβall. Can someone explain to me how the notifications process works?
are all notifications sent by Angelβs watch?
are the notifications sent by angels watch to Interpol?
then interpol sends a green notice to the country of travel?
I am trying to understand how someone no longer registered as a SO be flagged by another country?
thank you
Returned home last night from our Middle East trip.
Flew from Fresno to Paris, then on to Dubai via Saudi Arabia, on a separate ticket.
No trouble transiting in Saudi Arabia, and no trouble entering Dubai (automatic visa on arrival). They even gave arriving visitors a free 1 gig Sim card when they handed back your passport.
Also visited Bahrain, Abu Dahbi, Doha (Qatar), and Sir Bani Yas island (ok, I’d never heard of it before, either).
No issues anywhere, except…
Was sent to Secondary AGAIN! After three trips with no Secondary.
This was in Newark, New Jersey.
I was a little upset, but in the end, they apologized and said not all agents understand all the codes, so they just refer some people to Secondary to let them handle it.
Only took 5 minutes, but still….π€¬
I am off the registry and gave no notice of travel.
Hi all,
My wife and I are considering a trip to Croatia next fall. What do folks know about how easy/or not it is to fly directly into Croatia from the U.S. if I am a PFR?
Thanks.
DR
There was some discussion here not too long ago of pre-boarding issues with Customs at USA airports. How common is this? Do we know if there are special circumstances that may prompt this sort of intervention by law enforcement? Or might these be random events?
Does Morocco accept RSO’s – my passport has the last page notification. Would like to travel there and stay a couple weeks. Any comments or suggestions? Thank you very much.
I will share my sadness and frustration.
I feel like DHS has won and I have no energy left to fight.
I was supposed to fly to South America this week to spend NYE along my family and friends, but cancelled my flights out of fear. I couldnβt bear the idea of being detained at the airport in front of everyone.
I was recently refused boarding my flight to South Africa based on message received by the airline from South African immigration. I was left stranded in Doha without any flights or accommodations.
Neither the airline, US embassy, South African embassies or DHS will help me understand whatβs happened.
I havenβt been a RSO for over a decade for an event that happened while I was a juvenile.
When will they let me live my life in peace? These non-sense notifications are hurting people.
Does anyone have experience with cruises. Looking at Royal Carribean cruise starting in Italy. I believe Italy will not be a problem, but does the cruise company check the registry?
I am planning a trip to Italy this coming summer. A graduation present to my children, both will be 18 when we leave for the trip. I have not ben required to register in Utah since 2016 and presume that I will have an unmarked passport. This is also act as a dry run for my immigration to Germany in 2025 to 2026, approximately 20 years after my crimes. My crime was against a minor, so notice could still be sent out. This will be my first international trip since my crime was committed.
Should a book a direct flight to Italy or is there a safer bet?
See, 22 U.S. Code Β§ 212b, (3) Clarification with respect to continuing registration “An individual may not be issued or reissued a passport without a unique identifier solely because the individual has moved or otherwise resides outside the United States.”
This was likely amended in early 2023, so now living abroad does not prevent an identifier being placed on your passport, even though you are no longer required to register.
S.3946 – Abolish Trafficking Reauthorization Act of 2022117th Congress (2021-2022)
i happen to know paul, have not talked in a while though. so are you saying he was convicted for another offense? there has been no info on his site for this.
@Notorious DIKβ what do know of PFRβs WITH the stamp and notice flying into Portugal? Either Lisbon or Porto? Any idea?
This may not be applicable here, but I recently came across this site. I accidentally entered into Canada (I had no intention of going there, and no passport) and was nicely informed by the Canadian border patrol guard that a 1203.4 in California may allow one to enter into Canada. I just wanted to share what I experienced and the site I found once I returned home.
NB: Thankfully I was allowed back into the country after a search of my vehicle in both Canada and the US. I would be lying if I said I was not a bit scared. When asked by the Canadian guard why I was trying to get into Canada, I replied that I did not want to be there in the first place! I missed an exit when trying to take a relative to the border and was sucked into the vortex.
https://www.duicanadaentry.com/visit-canada-california-pc-1203-4-dismissal/
Has anyone else gone through the rehabilitation process to enter Canada? I’m thinking about testing my luck and making a video series on it. π€
VOCAL, some people over-compensate for their own past misdeeds by condemning others and making unwarranted assumptions about their circumstances. They were also the type to be eager to please in treatment, too. So earnest, so pliable. So easily impressed by pseudo-science.
In the video, there’s no question that OA is doxxing, He actually puts up Paul’s criminal complaint document for all to see! I wonder how OA would feel if a private organization got a hold of his registration info in Texas, and informed neighbors in the state where he doesn’t have to register. (I believe he mentioned New Mexico). If his charges aren’t “so bad” as Paul’s, OA should have no problem with his info being disclosed. It’s one thing to feel someone you trusted stabbed you in the back, but to kick them down when they’re incarcerated and not able to defend themselves, is beyond low. And his thing about all these followers in the OA group that agree with everything he says and does? It’s probably only 4 or 5 people.
Gordon:
I can’t locate your comment to reply to it. VOCAL was founded long before most states had registries and even before the internet. VOCAL was always the go to organization for “sex offenders” because there was no other organization fighting for the rights of “sex offenders”. The 90’s caught us by surprise when they started posting this information on the internet. VOCAL immediately protested against this posting of this information on the internet before the word “doxxing” even became a part of our vocabulary. VOCAL takes a strong stand against states doxxing their own citizens. Then this guy comes along and starts doxxing Paul. I agree with you that this guy should post his case file on the internet. In the more than 30 years that I have been involved with VOCAL I have come across this situation many times. The guy with the 15 year old victim says the guy with the 13 year old victim has a “worse” case and the guy with a 13 year old victim says that the guy with a 12 year old victim has a worse case and this petty bickering goes on and on. I have advocated for people who have had months old or toddler victims. Advocating for sex offenders doesn’t make us popular and some of these cases turn our stomachs, but we move forward because every “sex offender” forced to register is in the same boat. The states are “winning” because “sex offenders” are divided. And this is exactly what OA was doing. I have spent more than 30 years trying to unite “sex offenders” and this guy comes onto this forum only trying to cause division within the ranks.
Do to my work with VOCAL I receive several hundred letters from prisoners each year with at least 95% being from “sex offenders”. I have received letters from serial killers and guys who are absolutely bat shit crazy that needs to stay locked up for life. I still try to help those who are making an honest effort and deserve help. You can follow everything that we are doing at vocalhome.blogspot.com. We are also working on another blog called rousahome.blogspot.com to help”sex offenders” obtain housing. This is still a work in progress and will advance further as we get more volunteers.
Has anyone on the registry ever applied for and been approved for Global Entry?
I have TSA Precheck and the requirements state when it comes to any ‘criminal history’ regards drug trafficing and other travel related crimes. When I read the requirements for Global it seemed similar to TSA so I figured I would apply and see what happens. My Amex covers the cost, so no loss there if declined, but if approved, might (might) help a lot when it comes to going thru customs, etc.
It takes 4-6 months, so it might be a while before I hear about my case
If you have applied and was declined, did they tell you why?
I just received my new passport which did not have βthe markβnot sure what to do
Greetings, I am 27 years old. I was convicted of 288(a) in California. Offense occurred in 2017, convicted in 2019 and paroled in 2020, discharged from parole summer 2023. I am looking at a student visa for a masters in France in 2025 with an intent to work there after. Is this even an idea worth entertaining? I would have all the technical (health insurance, finances, etc) reqs completed. Online, it says that they don’t request official bg checks for visa applications, but I will have the mark on my passport. I was curious if anyone has any experience? Thanks!
H.R. 6552 (117th): Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022 became hr5856 in the 118th congress. It looks like it has not become law yet. Can anyone confirm if this is the case?
Hard to believe karen bass was a cosponsor of hr6552 and now she’s mayor of la??? The precedent of hitler identifiers is it makes it easier for other identifiers, such as LGBTG, let along potential identifiers of race, ethnicity or religious depending on who becomes president, it really opens a can of worms, or a can of whoop a**, against particular groups. It’s also akin to the branding of slaves, you would think she would have thought this through more, oh wait, she’s a politician… I guess coconut karen couldn’t help herself, like obama she needed to go to whatever extremes necessary to create some kind of bi-partisanship legacy for herself. I encourage any good writers out there to submit an editorial to the LA times call her out for this.
Going to Aruba in May. Anyone have experience visiting Aruba? Good? Bad? Appreciate any feedback you have. Very nervous!