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 2023, International Travel 2022, International Travel 2021, International Travel 2020 and International Travel 2019.
In this International Travel 2024 post, the information is identical to the International Travel 2023 post. We added a new post for 2024 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 B or map). The European Commission is proposing activation of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for such travelers, beginning sometime in 2023 – 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
Older Posts
- International Travel 2023 (2023)
- 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)
I’m curious if anyone has done any research or has info on the etias pre-registration program and how it may or may not impact travel? I see it says effective mid-2025 —planning a trip for mid-late of 2025
Apologies to all. Here’s a more recent update:
EU’s Entry/Exit System Due to Start in 2025, Official Website Confirms
Does it make any difference when entering a country if you are doing so as part of a business vs. a private tourist? I’m applying this to being a former registrant. A company that has offered me a position would require me to possibly fly to Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong to be part of presentations.
thx,
Hello all,
I live in california and am going on my first international trip since being a PFR. Can anyone please let me know what information I will need to provide to my police department? From what I’ve gather they need: name, destination city/country, dates I will be in said city/country, flight #.
Do I need to present my passport to the police department when I provide the 21 day notice? My passport is currently at my parent’s house on the east coast and my dad will fedex it to my home early next week.
Thank you in advance I’m having anxiety since it’s be first time traveling internationally as a Person Forced to Register (PFR).
I just read an article on Norway. It seems they do not publicly notify about any felony, even sex offenses. The only record is for law enforcement. Employers can’t even find out in background checks. I wonder if that applies to immigration as well.
Considering Aruba for May —-just confirming that this is an ok country to travel to? If anyone has had any experience please let me know thanks!
does anyone know if one can transit from a country that denies entry to People Forced to Register (PFR)? I know UK is a no go for this but im wondering for countries that have no law against PFR.
Also i am wondering does the police department/angel watch inform the country you are transiting from as well.
Any pointers or concerns I should have?
Talking with my brother about another two week trip in May.
We are considering flying San Francisco to Kopenhagen then Kopenhagen to Warsaw by air. Rent a car in Warsaw and travel on to Hungary (Budapest).Then to Vienna by train. Last year Denmark first entry point in Schengen no problem. Berlin no problem and thru Poland no border checks.
Hoping some of the same this time. No registration and a 1203.4 from the 1990s so no 21 day notice.
Just went on an EU TRIP again. Netherlands, Norway, Germany , and back to Netherlands. Only time to show passport is entry into the eu which was in Amsterdam for me. They for once pulled me into secondary only because I’ve been there a lot the last year or so. But gave them my info and they said no big deal and let me in.
A little holiday cheer for all PFRs. You will be glad to know that the U.S. is the second most hated country in the world. So we aren’t alone !
BTW, 4.5 months to de registration. 🥳🥳🥳
I am a former PFR from Illinois which does not comply with SORNA. I had a low level offense, and I ended my registration commitment after 10 years on the registry in 2022. As I understand it reading these forums and talking to a lawyer I no longer have to give 21 day notice or need to have a marked passport.
I never traveled internationally during my time on the registry. Has anyone had a strong fear or aversion to taking the international travel plunge after coming off the registry and being told those rules no longer apply? It’s like I can’t believe it and definitely have trust issues with LEOs, lawyers and other authority figures. The 10 year possible prison sentence does not help.
How did you get past this fear or phobia?
I am a Former PFR who was detained and handcuffed at the Mexico – US border last week. I was eventually let go, but I am fuming and would like to take action.
A friend invited me to his wedding in Tijuana, Mexico. I flew to San Diego and my friend picked me up at the airport and drove me to Mexico.
On the way back to the US, I was flagged at the border after scanning my passport.
I was immediately handcuffed and placed in a small room. My bags were searched in detail and my phone taken away from me.
I was told I could either consent to a search of my photos and my phone, or they’d get a warrant and download all the contents. I complied with their request and obviously didn’t find anything.
I was eventually let go, but I am very upset bc I missed my flight back home. I haven’t been a PFR for over a decade and my crime is over 30 years old.
I travel regularly abroad and have never encountered such poor treatment and violation of my rights.
I would really appreciate your feedback about how to proceed.
thank you
Anyone with actual experiences trying to travel directly from the US to any Asian country after being removed from the requirement to register?
I’m in the process of the petition for removal. Looking to see if anyone has been successful traveling to any Asian country post registration.
Since it seems there is no way for us to verify if a notice will be sent or if we will not be allowed entry.
My girlfriend is in an Asian country and I had no idea how difficult it is for someone with a clean record from a less economically developed country in Asia to just visit the US as a tourist. I can visit her even with a marked passport, but she has been denied twice on tourist visa applications. I have since been monitoring a few US visa Facebook groups to try and learn more and it seems that most are denied unless you meet certain criteria. Even though it is not official that you need a long-time good job, lots of money, and indisputable and well-documented ties to your country that show that you have to return at the end of your trip, these are the only people who successfully get visas from Asian countries (outside of Japan). It is well-documented that the US government assumes that you will overstay and illegally remain in the US if they grant you a tourist visa so they deny almost everyone. As my crime involved a minor, I cannot bring her over as a sponsor because of the Adam Walsh Act. If I ever get denied and banned from her country, then we have few choices as to where we can go. Has anyone had any success in bring over your girlfriend/fiance/wife from one of the less fortunate countries to the US? My parents are over 80 and starting to have issues. They have not met her and want to meet her before we get married. They can’t travel like they used to so I have decided the only way for all of us to get together is to meet at a Caribbean island close to Florida where they live. There are several islands that she can visit visa free. If just sucks that we have to resort to this instead of actually visiting the US.
Does Angel Watch shutdown if the government shut down?
Is your passport still valid?
https://youtu.be/9pvl90SXBSo