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 2020Β 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 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
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)
Hi,
Does anyone have experience visiting Kenya, My wife is a dual national( Kenya/USA), I have a federal CP possession from 2005/6, been on NYS registry since 2010, level 2 lifetime because of the People Vs Johnson case that ruled that each image is a victim( without any victim impact statement), Jeffrey Epstein was given a level 1.
Do state vs Federal convictions differ as far as ICE is concerned in regards to notices post removal. I read people getting pulled into secondary after removal and it seems that many had federal charges. Mine was a misdemeanor CP county ( state ) charge. Have travelled lightly but no issues.
If I live abroad and visit the states, seems like I would have to stay for 21 days? Is that right or are there exceptions, etc? Anyone have insights here
Hi,
I’m looking for some guidance/reassurance regarding international travel. I’ve decided to visit Europe solo in July, 2024 (via direct flight to Frankfurt from Boston). My plan is to rent a car and tour Germany, Austria, and possibly a bit of Slovenia/Croatia.
I got off of probation in November, 2023 for a CP charge out of Texas over 5 years ago. I am still on the Texas registry but reside full time in Massachusetts where I am not required to register (my probation was transferred from Texas to Massachusetts). I got a new passport issued in January, 2024 without the marker. I assume that’s because I’m not required to register in my state of residence? With the trip fast approaching I am super nervous/anxious. Should I be okay arriving in Frankfurt? What are others’ experiences there? What problems might I encounter? I don’t want to be turned around and sent home and lose hotel deposits, etc.
Thanks for any input.
Anyone have experience/knowledge about traveling to El Salvador? My family would like to take a vacation there and I can’t quite figure out if they deny.
We just returned from our trip to southern Africa. I think I posted earlier that there were no issues getting into South Africa. We also spent two days in Zimbabwe, two days in Botswana, and one day in Zambia. We didn’t actually visit Namibia, but we were right on its shore, and I have several pictures of a resort in Namibia. Even my cell phone provider sent me a “Welcome to Namibia” message.
Unfortunately, I had to fudge a little to get into Zimbabwe. The entry card asks:
“Have you or any member of your family ever been convicted of a crime? (Convictions where the fine was less than US$200 need not be reported.)”
Well, my conviction had a $0 fine, so I figured I was good to go π .
At passport control in Chicago, my wife’s passport was stamped in about 5 seconds, but the agent spent a full minute reading my screen before he (grudgingly?) stamped my passport and let us go, so no Secondary.
It was a great trip, and I can recommend it to anyone who can get there without an Angel Watch notice being sent.
Has anyone had success in finding a lawyer to answer questions about IML and marked passports? In my experience, lawyers don’t respond to inquiries when my intention is to pay for an hour or two for questions. They want criminal cases with $$. Most don’t seem to have any practical experience with IML anyway. Since Angel Watch has never responded to my inquiries and requests for stamped passport to be reissued without the stamp I would like to talk to a lawyer about my options. Something obviously changed in the last year with AW and AW doesn’t allow you to have the endorsement removed just because you live overseas and are not registered anywhere in the US as they previously allowed. I want to know if I move to a state that does not require me to register, is that enough to get the IML endorsement removed and a new passport issued. When I was sentenced in my conviction state, a 15 year registration term was specified because that is what my former home state requires. It appears that there are some states that I can move to that only will require my registration for a total of 10 years, but i will have to verify this somehow. Of course the ultimate goal is to change my marked passport for one without the IML endorsement so I can travel worry-free to some extent
Has AW gone under cover?
as you may recall, I am a former PFR who was denied boarding en route to South Africa and received no explanation from the airline besides being told South Africa asked them not to let me board the flight in Qatar. My suspicion is AW sent a notice.
I have tried emailing AW to get an answer and have never received a response.
How is it possible that a governmentβs agency can function in the dark?
Ever since, Iβve traveled to Europe a couple of times without issues but I havenβt tried to go back to South America, Asia or Africa out of fear.
This can only be filed under International Travel…but here is a list of those countries which are known to be prevented from entering as a felon (the source is an article about a recently convicted well known person, who will go nameless here, and who, as a felon, will have travel issues and need special permission to enter the countries should their job need to take them there):
Countries That Deny Entry to Felons
Put this in your travel matrix…
Okay, someone hasn’t studied their international geography at United Airlines. They’ve recently removed Amaretto de Saronno from their flights because they feel flights to Mexico and Canada are not international and therefore would not provide that beverage to those flying to those two foreign countries.
So now people get to pick and choose which are international flights and which are not when they do land in foreign countries? You cannot make this stuff up. All in the name of cost savings…
This is an interesting article link that connects information on international travel/
Claims that Donald Trump is no longer able to visit 37 countries now that heβs a convicted felon need context (msn.com)
I’ve seen a number of posts about flying to Germany and then on to some other country outside the EU. Are we required to list all countries to be visited? What happens if immigration office in the US sees additional passport stamps when returning to the US?
Does AW ever answer email inquiries? If so, does anyone with firsthand knowledge rememer how long it took for them to respond? They have yet to respond to me after 3 tries over the last few months and it’s really starting to irk me. I’m asking them for clarification on the passport stamp and 21 day notice for those not required to register in the state of my full time residence. I really want to have that documentation in hand before international travel next month but it seems fruitless. Thank you.
Currently I Europe. Changed my flight to return earlier. I hope this wonβt be a problem?
My husband submitted the 21 day travel notification for our trip to France and Germany a little over 21 days before our scheduled departure date. They only asked for departure flight and return flight to the US, no other flight or hotel details. Itβs now 2 days before we leave and he got a call from the police dept saying that because our trip is more than 10 days long he needs to come back in and provide all the addresses we are staying at. Is this actually required? Is it going to create any problems? Will they contact the hotels?
This Q has more to do with residing than just traveling. A friend I worked with here in U.S. is Filipino and has asked me to move there after Iβm off ( 9 mo ππ½) . He and his wife have a business and would employ me. Hereβs where my Q comes in.
Mine is a Misdemeanor. I have read that Philippines doesnβt offer resident visas for crimes of moral turpitude, but my offense isnβt on the list. They also specify felonies , not misdemeanors. Has anyone been denied a residency anywhere due to their misdemeanor offense?
On a side note , he says Once there on a tourist visa (which they donβt run checks at all) I could simply blend in with the other expats and no one there really cares. I have heard of people living there for very long periods without residency permits. Even renting homes in the provinces. Would rather do it legally if I can.
Hello
Currently registered in Oregon as a lifetime.
Spoke to a California attorney and they believe my case would fall under 289(H) making it so I would not have to register when I move. Best case scenario I move and do not have to register in the state of California.
If this happens I would turn in my passport and get a clean once since my current one is marked. I would no longer need to give a 21 day notice. Would this mean I would be traveling more freely to most countries since a travel notice will not be sending any longer. I know countries like the UK, Ireland and Australia are still out but would places like Mexico and parts of Asia be alright?
Also would I still be taken into secondary coming back?
Thank you
Has anyone been to the Dominican Republic? If so, we’re you a person currently forced to register with a marked passport, that has to give 21 day notice?
Iβve got a fun one, I recently acquired a house (fully owned by me) in the uk, obviously I canβt go there because PFR. I wonder if there are any rights that would let me get there or not. Still planning on moving to the eu in about two months. But just wondered if anyone has an idea ?
Has anyone been on a cruise that had a stop in Turkey? Did it go well?
My husband is a lifetime registrant from 1999. Not against a minor so no mark on his passport. We have a huge family trip leaving in 2 weeks to St Martin/Sint Maarten. Gave the 21 day notice. I thought it was great since its owned by France/Netherlands but on the travel matrix it says must get permission – help!
Anybody had their phone searched or cloned in secondary?
Indecent exposure (sex in public), expunged but still forced to register in my state. I recognize I am required to still inform AW 21 days prior to international travel, but curious if they would actually send a notification given thereβs no child offense, no stamp, no criminal record, and itβs not even a SORNA offense. The AW website language focused on
Child sex crimes and the sample notification weβve seen was also focused on child sex crimes. If they did send the notification would the country care?
Hello Everyone, I am thinking about renewing my passport in case I travel overseas in the near future. I currently have 2 years left on my passport and I am wondering if I will need to get a stamp for federal possession of cp. My PO said i would need to submit it to state/DHS and they make the determination. If anyone here was convicted of Possession of cp, were you required to have the stamp?
UK Update:
Disclaimer: I am no longer required to register in any location. I did not submit a 21-day travel notice. I did not fly directly into the UK. All the UK locations I visited were by cruise ship.
When we first entered UK waters, A Scottish immigration officer boarded the ship. Every one on the ship had to meet the officer face-to-face, but all the officer did was compare passport pictures to the individualβs face. There was no scanning nor lookup of any kind. Subsequently, the ship collected and held every passengersβ passport under the end of the cruise.
We visited:
Kirkwall, Scotland for 2 days
Inverness, Scotland for 1 day
Edinburgh, Scotland for 2 days
Dublin, Ireland for 1 day
Cork, Ireland for 1 day
Newcastle, England for 1 day
Liverpool, England for 1 day
Holyhead, Wales for 1 day
Douglas, Isle of Man for 1 day
There were no immigration nor customs checks at any port – we simply walked of the ship.
It was an excellent trip, and I hope others will give it a try.