You should talk to your local sheriff about this, the police in the country you plan on visiting, or a lawyer. No, we do not have this information.
By Anonymous:
I am an RSO in Illinois and have been an RSO since I plead guilty at age 17 to an accusation from my aunt after baby sitting my 7-year-old cousin. I was never told I would be an RSO or what that was until after I plead. I give this info in case the ages change any advice.
I have always wanted to travel to various other countries but I am afraid of what might happen to me legally if I fly to a different country.
Some places I want to visit include Ireland, Poland and Australia.
Do you guys have any info about travel outside the US?
As long as you have your U.S. Pass Card or U.S. Passport, it should not be a major problem. Many nations will not take felons, and being an RSO may even narrow that list.
ReplyDeleteIt is best to get your passport or Pass Card (if you plan to drive or boat to South American countries), then file for a visa to the nation of your interest. Calling their embassy is also a good first thing to do, in order to get info about entrance restrictions, or what you may have to do once you are there. You should ask about laws that affect RSO's in that country and if you may have to register there once you arrive.
I talked to one embassy and they explained things to me politely and completely. When I asked about residency laws, they even told me what I would have to do become a resident.
Travel by any felon is pretty much the same. Countries like Australia, Canada, and others may not let you in because of your felony conviction. England also may reject you because you are a RSO. Again, check with the local embassies, and online sites that deal with foreign legal issues.
US citizens don't need a visa to visit Ireland - you can stay for up to 6 months I think - but you'd better check.
ReplyDeleteIf you are convicted of a offence that would require to register as a sex offender in Ireland if you were convicted of that offence in Ireland then you have to register with the police here too. This applies I know to people who live in Ireland - now for visitors? hmmm ... not sure how you would check that but I think you would be expected to.
Brief summary of registration requirements here:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/criminal_law/criminal_trial/sex_offenders_register.html
In Ireland if you staying apart from your home address you have to notify the Garda (i.e. police) and I presume if you are high risk they would inform police on the other side.
It is over three years since I have been required to register but I travelled to the UK a couple of times during my period on the register and it was no hassle at all. I imagine that if I had been a 'high risk' case it might have been different.
There are no general residency restrictions etc on convicted sex offenders in Ireland though individual offenders may have various restrictions imposed by court orders following a police request.
I go to Mexico all the time. On cruise ship. Twice a year. No prob if you have a passport.
ReplyDeleteI travel frequently and I am an RSO. I have, in the last ten years, avoided altogether the "English" countries (apart from my own, the U.S.) as I expect that they would no longer let me in. Beyond that, I have had NO problems travelling to any other country, whether they require visas or not. And that is a lot of countries (35+). Your biggest potential problem is when you arrive back in the States. The U.S. Customs ALWAYS gives me a good going-over. If you're on the Registry, they immediately know it. I recommend not travelling with a computer or camera as that will ensure a lengthy examination process. They ask probing and often insulting questions, many of which you are not legally obliged to answer but which, if you don't, will probably result in an even longer stand-and-wait for purposes of intimidation. Just remember: you have no privacy rights whatsoever when you are returning to the U.S. If you have a computer, they can look at every single file and if you have a camera, they can look at every single snap or video. The same goes for anything in your luggage or on your person. But having said all of that, and provided you are not on probation or parole, you have every right to travel, either within the U.S. or outside of it, as a registered sex "offender". Exercise that right. It is yours! Don't let them bully you into becoming just one more isolated and socially neutralized sex offender. That's what they want. Don't give it to them!
ReplyDeleteI would be careful traveling to the major english-speaking countries (Canada, Australia, UK) without carefully checking first. I was told that, due to recent data-sharing with the US, they have access to US records. Had tentatively planned a trip to Canada with the rso husband but was pretty much told that is a no-go without getting clearance first. That may be for all persons with criminal records. Again, I HEARD that AUS and UK were getting there. I have no recent experience with the countries you mention - UK was no problem 10 years ago.
ReplyDeleteWe have visited many other countries in the recent past without any issue at all. Visiting, that is. Returning a completely different matter.
You will very likely be flagged at US Immigration and escorted to an inspection area for further questioning (I have yet to understand the purpose of this). Should be no problem, but do allow ample time if catching a connecting flight. I have quit booking any flights with less than 3 hour layover after re-entry and scurry off to fetch the luggage whilst trying not to get upset. Sometimes it goes really quick, last time at LAX (1 am!) it took well over an hour if not two with a computer glitch. Experiences with customs agents have ranged from almost apologetic to professional to outright a-holes. I trust your group knows of your status - if not, they will likely find out at the immigrations counter.
A while ago I read advice from someone who traveled a lot that they never had any digital storage media in their possession at the airport. No cameras, laptops, USB Flash Drives. I had not thought of this but seemed good advice - no need to waste time and miss your connection while they search your computer / camera, or worse, 'find' something on it.
I talked to the embassy of Belize and also e-mailed their government. Both say no problem. Come on down. As long as you are not wanted for something, and you comply with Belize laws, they would welcome you.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, this is the country that explained to me on what I would have to do to become a permanent resident of that nation.
So there are places you can go, and even live as an RSO. As Allan stated - don't let them bully you.
Advise: don't take any electronics. Get them where you go or you could get them confiscated by the US Customs or foreign customs offices. I had hell to pay just trying to get a laptop into Canada. I gave up and had my office e-mail my files. A phone might get in but not sure if certain smart phones would be a problem.
Thanks to everyone for this wealth of information, I have been trying to research this stuff myself. I have yet to do international travel, but have been very interested, but scared.
ReplyDeleteMy question is regarding what many have stated about not bringing laptops and/or cameras. I was wondering if I had my wife carrying those would help, or if they would just assume she is with me, and hence still search them? I wouldn't in a million years use them for anything illegal, but I wouldn't put them past them in planting something.
Thanks
I moved from California to Europe one year ago for employment, and have been traveling around Europe and back-and-forth to the US when I have the opportunity. It helps that I have dual citizenship (US and Europe), so I don't have to apply for a visa or resident permit. As mentioned by other commenters, the only hassle is crossing the border back into the US. I never bring my laptop or other such devices when I go to the US, and I let them know (indirectly) when I arrive that I already knew I would be thoroughly searched. That seems to help.
ReplyDeleteThey don't have any ridiculous registration laws in the country where I live, and most residents here speak English, so basically I am free from the leper status I had in the US and live as an ordinary law-abiding citizen. I have a friend in the US who is a RSO who travels extensively in Asia. He has no trouble in Asia whatsoever. Of course, he does not tell on himself when he fills out a visa application. The only time he could not enter any country was Canada.
The exact procedure to follow BEFORE traveling to any foreign country can be found in the Community Room on this page:
ReplyDeletehttp://eadvocate-community.blogspot.com/2011/05/topic-traveling-to-foreign-countries.html
Also included there are the rules passed by the SMART Office for proper reporting -to your local registering officials- of your intent to travel XX number of days before actually traveling.
In addition you will find the links to the US State Department where, if you get on their site, they have further links to all the countries in the world. And, most important is, if a country has restrictions based on criminal records.
Take heed of the State Department suggestions as to any medical or prescription needs, and finally, what to do if you are arrested in a foreign country.
For now, have a great day & a better tomorrow.
eAdvocate
From what I understand, the problem isn't the passport it's the visa. If a country needs to grant you a visa to visit, your criminal background will pop up and potentially disqualify you for entry. Put if no visa is needed, then you should just be able to show up. But check, as always, because you'll be denied entry at THEIR airport, not the U.S. airport. So you could end up stranded in some other country's airport if you're not careful.
ReplyDeleteSmart phones are ok. I recently went to Mexico and had no problem until coming back to the US. Was flagged at customs and sent into a secluded area. Waited 15 minutes playing on my IPhone then was called back. I sat my phone down on this ladies desk and she said "are you recording this conversation?" I said no. She said "I don't like being recorded show me" So I showed her the phone was on the home screen. Then she said well we both know why your here so we dont need to talk about it and then said have a nice day. Next time I will have my phone set to record. Thanks for the idea TSA
ReplyDeleteRegarding what to do if your wife (or another traveling companion) carries your laptop, etc., I would recommend that each of you state that you are traveling alone, and behave as if you are strangers between the airplane and the other side of customs. If they know you are traveling with someone, they will definitely check that person's luggage as well as yours, and comb through the files on the laptop. Of course, they are allowed to check everyone's luggage that enters the US, but they won't usually bother your traveling companion if they do not know you are together. As for a camera, I usually have one, with no photos stored on it. I just show them that it is empty and they leave it alone. One other thing: they will often ask you where you were visiting and what you were doing there. You don't have to answer, but I suggest you either tell the truth or give as simple and as uninteresting an answer as possible. The more you tell them, the more questions they will generate.
ReplyDelete