Convicted felons likely will have no problem obtaining a passport. A passport cannot prove you will commit a crime or validate your character as a person. Passports are identity documents only, providing proof of citizenship to a particular country. Unless you have ever attempted to overthrow the United States government or have committed treason of any kind, you are eligible to apply for and to receive a passport, save a few federal caveats:
Compulsory Passport Application Denial
- Federal law does prohibit you from getting a passport if you are a convicted drug trafficker who has crossed an international border to commit the crime.
- You are subject to federal arrest or felony-related subpoena.
- You have been forbid by court order, probation, or parole to depart the United States.
- Loans incurred while a prisoner abroad have not been repaid.
- If you are imprisoned or under a supervised release program for felonious possession or distribution of a controlled substance, whether at the federal or state level.
Discretionary Passport Application Denial
- Unpaid federal loan to assist with repatriation to the United States
- Formally declared applicant incompetence
- Minor without legal guardian’s consent
- You owe child support in arrears of over $5,000.
The U.S. Secretary of State can ask for passport application denial if you are deemed a serious threat to national security or U.S. foreign policy, here or abroad.
If you are a convicted felon who already possesses a U.S. passport, it can be revoked or restricted if you fall under the disqualifications noted above; or if the passport was originally obtained, altered, or utilized under false pretense, meaning fraud. Also, your passport can be invalidated for travel through countries in which the United States has formally declared war or if there is a clear and present danger to the passport holder. The Secretary of State holds this power to invalidate, revoke, or restrict your otherwise valid passport. Check the Federal Register for details.
Do your research at the U.S. State Department web site before you go. Some countries will not even issue you a visa if you are a convicted felon. Canada will not allow you to enter the country if you even have drunken driving convictions on your record.
As a tangent concern, a travel insurance policy or simple travel insurance may not be obtainable if you are currently serving time for a felony conviction. Insurance companies tend to deny those who put their lives in danger, especially habitual drunken drivers or others putting themselves into felonious situations.
The bottom line is this: if you are a convicted felon, you can get your passport as long as you do not have any federal court mandate stating otherwise, or any other compelling reason that the U.S. Secretary of State can issue a discretionary denial.
I have a friend that was recently convicted for attempt burglery which is a class C Felony.If she is able to obtain a passport, will she be able to travel with me to Amstadam and Etheopia for the holidays.
I have a question ? My husband is a convicted felon for a theft , he did probation and his case is closed, we are planing to go on a cruise to the Bahamas , he is a florida resident . Will there be any problem when we enter the US again ? Or will there be any issue ?
My friend is convicted felon its been 5 years but he wants to go to the bahamas with my family in two weeks will that be a a problem ?
My sister has a B felony Drug sales charge from 2006 in NYS. She wants to get passport and go to Paris, Japan and India when we go. Is this possible at all?
There is a website where you can apply online for a Passport or a Visa. You’ll get an answer very soon after. And if you owe child support the first thing is the Mother has to dismiss the order of ask a judge to dismiss the order and say you have made a verbal agreement between the both of you and it should all work out. If not then there are other options for you and I suggest you call legal aid. I also have a stupid Federal Felony. So I suggest you follow my advice. Good luck.
My question is my fiance is in prison, he will be released and six months later we are getting married. He is a accessory to burglery. Will he be able to get a passport and go to Europe for our honeymoon.
My boyfriend is a felon for felony theft of livestock and assault (he beat up a security guard that caught him shooting a deer on private chem. Plant property.)
I am a felon for possession of meth both served out our sentences his in prison mine on supervised deferred probation I pled out he pled guilty.
Anyways my question is can we go to cancun.
Or maybe send me a list of places we can go.
My husband has two children in which he loves so much! He always paid child support and then he did a stupid crime that got him locked up for a few years. His child’s mother kept him on child support although he couldn’t pay while he was in jail which caused him to have a balance of $30k owed. We really want to go out of the country for like a week to either Mexico, Jamaica, Spain or Brazil, and we are worried that he wont be able to get a passport. What are his chance of being able to obtain one?
He will not be able to get into brazil because they require all US citizens to apply for a tourist visa, the issue won’t be getting a passport, it will be getting a visa. So just travel to a country where no visa is necessary for entry.
Zero he will be denied!!! We just went thru it in May my husband was only 1700 in the arrears but had been over 5000 at one point so he had to pay the arrears he owed then get all this paperwork sent to the irs to get his passport and this was for a work vacation they still almost denied him he had to prove it was a work vacation!!!
No Passport for him. Major reason, 30k in child support. In addition to his child support situation, as soon as he applies for a passport the appropriate authorities will come after him for the 30k. Simply put; you can not get a U.S. passport if you owe child support! If he is currently on parole or probation his chances are slim to none that a passport would be issued to him. Vacation in the U.S. Have him pay, in full, what is owed for child support, (granted, this may take several years) and should he currently be on parole/probation, wait until he is released.
im on S.S.D.I. IN WHEN I CAME DISABLED I DID OWE REAR CHILD SUPPORT BUT I WAS PAYING UP TO THE TIME I BECAME DISABLED WOULD I BE ABLE TO GET A PASSPORT
WAS WONDERING IF I CAN GET A PASSPORT IF IM ON SSDI IN DID HAVE CHILD SUPORT THAT WAS OWED BUT CANT PAY NOW BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT I GET ISNT EVEN ENOUGH FOR ME TO LIVE ON I WAS PAY PRYER TO ME BECOMING DISABLED
As it was explained to me that once you’re on Social Security (if this is your only income) you are not required by law to pay child support.
Here is what you do. You take the amount of money you were going to spend on vacation and you give it to the children’s mother. That should take care of things.
To Whom This May Concern,
Aloha. How are you doing sir? I hope that all is well and that you are in good health and spirits upon receiving my e-mail. My name is Nathanial and I have some concerns that have to do with a trip I will be going on next month. I was hoping you might be able to help me address these concerns.
I am currently on parole in the state of California. However, I am about ready to be discharged from parole. I officially discharge my parole on march 9. Shortly after I am discharged from parole I will be travelling to Manila, Philippines. My flight to Manila is four days later on march 13. So what I am concerned about is will I encounter difficulties departing the country? The reason I ask this is because a couple of years ago I attempted to fly from Honolulu to Manila but was arrested at the airport as I attempted to board the flight. The difference between then and now was during that time I was on the run from parole and had an active P.A.L. warrant out for my arrest. At this time I have NO outstanding warrants and by the time I fly out I will officially be OFF of parole.
So what I am seeking to find out is will I have any difficulties boarding the flight on march 13. Please note that my passport was never confiscated, even when I was arrested at the airport in Honolulu. I am just worried about being hassled by officials at the airport being I am leaving the country so soon following my parole discharge date. Would you happen to have a solid answer to my question? I have been trying to get information about this. But surprisingly no one, even those in the legal profession, seem to have an answer to this. Mahalo.
With much respect and aloha,
Nathanial
I have not done any jail time, but I am on eleven twenty nine probation.I need to get my passport what do i need to do or get to obtain amy passport.I never have had one.I told my probation officer about it, and she said as long as I have my current fees paid up she did not mind.my crime is a misdemeanor not a felony.Can somebody please help me with some info
See this website for information on obtaining a U.S. passport: https://travel.state.gov/
So if I was convicted of agg assuilt 3 degree felony 11 yrs ago I could get a passport to travel the uk yes/no
Go to the UKBA website where you will see that you need to apply for a visa because of you having a criminal record.
*****I wouldn’t trust this article since it containsI a definiteregular innacuracy. You will be refused a US passport if you owe more than $2,500. Easily verifiable.
SO if i was convicted of a plain robbery 32 years ago, and have been cleaned since then ( i was 18 and stupid) then they would not give me a visa with my passport for entry? I am driving a truck now and have to obtain a visa for Canada because we do business there. I am in the process of having my record sealed. I have retained counsel to handle it. Once it is sealed then i should be okay right?
I am a convicted felon for Robbery and 2 CLASS U misdemeanors for possession of Marijuana. Because I was released from my probation by a judge to travel to Japan, I was able to get my passport. I chose to use a expedited service in this situation because they already understand the process. Although I overnight-ed my necessary documents on a Friday, their was a legal hold put on my application because I still had to have my probation officer provide a certified copy of the judges order to release me from my supervised probation. Once I picked that sealed document up which enclosed the order and a cover letter from my probation officer which included my name, ssn, and passport application locator number(you recieve it when you 1st apply.), I overnight-ed that to the expedited service and they took it back to the passport agency the following day and I received my passport within 24 hours of that. So even though I purchased the 1-2 day expedited service from my passport expedited service company… the process started on the 14th day of the month and was completed on the 21st day of the month. This included business and weekend days. Hope this helps. OH by the way… I found that using PASSPORT EXPEDITED SVCS, that are NOT based out of NEW YORK City was easier to deal with. I am a VA resident… so i chose a service based out of DC.
smith, what info do you have about entry into Japan? i had a stupid white collar crime and wasnt sure i could go back over, do they even check FBI records or any at all?
i have read as long as you did less than one year it doesnt matter, i did 5 months
Jus received my passport 2 weeks ago, I’m on federal probation until 9/26/14
can i travel to london, england with a past drug conviction that was just a possession charge?
can a felony from 1989 prevent travel to thailand?
I AM LOOKING FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING TRAVELING TO GERMANY…..I AM GONNA BE TRAVELING WITH MY SON WHOIS A AMERICAN SOLDIER ………IM A CONVICTED FELON AND I NEED TO KNOW IF I CAN TRAVEL WITH HIM TO GERMANY….
I WAS CONVICTED OF INJURY TO A MINOR…2003
ALSO UTTERING A FORGED INSTRUMENT…2005…(BAD CHECK)
Germany is a sensible country , that doesnt get influenced by the trigger happy US criminal system. It also officially allows convicts into its country, except if convicted for sexual molestation , or aggravated assault felonies. U can travel without any fear. They do not have landing forms etc and couldnt be bothered with what the US justice system did to you. Its UK and Australia (Australia… lol…a country that was formed on deported criminals from her Majestys prisons ), that may give you trouble, just because they share the database with the land of the incarcerated ). btw…I am a convicted felon…and go to Germany every few months.
MORE INFO:
https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/anchorage/offices-bureaux/know-savoir.aspx?lang=eng
Criminal Offenses
Canadian law prevents some persons from being admitted into the country. Those who have committed or been convicted of a criminal offense, including driving while impaired or DUI, may be prohibited from entry. For details, including instructions about overcoming inadmissibility, please visit “Are you inadmissible to Canada?”. DUI/Admissibility
Security and enforcement at the Canada-United States border has heightened in recent years. For this reason, more U.S. citizens with past criminal charges or convictions are refused entry into Canada.
Almost all convictions (including DUI, reckless driving, misdemeanour drug possession, all felonies, shoplifting, etc.) make a person inadmissible to Canada, regardless of how long ago they occurred. For this reason, it is not recommended that persons with past convictions attempt to enter Canada without first obtaining necessary documents. It is always the final decision of officers at ports of entry to decide whether a person is allowed into Canada.
There are several ways individuals can overcome criminal inadmissibility:
Deemed rehabilitation at a Canadian port of entry.Temporary resident permit through a Canadian Consulate in the United States.Deemed Rehabilitation
Persons are eligible to apply for deemed rehabilitation at a port of entry if the following are true:
There was only one conviction in total or one criminal act.A person who wishes to be considered for deemed rehabilitation may bring the following documents to a port of entry during regular business hours (Monday – Friday between 8 am and 5 pm):
A completed application form – available online at .U.S. passport or birth certificate plus photo identification.A recent FBI criminal record check.Application for Rehabilitation
You may apply for rehabilitation if at least five years have passed since the completion of the sentence imposed for your crime. You may send an application for rehabilitation with all the required accompanying documents to the Immigration section of the Canadian Consulate General in Seattle. Applications can be found at “Are you inadmissible to Canada?”.
Please note there is no guarantee that rehabilitation will be granted; the decision to approve or refuse rehabilitation is made after consideration of all the factors in the case.
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
If less than 5 years have elapsed since the termination of the sentence imposed, you are not yet eligible to apply for approval of rehabilitation. A TRP is the only available option to permit entry into Canada. Permit applications are found at “Are you inadmissible to Canada?”.
You may contact the Immigration section of the Canadian Consulate General in Seattle by email at Seattle-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca or fax to 206-441-7838 should you have questions about applying for rehabilitation or TRP.
Please note the Canadian Consulate in Anchorage does not handle DUI/Admissibility issues.
For full info visit:
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/anchorage/offices-bureaux/know-savoir.aspx?lang=eng
You may not be permitted to enter Canada if you have a criminal conviction, including a conviction for driving while impaired, known in the United States as driving under the influence (DUI). More information about inadmissibility to Canada is listed below in the section “DUI/Admissibility.” For more details on visiting Canada, please refer to Visiting Canada.
Many questions regarding customs issues can be directed to the Canada Customs Call Centre in Winnipeg at 204-983-3500. Please also consult Canada Border Services Agency.
U.S. citizens may also wish to visit a web site initiated by the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa at http://www.amcits.com. The site provides information for U.S. citizens visiting or living in Canada.
https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/anchorage/offices-bureaux/know-savoir.aspx?lang=eng
CORRECTION:
Canada, like the United States, has rules that prohibit entry for persons with specific ineligibilities. For example, anyone with a criminal record (including misdemeanors or Driving While Impaired (DWI)), no matter how long ago, may be barred fro entering Canada and must obtain a special waiver well in advance of any planned travel. To determine whether you may be inadmissible and how to overcome this finding, please refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
I wanna thank you for your information in regard to obtaining a passport. Your website is veri imformative, and for that i now know what I need to do to inquire getting a passport.