pam

This is straight off the U.S. Passport site.<BR><BR>Q: Do I need a passport for travel to Mexico, Canada or the Bahamas?<BR><BR>A: No. But you must have a birth certificate or other proof of U.S. <BR>citizenship and proper ID. <BR>

xxxx

Class E Felony; isn't that the one about government fraud? <BR><BR>Well, you better ask a politician....

A New Yorker

Is that you Bill? How's Hillary coming along?

258965

under the veil of privacy I will try to answer this question from my own personal experience. I spent 8 months in a federal prison camp due to my ex-husbands tax fruad with a jointly owned company. While under federal indictement My passport was held by the Federal Prosecutors office so that I coulnd't flee the country. After my release from Federal Prison I was informed that the Federal Prosecutors office and that I was able to apply for another one. I did this while on federal supervised release. I needed no letter from my probation officer. On my application I specified that the reason I needed a duplicate passport was the federal court system lost mine and It was granted no questions no problem. <BR> The Canada question is still a mystery as there Canada website states no felons and that would include DWI/DUI's . My probation officer was in Canada skiing and asked a border agent the same question about felons entering Canada and the agent couldn't give him a straight answer either. <BR> Also about losing the right to vote that depends on the state and most states give people back the right to vote, I believe that in MAine and MAss. Prisoners are allowed to vote while in Prison. Hope this helps

xxx

OP here... thank you all for your replies, I really appreciate the time you each took to respond. I've had a passport for years, and have been to Europe a few times. No-one in the legal system has said anything about taking it away. All I was told about as far as restrictions was that carrying firearms, and crossing the Canadian border, was OUT; that the Bahamas and Mexico was a "maybe", nothing else. I'm looking into the voting thing...sh*t, didn't think about THAT. Inquiries regarding entrance to any European countries were met with vague responses from both my lawyer and my probation officer. I think they just don't know. I'm not sure if the restrictions apply only while I'm on probation, or for all eternity. If it's the latter, so be it...I did what I did and that's the "price" I'll pay...I'm just trying to work out the "budget". Thanks again, everyone.

notalawyer

if you are on probation/parole, then I doubt very highly you will be able to leave the country. would be very surprised actually.<BR><BR>what did you do? DUIs - they don't put you on probation. I think they just take away your driving privileges.

xxx

My Class E Felony was that I voted for George Bush the Junior...how stupid of me!

Answer

xxx: You are stupid. Who you voted for is not the reason.

Jen

Okay, I looked this up on the State Department's website, and here is what I have found thus far. First, each country has different entry/visa requirements. Country-specific information can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html. Nowhere there did I see any information about people with felony convictions being denied entry. It appears that for the bulk of European countries (and others), you merely need a valid passport. <BR>Second, you must look at the passport requirements, found again at travel.state.gov. To the best of my knowledge, if you currently have a valid passport, you're okay. If you have to reapply for another passport, there is no section on the form for putting down information about criminal convictions. You must affirm that you have not been convicted of trying to overthrow the government, etc., but that's it. That being said, the State Dept. may run a background check on your application which will reveal your conviction, and potentially could deny you a renewed passport based on that. I would call the Passport information agency at 1-900-225-5674 or 1-888-362-8668 to determine if this would pose a problem. Of course, you should consult with your lawyer & PO before going abroad.<BR>Also, not in response to your question, but to clear up a common misperception on earlier posts: DWI/DUI is usually not a felony, unless it is a subsequent offense. Generally a first or second DWI/DUI is a misdemeanor. <BR>Hope this is at least of some help. <BR>

xxx

OP here...<BR>Jen,<BR>Thank you SO much for the info you posted, it was just what I was looking for. I called the 900 number and I found out that I will not be prevented from entering another country, or denied passport renewal, based on my conviction. My probation officer can deny me permission to travel, however. Fair enough. <BR>Thanks again, Jen.

alice the magyar

When you are on probation, you can't leave your state, with out a letter from your probation officer, let alone go to another country! Sometimes you are lucky if you can leave your own county!! Is this a troll???? Not allowed to drink either! Or go to bars.

ksmac3

Still looking for the answer. I have a class E felony also. Two DWI's in 10 years. I need to know this for business purposes. A lot of jobs require International travel and I don't need to find out with my Boss while trying to get on the plane. Anyone ?

nytraveler

Felons may or may not have passports - depending on the specific situation. I am not an attorney - but do know that a discharged felony (the criminal has served their sentence and been released unconditionally - that is, not under any sort of early release/probation program, and paid any fines, penalties, community service, etc) can get a passport.

If the criminal has not yet discharged the sentence I can't imagine they would be allowed to leave the country. And if this can be tracked is a function of the sophistication of the computer system in the US, the connection to that of the country the person wants to enter - and the rules of each specific country.

Separately have looked up Class E felonies in NY - and this is not a speeding ticket.I know the OP said not violent and not drugs - but there are a whole lot of other VERY serious things on that list. I wouldn't plan on leaving the country until your sentence is complete.

Agree - if your attorney can't give you a specific answer how can we - who have never had to deal with this problem?

alanRow

If you have a passport, don't need to get a visa in advance, aren't a serious sex offender or done anything associated with genocide or terrorism then European countries don't care about your criminal past.

Dukey1

That's a pretty major "if" IMO

bilboburgler

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cr...ient=firefox-a

this may help

bilboburgler

I'm not sure who Martha Stewart is but I saw this at the same time
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/cele...to-the-UK.html

sofarsogood

ksmac3

If you travel for business purposes you will need a visa. The visa will ask about criminal convictions. Depending on your answers, the immigration service of the country you intend to visit will either grant you a visa or not. Long before trying to get on the plane you will know if you can travel.

janisj

Nytraveler: it seems you are responding to the OP. that post is eleven years old - the OP has likely re-offended and is back in the big house.


The thread was topped by a different felon . . .

flanneruk

"If you travel for business purposes you will need a visa."

You don't. Felon or not.

Americans need visas to work (like virtually all non-Europeans) in Britain. They don't need one to come here on business (as virtually no businessperson from a rich country does). The difference is fundamental, more or less universal (and more or less commonly defined) throughout developed countries and well understood by anyone who's ever travelled on business.

It's perfectly clear from ksmac's post that he or she plans to travel on business outside the US: not seek employment.