I wouldn't worry about Cuba. I have been traveling there for 23 years. I don't have a criminal record, but I have met many Americans living there who are fugitives in the USA.
I think your list is not exactly correct, I've been to South Africa multiple times as a European tourist never having been asked for my record and I think it would be the same for Americans. Maybe they technically don't allow people with convictions in, but I doubt they actually check, for tourists from where I'm from there would be no mechanism to do so for them either and I've heard of people with convictions travelling to the US just lying on the ESTA form as well. I'm sure there's a lot of countries in the denied part where you would not encounter any issue.
Irish here. You are getting the EU mixed up with the Schengen area. Ireland is in the EU, but not in Schengen. Norway, Switzerland, Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino and the Vatican City are in Schengen but not in the EU. So the current "No Restrictions" apply to Schengen. You can always go to the UK via Ireland (via Northern Ireland to Scotland, then onto England and Wales from there).
I think these are for people with criminal records such as armed men with clear cuts either thst or men from communist Russia and China. I hope this comment doesn’t get removed.
Andorra, San Marino and the Vatican City are not members of Schengen. Even though there is no passport check. It's the same with Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
I received a felony in 2002 for cultivation of cannabis in 2002. I am now in Argentina and working on my residency. I am here now and had no problem going through immigration.
@@pacificcoastnorthern4842 Good to know, thanks. I also have cannabis felonies, out of California. Considering Argentina in the near future... Best of luck.
I think it this varies on how long ago the crime was committed (or how long ago you were found not guilty because regardless if you are guilty or not guilty you still have it on your criminal record) and the scale of the crime. Small crimes like your’s if you show great improvements can eventually get erased from your criminal record in many countries. Medium and serious crimes stay on your record for the rest of your life regardless of your improvement.
If you don't mind triple digit inflation, currency devaluation, a newly elected president who brandished a chainsaw during his campaign and since shut down public works projects and fired thousands of civil servants, Argentina's fabulous.
@@coolerking7427I'vr bren to prison in 2004 because of drugs... and I have no problems with travelling, I had more convictions 😂😂since that..., I have never asked to clear my record. I don't believe that people have problems on the borders.
Yep, not even the US is that strict. Canada seems very petty and anal about a lot of things - the UK post office once rejected a Christmas parcel I was trying to send to family out there because part of the address was written on the wrong part of the label. They said Canadian customs would just reject it and it would be destroyed, so they told me to go and fix it. Never ever have I had a package refused going anywhere because of something like that. It was quite remarkable.
people get in trouble because they ignore basic rules. make life simple for you. when applying for visa or travel authorization, be sure to disclose your criminal records and if necessary have evidence. why would you drive to a country's border before knowing all the requirements for entering the country ? I have DUI and I go to the US without any problems and have never had employer question me about it...
@charleshammer2928 there is a 10 year limit on that one, BUT it is also up to the border agent's perogative after the allotted time. They can admit or deny entry on the kind of day they are having according to a response to an email I sent the Canadian Embassy in Houston TX. They wouldn't give me a solid yes or no on if I'd be let in.
@@erikstillman3553 First of all, in many US States, if you have just one violation years ago, it was just a traffic violation, you have no criminal record. If you deny it, they won't find out. If they do? Then you Turn around. Stupid to admit to one.
This is such a smart video to make. Now you can point all the people that want to invite you somewhere to that video. And it was also entertaining for the viewers 😁
Hey! New Zealander here, your videos have really helped me with my own potential prison experience. We'd love to have a guy like you around, we also have travel restrictions if imprisoned.
It is so hard for anyone to travel from New Zealand--I'm rather amazed that they bother restricting you. If you can fund travel, you've already surmounted a high barrier! I hope your legal situation works out for the best for you.
@@jerrycanada790 I have an assault charge from 17 years ago. I am also Canadian. Me and my woman are planning on going there in February 2025. But we were worried about my criminal record
I have an older drug felony and didn’t have any issues traveling to the Philippines or South Korea. Seoul really is an amazing city and as an American not as expensive as you’d think.
@alfzizold921 bs.... my passsport had less than 6 months i was denied. I pleaded with them and the embassy. And it was a wrap...had to go back to colombia until i got an updated passport.
Reminds me of that old joke, never ask a man his salary, a woman her age, or an Argentine what their abuelo did during the war. I do hope you get to travel though
If you apply for an actual visa from the Australian embassy whilst being upfront and honest about your criminal background before going then they may allow you to have a visa. It just all depends on the circumstances.
exactly its all about the circumstances and crime.. Have a friend that was nervous because he stole a car when he was 18-19 and stupid drunk and did a short time for it in Sweden, going to Australia. Now he is 49 have a company and family and the Aussie embassy said straight out well thats so old and "u were so young(and stupid) " its no problem..
@@ps.6023 no they check the crime and circumstances..and when u did it. We ll do stupid things and there are different levels of crime..right? u cant compare a 18-19 yr kid stealing a car as a impulsive stupid thing almost 30 yrs back with a grown dude robbing stores with weapons and hurting ppl 8 yrs agoright?
Kenya 🇰🇪 will not deny you upfront. On their new visa process which is the ETA (Republic Of Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation) application, there is a question that asks if you have been convicted of any crime in the past five years. It is a "yes" or "no" question.
Post 9/11 Canada and The USA mutually don’t let convicted criminals in without permission from the govt., temporary resident permit or criminal rehabilitation (a paperwork process) after 5 years once you’re done all the time, parole and paid fees etc… so if you’re good with paperwork you can come to Canada. Plenty of music artists with records perform in Canada with permission.
@@Jamiepunk1 Canada doesn't have "misdemeanors". Some offences are prosecuted summarily, some by indictment, some can go either way. I DUI for example is a criminal offence which can carry a prison sentence. So a conviction is enough to keep a person out.
@@Jamiepunk1 I've heard arguments that it's "only" a misdemeanor so shouldn't count. But the US has 50+ criminal statutes, so it likely varies. Drawing equivalencies is a bit of an art.
The UK will not deny you entry. First off, if you are a Canadian, American or one of 14 other specific nationalities you get to use a special line at passport control where you don’t even need to talk to a customs officer at all to enter. Secondly, even if you do talk to someone the UK does NOT have access to either Canadian not American criminal records databases (they can only check domestic UK criminal records or Interpol databases; neither of which you’ll be on with just a bog standard Canadian or American criminal record) so for anyone else nothing will show up on a search if you haven’t specifically committed a criminal offence in the UK. Otherwise, travelling to the UK for a North American is as simple as travelling between domestic states or provinces. Before I even had a pardon I routinely travelled back and forth to the UK. It’s only travelling to the US that is a problem and only specifically because Canada and the US were dumb enough to openly share their criminal record databases with each other’s passport control officers. No other countries do that! What’s worse even though I do have a pardon the US doesn’t recognize them anyhow (you need something called an i-form waiver). So in practice it’s ONLY a problem for Canadian/Americans when travelling between those two countries only. In practice no other countries care, they don’t ask and they don’t have access to the relevant databases to check anyhow. Despite what is commonly believed, each country’s passport control/customs offices DO NOT have access to every other country’s domestic criminal records databases for every other country (that’s only a Canadian/American thing).
I count 38 countries that can use e-gates at the UK border, because the list includes all EU/EEA countries (27+3) + Switzerland, for a start. However, it's not too uncommon for the e-gates to show red, and then you need to go to see a Border Force agent. It's only happened to me once over the last couple of years, but when I queue up to the e-gates I always see multiple persons ahead of me having to go to see an agent. So don't expect that it's guaranteed that you don't have to talk to anyone at the UK border.
@@tomaseriksson7240 ok and that’s fine, I’ve talked to them twice in my dozens of trips to the UK. They only care about people coming to try to work there, not criminal records. They will neither ask nor check. Again a distinction needs to be made between a criminal record in your own country vs a criminal record in the country you’re entering which I don’t think this video makes at all. These countries ONLY care about a criminal record in the country you’re going into, not your own country. If you’ve never committed a criminal offence in the UK then as far as Border Force in the UK is concerned You Don’t have a criminal record. Yes that’s really the way it is. These countries don’t have the time, the resources, or even the technical ability or access to check the domestic criminal records of every other external country. It just doesn’t happen. Again it ONLY happens specifically between Canada and the US, that’s it! Lots of misinformation about this, people somehow think that if you have an American or Canadian or UK or any other country criminal record that somehow the border force of every other country can see it. They can’t. There is no worldwide database of all domestic criminal records they have access to. It would be a huge constitutional/privacy rights issue that would have to be worked out in legislation in every country to ever implement something like that. So it doesn’t happen. There’s only the INTERPOl database which specifically lists big time people where a specific alert has been out on them. So as long as you’re not on the top 10 list of international terrorists you’re fine! Domestic criminal records are completely irrelevant for international travel except for the specific border between Canada and the USA. The irony is people think the Canada/US border is the friendliest and most open, but in fact it’s one of the most restrictive borders in the world compared to almost every other border.
As someone living in Tijuana , Mexico . I was just in the UK last year . I was a transient passing through to turkey and when I came from turkey , pass through the UK again on my way to Paris. No problems at all .
You shed such light on travelling for people with records , and its refreshing because i feel like when you have a record people make it seem like your life is over (sure you have limitations ) but far from over !
Indonesian here, we do have denied entry if discovered policy, however you can bypass this law if you apply the proper entry visa. Our visa policy for US citizens at the moment is basically E-Visa or Visa on Arrival, they can either discover this when you apply the E-VOA visa or at the immigration gate. Nevertheless our law said that "People with criminal records are obliged to apply for an entry visa in order to enter Indonesia" It means that if you have a criminal record, you basically just lost your right to visa free or E-Visa/Visa on arrival right but doesn't strip your right to enter completely. It means if you wanna travel to Indonesia, it's highly suggested you just apply the proper sticker visa than gambling your luck at the arrival immigration.
I have a record in both the US and Canada I’ve been as a tourist to: India Mexico South Africa Taiwan I required a Visa for India No issues going to most of the countries you listed.
Yeah I think the main thing he glossed over was that while there may be technical standards for a formal visa, going to a country under the auspices of a visa free arrangement may bypass those standards. I have a felony record and I have been to Argentina twice. They see an American passport and they don't even ask.
in Australia we have a border control TV series. That show had foreigners that checked that they had a criminal history and they were interviewed by border control and the person could prove that their criminal history was a thing of the past then they were let in. So it may be possible to enter Australia with a criminal history but not any time soon.
@@patrick1992 There is or was, an international drug felony clearinghouse located in Thailand. So, if you were busted for drugs, any country that had treaties or agreements with that place could access it. Nowadays, it done via reciprocal treaty. The USA tells Australia about its crims and vice versa. I know this from dealing with immigration in both countries.
Weirdly, under U.S. law, accepting a pardon also means that you are guilty. Sadly, that makes you ineligible to travel to many nations because even if you were given a pardon, then technically, you are still a convict. I know, weird, but alas, true.
@@jamiesuejeffery other countries aren't obligated to consider a pardon. To be pardoned you have to have been convicted. (And similar terms can have different meanings in different countries.)
most pardons are not for innocent people. I know of only very few pardons that are given to innocent people so that they could get on with their lives. most pardons are just the government saying saying you don't need to be punished any longer for your convictions. hence, you get the guilty stance.
Interestingly, on the US ESTA application it asked if you have ever been “arrested” or “convicted” of committing certain crimes. So, even if you were arrested but found to be “not guilty” you must still answer yes.
Travelled to Canada from Aus with a lengthy criminal record. Just said I didn’t have a criminal record on my eta and was aloud in. Showed I had enough money to travel and a reason to return to Aus. Stayed 6 months.
My buddy in Wisconsin had a small quantity marijuana arrest in the 1970s. No jail, just fined. He booked an expensive guided fishing trip to Canada. He got refused entry at the border. Fishing trip nonrefundable.
@@davidlynch9049 Canada does not want competition from foreign cannabis operations. Its illegal to import weed into Canada and weed is illegal at the US federal level. The ironic thing is Niagara Falls, ON and NY have legal pot shops on both sides of the border.
Canada is very rough. A friend of mine in the UK was arrested but not ever charged, Canada wouldn't let him travel unless his arrest record was expunged like it never happened. Getting released and never being charged apparently wasn't good enough. Canada is also liable to refuse you for basic motoring offences (speeding etc.) whereas the US doesn't care about that stuff. I also have family in Canada and tried to mail them presents from the UK for Christmas. The post office rejected the package saying that I hadn't written part of the address on the correct corner of the label and that they knew Canada were picky about it. Again, sent presents to the US with no issue.
As an American, living in Japan for almost 20 years, yes, Japan is strict about this. Not long ago, they denied entry for Paris Hilton for her past drug violation in the US. Japan does not play. As a result of her refusal, she ended up cancelling her concerts in Japan.
I’ve been living in Japan for 24 years. I’ve never committed a crime, but things are screwed here. I’m extra careful even about who I’m walking together with if I suspect that person has drugs on him or is high on something. I have to add that I believe in second chances and just because, say, you got arrested and sentenced for, say, fraud or tax evasion shouldn’t mark your life forever specially if you’ve already payed the price.
It works both ways. I knew someone here in the UK who was arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault and released without charge (because he didn't actually do it and the whole thing was BS). Canada wouldn't grant him a tourist visa unless the arrest was removed from his record, it didn't matter that he hadn't ever been charged. That took months of arguing with the police force that arrested him to get that sorted out. The US also wanted him to attend an in-person interview at the embassy before they would allow him in. The lead time for the interview was at least a couple of months and he missed the event he was supposed to be travelling to.
@@halfbakedproductions7887 Canadian immigration law talks about "reasonable grounds to believe" that someone "committed an act" that's an offense in both countries. Because in some countries you can buy your way out of a charge
Thx for this breakdown. Nice work. I appreciate immigration keeping less desirables out, but would like to see more rehabilitation programs like Canada’s. Things like time since conviction, severity of crime, repeat offender, productive citizen since conviction, etc. Not everyone who made a mistake at one point in their life is a threat to society. Not fair to still be subjected to ‘life sentence’ once you’ve paid ur debt.
I noticed you never included any central Asian countries? Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan. No mention of Georgia or North Macedonia, these are places you should look at because their beauty is outstanding
Seems to me it would be grounds for violations of Human Rights. If a person served their time, and kept out the the criminal lime light for a number of years...shouldnt be a problem. In the future, is Aussieland going to keep grandpa Joe out when he committed a crime 40 years ago and hasnt been in trouble with the law since ? No way.
Regarding the misdemeanor comment on Canada's laws. People are inadmissible to Canada if convicted of a crime that if committed in Canada carries a maximum sentence of 5 years incarceration. Since drink driving is under that ( drink driving with a BAC over 0.08) then Canada won't let you in without a ministerial waiver.
*Australia:* "We have enough criminals here, mate. Go back! As a matter of fact hold on! You can come in if you take our country's best break dancer Raygun when you leave."
I'm leaving for a trip around the world in August, with a criminal record. Hopefully all will go well. So far I've been to some EU countries, Turkey and Thailand with no issue.
@@janewright315 I went twice in 2022 and once in 2023. The visa application does not ask anything about criminal records. It's a simple online process with a 60$ fee. You get the electronic visa instantly. I'm Canadian but it seems the requirements were the same back then.
@enshrineddisillusion7728 thanks, I appreciate it. I know they eliminated the visa requirement for us citizens recently but was curious if it was an issue before
I'm surprised about Cuba. Literally everyone I've encountered with a criminal record seems to have gone to Cuba (I'm Canadian). It seems to be the go-to place for people with criminal records here.
u can sill enter Australia if you apply for a special visa, if you have a necessary reason for entry and it become easier for u if have been released for jail for at lest 10 years
Just a side note. If the person has a sex offense conviction, everything on the "denied if discovered" list moves to the denied entry side. Most of the EU will also go into the denied entry side for most offenses once ETIAS goes online in 2025.
@braveheart9097 ETIAS will only look back a certain amount of time, but International Megan's Law will still be in effect. In the case of SOs, the State Department here in the US will proactively notify any international destination. SOs in the US are also issued Scarlet Letter passports which contain an alert on the back page so that whatever Customs official is doing the intake has an opportunity to reject them before entry.
Check out a fellow you tuber called Spanian . Spanian spent 13 years in & out of Australian jails but now has gone straight & travels the World flying business class doing international food reviews. He even got into the USA so he must be doing something right. TH-camr and rapper Spanian spent 13 years in & out of prison before the age of 30, following several assault, drug and other related convictions. He then vowed to 'never spend a night in jail again', devoting himself to being an 'upstanding member of society. And he is now a bit of a celebrity in Australia.
One important consideration is availability of records. Many EU countries have in law, that only certain named local authorities can access the records. Not other countries border agencies. However, it is possible to obtain a stamped copy for yourself. And some countries ask for this (no less than than 12 months old or so). Also everything except murder is eventually removed from the records in 5,10 or 20 years depending on the severity.
Yep, even after you have "repaid your debt", you will be subject to restrictions on travel, declined car and house insurance, face numerous restrictions on employment, and face general prejudice. Even after 25 years of being a model citizen, and a spent conviction order, my past still haunts me. I can't visit the US (but why would you want to???), or Canada :( so I go to Europe instead. Wonderful place. Next year, not so sure.....
@@Dreznik88 no one is doing anything of the kind. You need to stop watching the zombie box. As for deportation, the current administration has deported more than the last, and previously Obama was nicknamed the deporter in chief for a reason. Maybe actually follow policy, yeah
My understanding of the upcoming policy of entry into the EU is that you must declare convictions within the last 10 years, or 20 years for terrorist offences. A conviction won't necessarily prevent you from entering the EU, but you would have to obtain a visa to travel. Each case would be assessed individually and a decision made based on the severity of the offence and how old the conviction is
In Canada, admission is dependent on whether your crime in the USA equates to the same thing in Canada in the Canadian criminal code. Otherwise, they will allow you entry.
My understanding was that whether the act that led to the conviction would constitute an offense in Canada or not was irrelevant. Except for politically motivated convictions or violations of laws that, if enacted in Canada, would contravene the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Canada considers a DWI a serious criminal offence... not just the equivalent of a misdemeanour so it's treated as such at the border. Since Both the US and Canada share their criminal databases with each other, they know as soon as your passport is scanned. The only workaround would be to obtain a temporary resident waiver in advance from a Canadian Consulate.
I believe that as an American you get visa free access to Hong Kong. And as an American you can get visa free transit stops in mainland China for up to 144 hours. Many Americans and Canadians benefit from this policy and visited China without a visa. You can check out many stories of Americans visiting China on TH-cam
@@peterc.1618 The Scandinavian countries plus Iceland had open borders before Schengen, and to keep that freedom they either had to include Norway and Iceland into Schengen or stay out of it altogether. Norway and Iceland were already part of the European Economic Area, so joining Schengen was not too complicated.
@@ge48421 Yes, like the Common Travel Area comprising the UK, the Republic or Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, which still exists after Brexit.
The main reasons Ireland is outside of Schengen are because of the Irish CTA (which is nothing to do with the EU and never was) and the fact that the UK secured an opt-out from Schengen. If a united Ireland ever happened then it absolutely could join Schengen, probably would.
In 2008, I was denied my passport renual by Oregon because of a state felony in Oregon, which I was convicted for in 2008. It was for aggravated theft for using a work issued credit card in my name for a personal purchase over $10K. It is not federal but a state conviction that I served 20 days in jail for. Not only did it destroy my life, but its prevented my freedom as as a U.S. citizen born in the USA. My lawyer said I was denied illegally but wants $16K USD to fight it in court. I've traveled to Mexico 26 times in 17 years without a passport because I was denied my 3rd passport. I've had two in the past, at ages 15 and 25. Is there anything I can do about this? Or am I prevented from international travel in other countries besides Mexico? I've also crossed the Mexican border with a warrant but never been taken into custody. It's for wrongful conviction that the DA wants for me bouncing my own personal check for $3,400 because my deposited check bounced from a stranger who gave it to me. I was victim in a nigerian scam online in 2010. I've learned that U.S. police, lawyers, and courts are very corrupt. I don't like being an American nowadays, and wish I could get citizenship elsewhere. I don't travel to Oregon anymore because of the corruption I've delt with there.
We don't have to have passport to enter Mexico? How about if all I have is a USA birth certificate and an expired driver's license? Can I walk into Mexico with just that?
I feel like "deny if discovered" is the real policy of most countries. Some countries have a form that includes the question. but for those that don't, it's not something they ask everyone. And while lying to immigration is a big deal that's not worth chancing despite low chance of being caught, simply not volunteering information that wasn't asked isn't.
I have a pretty bad criminal record and I’ve been to quite a few of these places you said won’t let you in with no issues. Japan on the other hand your right about. Very strict there. They brought me to a wierd jail type room at the airport and treated me like a pos then made sure I was leaving the next day and kept security with me from the airport to hotel. They stayed outside my hotel door all night fallowed me to breakfast and back to the airport to leave. I really want to see Japan haha
@@way3911 did you check "No" on the form that asks about the record? Did they let you buy your own ticket to the destination of your choice? They let you go to a hotel from the airport and buy your own ticket to leave? Mind sharing anything about your record? Sorry to bother.....
@@way3911 seems like one of my comments got erased. So they let you stay in a hotel and buy your own return ticket? Could you choose any destination or did it have to be your passport country?
Canadas policies on criminals are so bull shit and archaic. Like I had a friend wanting to visit he had a dui 20 years prior no other crimes yet he was denied. Yet life sentences are 25 years here. It just doesn’t make sense at all tbh
Yeah, but it's reciprocal, so it's fair. Try crossing into the US as a Canadian with an old DUI, or a record of any other crime. You'll be barred from entry. Too bad, deal with it.
Not sure about going down the comparing prison exercise between the US and Norway. Given that the US is globally ranked No2 for lack of freed with 2% of the population incarcerated, with South Africa No1. If anything, the US population numbers in prison does suggest the system does not work.
The UK should be able to let you in on discretion as long as you tick criminal record yes, get interviewed and they deem your record as no threat. It could be hit or miss
The UK is more about honesty rather than what you did. Same goes for UK government security clearances - I've seen people who've served time for armed robbery be awarded clearance because they were honest about it on the form. But some things are a hard no, however.
@@Mr_Spock512 I need to "remember" this, like it is some kind of objective fact? When the government wants to take a right away, the first thing they do is fool you into thinking it is a "privilege". Any human being born on Earth has an innate right to move about the planet, no matter what self rightous tyrants have to say about immigration.
What if you have been convicted of something in your country for less than 12 months in a five month and a six month stint that isn’t an offence in the country you want to travel to? And what if I’ve got family in that other country?
2:58 Spanian, an Aussie youtuber who did 13 years , recently travelled to Hong Kong and Macao. But Hong Kong is literally becoming just another Chinese city as each day goes by, so if you wanna go, better go now before it's too late. 6:35 He also visited the US. Though, I'm thinking that since he was filming for his youtube channel, it might've fallen under business instead of tourism? Maybe this was the case with Macau as well.
What if you have multiple passports? Personally, I have three. In the US I have a small minor record. I also have passports from Panamá and Jamaica. If they give me a hard time with my previous record in United States, I can just use the other two because I have no record with those. Panama passport has Visa free to all of Europe. I would like to hear your guys experience with that for people that have multiple passports that may have a record in one country, but clean record in the other passport countries your travel experiences.
I’m a USA citizen, how the heck can I get another passport without giving up my American one? That would be amazing to have the option to do. I’m not poor so maybe this is something I can try to do
@@portlandGTR I was born in the US. My father was born in Panama and my great grandfather was a Jamaican that migrated to Panamá to work on the canal in the early 1900s. So I got everything by decent and didn’t have to renounce, my US citizenship. It’s hard to naturalize these days. Your best bet is getting one of the passports from the Citizenship programs or marrying someone from another country. If you get permanent residency from another country they say you can naturalize in five years, but it’s actually gonna take 15 to 20 years if they allow it, but the laws are going to change by then and it’s gonna require giving up your US citizenship that’s a sucky thing. At the end of the day you wanna collect more passports not force us to give them up.
@@portlandGTR😂 I know I shouldn't be laughing and I apologize. I've personally never heard of anyone being forced to give up their American citizenship to acquire citizenship elsewhere. I'm sure there are countries where you have to give it up, but I personally am not knowledgeable on which countries they would be. I watch someone who livestrems GTA 5 online here on TH-cam who is former Navy, was stationed in Japan, and has been living there for close to 30 years or just a bit over 30 years now after his honorable discharge and he still has his American citizenship, still pays US taxes and whatnot. There are also some countries that do allow jure sanguinis citizenship, which is 'right of blood' aka passed down from parents, grandparents, great grandparents or some other limit set by those individual countries that do allow it. I, am one of them that can claim Italian dual citizenship because of my dad's mom's dad coming to the United States. I just have to gather necessary paperwork and documents, have certain documents translated into Italian, schedule an appointment at a consulate to have my paperwork reviewed and a bunch of other bureaucratic red tape that I cannot remember at the moment.
i was going to fly from Cyprus to Spain with transfer in UK. i was detained in UK and expelled to my home country (Sweden) lol. they didn't even give me s reason just a letter saying "on her majestys order you are not allowed in the UK..."
I have traveled to Japan with a record (sort of), and I admitted it to the officers, and they did let me in. They care about a record IN JAPAN, about crimes against the Japanese, nothing else.
@@pj-vq3by applied for a visa is one thing, I you have a passport from a country which does visa free travel then you are good to go as most drug crimes especially in the US are quite minor
Uk won’t let you in but ireland will, so basically if you want to get to mainland uk al you have to do is fly to Ireland, drive into the north (Northern Ireland uk) there’s no boarder so you won’t be checked and then fly from Belfast to mainland and since it’s a domestic flight you won’t be required to show a passport
It's not the "EU" that will let you in. It's the Schengen Area. Hence, why Ireland has a different policy. Being islands, even before the UK left, this was one of the reasons why the UK and Ireland didn't join Shengen. But I guarantee you that if the US changed its policies every country on this list would change theirs for Americans. Most Americans aren't aware that it is significantly easier to emigrate to the EU as a Canadian than it is for an American. It's even easier for a Brazilian or Venezuelan than it is for an American. Because every time the US locks down its travel and immigration policies, every other country responds in kind. Hence, why you now have to complete the world's most complex form to visit Europe as an American nowadays.
Your lucky. We Europeans had to fill out the form for years. Its automatically approved anyway but yeah it's shitty. Nice that you have to fill it out now also as American. I was ever wondering why we have to pay a little fee and fill out the form. 😂
@@patrick1992the US immigration office gets it's operating expenses from charging fees. They don't get taxpayer money to pay for the computers and tech to process that form.
The difference between traveling with a visa waiver and having a visa and the requirement for good moral character for entry as a non-immigrant. Poor choices have life-long consequences.
Yes, a lot of countries that fall into the "cant go"-category rely on self-reporting, de facto putting them in the "can expell if found out"-category. That includes the US, at least for European Union citizens. I know from first hand experience.
Westen countries generally won't share information with countries with spotty human rights records. However the US has a lot of criminal record information available open source
The ESTA-style scheme of the EU may prove to be a problem as it is a visa waiver. You might be able to get a visa through an interview at the embassy. Same with the UK. I've a colleague who was refused the US ESTA because he had been in Iran on an Irish diplomatic passport. Just how the US government knew about that is a mystery. By the way you probably formally need a visa to go to Northern Ireland from Ireland but there are no checks of any kind.
Can someone please ease my mind? The Mexican government website and other sources are so vague. I’ve been convicted of possession with intent to traffic, and I’ve been convicted summarily (misdemeanour). I’ve heard when you scan you airport your record comes up, will they even let me in? I think they will discover as soon as they scan my passport. I’ve finished my sentencing (18 months house arrest) and have done all my parole/probation obligations.
There's a little EU/Shengen mixup in this. But that's very understandable (basically, whole Shengen and whole EU except Ireland allow in). In EU but not Shengen: I dunno if Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus is because they are in the EU and aligning policy there and Ireland have an exception due to CTA or if they just choose to do so themselves (IIRC Bulgaria and Romania do want to join Shengen). In Shengen but not EU: again I don't know specifics, but Norway, Swizerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein. edit: Bulgaria and Romania are actually different again, they're in Shengen but only sort of.
I imagine the level of crime matters. Like I had a felony eluding of police, and Canada was the only place to confront me about it, but they eventually let me in. Dozens and dozens of countries never asked or said anything. I might be facing something new though. Any hassle getting a new passport? I think some people with certain crimes will have a difficult getting a passport.
I will say many of the countries on your list have a lot more nuanced policies on criminal records. Canada will allow you entry if 10 years have passed since completion of all sentences provided there is only one arrest/conviction and that conviction isn't considered a very serious crime. It's called deemed rehabilitation but you do need to provide proof of your conviction and arrest and the outcome of that sentence when you get to the border. DUI doesn't apply to this if you were arrested after 2018 however. You might also want to look into individual rehabilitation which can take over a year to get approved and 5 years have passed since the completion of all sentences ( including probation). But no guarantees on if it will get approved but something you could look into if you want to visit north of the border. Also for Canada if there was an arrest but no conviction you are generally admissible ( again this isn't always black and white) so what's called a legal opinion letter from a Canadian Immigration attorney will be very helpful in this case and also with Deemed Rehabilitation. Once you get rehabilitated then your criminality will not prevent you from entering Canada in the future. Also worth noting that Canada equates what the crime is in your country to what it would be in Canada. So in some cases it doesn't equate to a crime. For example a driving on a suspended license isn't generally covered in the criminal code of Canada unless it was suspended due to something like a DUI or Reckless driving. If your license was suspended for something like an unpaid traffic ticket then it would fall under a provincial civil infraction and not the criminal code of Canada. Australia has a policy that if you served more 12 months in prison then it's generally a no go. However, there are cases where you can get a visa for Australia if you can prove that despite your past you are now an upstanding member of society. Japan will usually allow entry providing the crime didn't result in more than 1 year of prison and it wasn't a drug conviction ( the reason so many celebrities were denied entry). I had a shoplifting charge in Florida and the result of that was Adjudication Withheld ( no conviction in 2011) and have had no issues traveling to many of the countries on your list including Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Mexico. No other criminal charges or arrests and my record doesn't show up on a FBI background check. This is a short list but it is designed to give hope to those wanting to travel to some of the countries on your list. Good luck and safe travels.
I think you found your niche Jesse. If you stick to showing people how a former inmate navigates the world as a free man, that is a different perspective than the other prison channels. If you use your prison experience as a reference point to show how the world views and treats the formerly imprisoned you will carve out your own space and create opportunities for yourself and others. This was a great video!
I'm 49, but when I was 16, I was an idiot and flashed and got a fine for it. I hate myself for it even all these years later. I've never did that since, but worries me if still on my record. It's weird, though, as I have lived in Japan for 4 years and visited Australia without issues. I did hear if my charge happened when under 18 and 5 and a half years have passed, it doesn't show up. Anyway, I just wish I could go back and never have done that stupid thing in the first place.
how would any country except Canada be able to pull up your criminal record? Canada has a treaty with US where they share their databases for criminals.
There's many data sharing agreements. The big English country five eyes Canada USA UK Australia New Zealand have an agreement and generally are the hardest countries for people to get into legally.
You should remake this video and bring up misdemeanor versus felony they are quite different, and the countries deny you primarily felonies not misdemeanors
It's different except when it comes to sex offenses. Once you're on the registry, no distinction is made between felonies & misdemeanors. Countries will deny both
i think these countries really need to look into why people have a Criminal Record since it could be about things that aren't even illegal in the country you want to visit like committing blasphemy using weed hate speech owning a gun .these things are not exactly on the same level as murder or theft. and you got crimes that are bad but not as bad like tax fraud or drunk driving. and there are so many nuances they should all be taking into account but i don't think most of these countries do.
@@FinalLugiaGuardian Stuff like bail reform is fine, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter if you had to sit in jail for a week before you got bailed out, or got a recognisance bond if you now have a criminal record and can't travel or get a job etc.
@TheZombaslaya What I am talking about is the government, after a certain statutory period, legally erasing your criminal record. And erasing it to the point where even if the governments (foriegn or domestic) later searched for it, they couldn't find it. As if you were never even arrested. I guess my attitude is that the government should erase it so much that it can say "as a matter of law, the facts are these."
I find it hard to believe that all of these countries are communicating with the USA to figure out who has a misdemeanor. I’ve got friends with drug charges is Missouri but Arkansas knew nothing about them. If the states don’t even communicate together, I find it highly unlikely that India or Argentina etc will have access to that information.
There's a nuance for Canada. If your sentence ended less than 5 years ago, you can apply for a _Temporary Resident Visa_ provided that you have a compelling reason to be in Canada. If it has been more than 5 years, you can apply for criminal rehabilitation. If granted, you may enter Canada even if you don't have a compelling reason. However, the price is a steep; from $230 to $1,150 depending on the severity of the crime(s) for which you were convicted.
I completed the criminal rehab process in early 2000s for a 1983 low level felony. It took several years and was something like 650cdn. Luckily the exchange rate was up around 50% so it was less than $350 US. From then on I’ve had no problem crossing the border.
You can in fact go to South Africa with a criminal record, atleast from the US. I have a violent felony and I just been there twice this year 2024. I’m 23 and I’m going back and forth for the foreseeable future 😂👶 you can go almost anywhere as long as you arent required to apply for a visa. I was just in the UK for a few days too after coming back from Cape Town, SA this past December.
![8 Reasons Why Americans LEAVE Costa Rica [Why I Left]](/img/n.gif)
Where would you travel to first?
I wouldn't worry about Cuba. I have been traveling there for 23 years. I don't have a criminal record, but I have met many Americans living there who are fugitives in the USA.
Mars will let you in. No restrictions
I think your list is not exactly correct, I've been to South Africa multiple times as a European tourist never having been asked for my record and I think it would be the same for Americans. Maybe they technically don't allow people with convictions in, but I doubt they actually check, for tourists from where I'm from there would be no mechanism to do so for them either and I've heard of people with convictions travelling to the US just lying on the ESTA form as well. I'm sure there's a lot of countries in the denied part where you would not encounter any issue.
The island of Svalbard, you don't even need a Passport.
All diplomats fall under that cat . Life is unjust . Stop talking about law
Mark Twain, when entering Australia, was asked whether he had a criminal record. He replied that he was not aware that you still needed one.
😂
They must get so sick of hearing that joke.
Hilarious. Good on ya!
@@jackaylward-williams9064 He made it up back then...
Irish here. You are getting the EU mixed up with the Schengen area.
Ireland is in the EU, but not in Schengen. Norway, Switzerland, Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino and the Vatican City are in Schengen but not in the EU.
So the current "No Restrictions" apply to Schengen.
You can always go to the UK via Ireland (via Northern Ireland to Scotland, then onto England and Wales from there).
You are right. He picks was too broad. I knew someone who had illegal gun charges in the past and he went to countries that he listed.
I think these are for people with criminal records such as armed men with clear cuts either thst or men from communist Russia and China. I hope this comment doesn’t get removed.
Andorra, San Marino and the Vatican City are not members of Schengen. Even though there is no passport check. It's the same with Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Z
@@Mortablunt edgy
I received a felony in 2002 for cultivation of cannabis in 2002. I am now in Argentina and working on my residency. I am here now and had no problem going through immigration.
@@pacificcoastnorthern4842 Good to know, thanks. I also have cannabis felonies, out of California. Considering Argentina in the near future... Best of luck.
I think it this varies on how long ago the crime was committed (or how long ago you were found not guilty because regardless if you are guilty or not guilty you still have it on your criminal record) and the scale of the crime. Small crimes like your’s if you show great improvements can eventually get erased from your criminal record in many countries. Medium and serious crimes stay on your record for the rest of your life regardless of your improvement.
@@jacekgarbowicz616 Sex Crimes, Murder, and Drug Crimes is what most countries focus on.
If you don't mind triple digit inflation, currency devaluation, a newly elected president who brandished a chainsaw during his campaign and since shut down public works projects and fired thousands of civil servants, Argentina's fabulous.
@@coolerking7427I'vr bren to prison in 2004 because of drugs... and I have no problems with travelling, I had more convictions 😂😂since that..., I have never asked to clear my record. I don't believe that people have problems on the borders.
If you are driving into Canada NEVER admit that you had a DUI ever. They will make you turn around.
Yep, not even the US is that strict. Canada seems very petty and anal about a lot of things - the UK post office once rejected a Christmas parcel I was trying to send to family out there because part of the address was written on the wrong part of the label. They said Canadian customs would just reject it and it would be destroyed, so they told me to go and fix it.
Never ever have I had a package refused going anywhere because of something like that. It was quite remarkable.
@@charleshammer2928 and if they find out later, they kick you out, possibly for life. So lying is a gamble.
people get in trouble because they ignore basic rules. make life simple for you. when applying for visa or travel authorization, be sure to disclose your criminal records and if necessary have evidence. why would you drive to a country's border before knowing all the requirements for entering the country ? I have DUI and I go to the US without any problems and have never had employer question me about it...
@charleshammer2928 there is a 10 year limit on that one, BUT it is also up to the border agent's perogative after the allotted time. They can admit or deny entry on the kind of day they are having according to a response to an email I sent the Canadian Embassy in Houston TX. They wouldn't give me a solid yes or no on if I'd be let in.
@@erikstillman3553 First of all, in many US States, if you have just one violation years ago, it was just a traffic violation, you have no criminal record. If you deny it, they won't find out. If they do? Then you Turn around. Stupid to admit to one.
This is such a smart video to make. Now you can point all the people that want to invite you somewhere to that video. And it was also entertaining for the viewers 😁
Hey! New Zealander here, your videos have really helped me with my own potential prison experience. We'd love to have a guy like you around, we also have travel restrictions if imprisoned.
It is so hard for anyone to travel from New Zealand--I'm rather amazed that they bother restricting you. If you can fund travel, you've already surmounted a high barrier!
I hope your legal situation works out for the best for you.
As far as I'm aware many Canadians with criminal records visit Cuba. The Cuban government doesn't have access to Canadian criminal databases.
Cuba doesn't care, and being a felon from the US is often a badge of honor.
Yep been 20 times to Cuba they don't ask and don't have access to the information.
Has us cizten with felon no problem getting into cuba i been there 2019
and vice versa.
@@jerrycanada790 I have an assault charge from 17 years ago. I am also Canadian. Me and my woman are planning on going there in February 2025. But we were worried about my criminal record
I have an older drug felony and didn’t have any issues traveling to the Philippines or South Korea. Seoul really is an amazing city and as an American not as expensive as you’d think.
yep, i dont think those countries know u have a record.... same with japan. they dont share database with america, so they dont know.
Not even Dubai is as expensive as people think
Same here
@@seamusoleary3712 i have money criminal record and those countrys wouldnt care less (they know):D
Is it a I disclose and that’s how they find out or is it they run a background upon getting there
As a guy with like 4 misdemeanors (10 years ago) I’ve been to Peru three times (Sept, Nov 23 & May 24) without any problems
{Peru} Enters the Chat
Peru is actually one of the easiest countries to be admitted into.
i know, don't listen to these squares. You can travel anyplace with the right amount of money
@alfzizold921 bs.... my passsport had less than 6 months i was denied. I pleaded with them and the embassy. And it was a wrap...had to go back to colombia until i got an updated passport.
@@choco.es.unlimited the illegal entry pass only works on non whites who want to enter white nations
Reminds me of that old joke, never ask a man his salary, a woman her age, or an Argentine what their abuelo did during the war.
I do hope you get to travel though
Or an Englishman if he's from Yorkshire. If he is, he'll tell you. If he's not, there's no need to make him feel bad.
@@jefftitterington7600yorkshireman here, absolutely true 😂
@alechachman9599 yaah das ist gut.
More Nazis came to the US after WWII, than they did to Argentina.
It’s an old joke. Perhaps ser should update it to never ask a woman or man their salary?
If you apply for an actual visa from the Australian embassy whilst being upfront and honest about your criminal background before going then they may allow you to have a visa. It just all depends on the circumstances.
exactly its all about the circumstances and crime..
Have a friend that was nervous because he stole a car when he was 18-19 and stupid drunk and did a short time for it in Sweden, going to Australia.
Now he is 49 have a company and family and the Aussie embassy said straight out well thats so old and "u were so young(and stupid) " its no problem..
@@americashypeman that's usually how it goes. You have to apply for criminal record exemption Visa
@@BMC_self-invent Give it a try, bud. The worst they can do is say no.
@@gmm5550 so they look at if you are rehabilitated or not?
@@ps.6023 no they check the crime and circumstances..and when u did it.
We ll do stupid things and there are different levels of crime..right?
u cant compare a 18-19 yr kid stealing a car as a impulsive stupid thing almost 30 yrs back with a grown dude robbing stores with weapons and hurting ppl 8 yrs agoright?
Kenya 🇰🇪 will not deny you upfront. On their new visa process which is the ETA (Republic Of Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation) application, there is a question that asks if you have been convicted of any crime in the past five years. It is a "yes" or "no" question.
Post 9/11 Canada and The USA mutually don’t let convicted criminals in without permission from the govt., temporary resident permit or criminal rehabilitation (a paperwork process) after 5 years once you’re done all the time, parole and paid fees etc… so if you’re good with paperwork you can come to Canada. Plenty of music artists with records perform in Canada with permission.
I believe neither country was allowing criminals in (with exceptions) for many years before that as well.
You must define misdemeanor versus felony, misdemeanors that usually don't deny you.
@@Jamiepunk1 Canada doesn't have "misdemeanors". Some offences are prosecuted summarily, some by indictment, some can go either way. I DUI for example is a criminal offence which can carry a prison sentence. So a conviction is enough to keep a person out.
@@jefftitterington7600 A DUI in the US is a felony
@@Jamiepunk1 I've heard arguments that it's "only" a misdemeanor so shouldn't count. But the US has 50+ criminal statutes, so it likely varies. Drawing equivalencies is a bit of an art.
The UK will not deny you entry. First off, if you are a Canadian, American or one of 14 other specific nationalities you get to use a special line at passport control where you don’t even need to talk to a customs officer at all to enter. Secondly, even if you do talk to someone the UK does NOT have access to either Canadian not American criminal records databases (they can only check domestic UK criminal records or Interpol databases; neither of which you’ll be on with just a bog standard Canadian or American criminal record) so for anyone else nothing will show up on a search if you haven’t specifically committed a criminal offence in the UK. Otherwise, travelling to the UK for a North American is as simple as travelling between domestic states or provinces. Before I even had a pardon I routinely travelled back and forth to the UK. It’s only travelling to the US that is a problem and only specifically because Canada and the US were dumb enough to openly share their criminal record databases with each other’s passport control officers. No other countries do that! What’s worse even though I do have a pardon the US doesn’t recognize them anyhow (you need something called an i-form waiver). So in practice it’s ONLY a problem for Canadian/Americans when travelling between those two countries only. In practice no other countries care, they don’t ask and they don’t have access to the relevant databases to check anyhow. Despite what is commonly believed, each country’s passport control/customs offices DO NOT have access to every other country’s domestic criminal records databases for every other country (that’s only a Canadian/American thing).
I count 38 countries that can use e-gates at the UK border, because the list includes all EU/EEA countries (27+3) + Switzerland, for a start. However, it's not too uncommon for the e-gates to show red, and then you need to go to see a Border Force agent. It's only happened to me once over the last couple of years, but when I queue up to the e-gates I always see multiple persons ahead of me having to go to see an agent. So don't expect that it's guaranteed that you don't have to talk to anyone at the UK border.
@@tomaseriksson7240 ok and that’s fine, I’ve talked to them twice in my dozens of trips to the UK. They only care about people coming to try to work there, not criminal records. They will neither ask nor check. Again a distinction needs to be made between a criminal record in your own country vs a criminal record in the country you’re entering which I don’t think this video makes at all. These countries ONLY care about a criminal record in the country you’re going into, not your own country. If you’ve
never committed a criminal offence in the UK then as far as Border Force in the UK is concerned You Don’t have a criminal record. Yes that’s really the way it is. These countries don’t have the time, the resources, or even the technical ability or access to check the domestic criminal records of every other external country. It just doesn’t happen. Again it ONLY happens specifically between Canada and the US, that’s it! Lots of misinformation about this, people somehow think that if you have an American or Canadian or UK or any other country criminal record that somehow the border force of every other country can see it. They can’t. There is no worldwide database of all domestic criminal records they have access to. It would be a huge constitutional/privacy rights issue that would have to be worked out in legislation in every country to ever implement something like that. So it doesn’t happen. There’s only the INTERPOl database which specifically lists big time people where a specific alert has been out on them. So as long as you’re not on the top 10 list of international terrorists you’re fine! Domestic criminal records are completely irrelevant for international travel except for the specific border between Canada and the USA. The irony is people think the Canada/US border is the friendliest and most open, but in fact it’s one of the most restrictive borders in the world compared to almost every other border.
As someone living in Tijuana , Mexico . I was just in the UK last year . I was a transient passing through to turkey and when I came from turkey , pass through the UK again on my way to Paris. No problems at all .
Do you know if this is the same for a Brit travelling to the USA or Canada?
@@tomaseriksson7240 plus Canada, US, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, NZ... basically all of the very low risk countries.
My friend with a felony lived in Argentina for over a year, they never found out or had issues.
You shed such light on travelling for people with records , and its refreshing because i feel like when you have a record people make it seem like your life is over (sure you have limitations ) but far from over !
This is one very good reason why young people should understand that the consequences of committing crimes stay with them for life.
Indonesian here, we do have denied entry if discovered policy, however you can bypass this law if you apply the proper entry visa.
Our visa policy for US citizens at the moment is basically E-Visa or Visa on Arrival, they can either discover this when you apply the E-VOA visa or at the immigration gate. Nevertheless our law said that
"People with criminal records are obliged to apply for an entry visa in order to enter Indonesia"
It means that if you have a criminal record, you basically just lost your right to visa free or E-Visa/Visa on arrival right but doesn't strip your right to enter completely. It means if you wanna travel to Indonesia, it's highly suggested you just apply the proper sticker visa than gambling your luck at the arrival immigration.
Ehh I don’t know man. I have a criminal record and I passed the visa on arrival check just fine 🤷🏾♂️
Hello from Auckland, New Zealand. Just discovered your channel and I think you’re inspiring. Sorry our government has that policy
I have a record in both the US and Canada
I’ve been as a tourist to:
India
Mexico
South Africa
Taiwan
I required a Visa for India
No issues going to most of the countries you listed.
Yeah I think the main thing he glossed over was that while there may be technical standards for a formal visa, going to a country under the auspices of a visa free arrangement may bypass those standards. I have a felony record and I have been to Argentina twice. They see an American passport and they don't even ask.
@@SophiaDalke yup American or European especially German, Italian or similar.
I have one in the US and I’m going to Cancun next Friday. I hope I’m okay . 😅
Is Mexico easy getting in?
@@user-nu6sl3vc8myes. no issue.
in Australia we have a border control TV series. That show had foreigners that checked that they had a criminal history and they were interviewed by border control and the person could prove that their criminal history was a thing of the past then they were let in. So it may be possible to enter Australia with a criminal history but not any time soon.
For Australia if the conviction was at least 10 years ago and was not a violent crime then you are usually allowed in.
@@darrell3O87OO Thanks for that clarification. I knew we didn't have as strict an entry as some places
love that show and all that food.
How they will find out?😂
@@patrick1992 There is or was, an international drug felony clearinghouse located in Thailand. So, if you were busted for drugs, any country that had treaties or agreements with that place could access it. Nowadays, it done via reciprocal treaty. The USA tells Australia about its crims and vice versa. I know this from dealing with immigration in both countries.
Great video.. i learned a lot. Thanks for the knowledge.
Weirdly, under U.S. law, accepting a pardon also means that you are guilty. Sadly, that makes you ineligible to travel to many nations because even if you were given a pardon, then technically, you are still a convict. I know, weird, but alas, true.
@@jamiesuejeffery other countries aren't obligated to consider a pardon. To be pardoned you have to have been convicted. (And similar terms can have different meanings in different countries.)
A pardon is not exoneration. It's more like a "we forgive you" and releasing you from your sentence, your conviction still stands.
most pardons are not for innocent people. I know of only very few pardons that are given to innocent people so that they could get on with their lives. most pardons are just the government saying saying you don't need to be punished any longer for your convictions. hence, you get the guilty stance.
Interestingly, on the US ESTA application it asked if you have ever been “arrested” or “convicted” of committing certain crimes. So, even if you were arrested but found to be “not guilty” you must still answer yes.
You don't have to have been convicted to be pardoned, though it is the norm. Nixon was pardoned before he could even be tried.
Travelled to Canada from Aus with a lengthy criminal record. Just said I didn’t have a criminal record on my eta and was aloud in. Showed I had enough money to travel and a reason to return to Aus. Stayed 6 months.
My buddy in Wisconsin had a small quantity marijuana arrest in the 1970s. No jail, just fined. He booked an expensive guided fishing trip to Canada. He got refused entry at the border. Fishing trip nonrefundable.
Canadian here. Unfortunate. But best to always look at the entry rules. What's sad about this is my city has cannabis stores everywhere. Ridiculous.
@@davidlynch9049 Canada does not want competition from foreign cannabis operations. Its illegal to import weed into Canada and weed is illegal at the US federal level. The ironic thing is Niagara Falls, ON and NY have legal pot shops on both sides of the border.
Canada is very rough. A friend of mine in the UK was arrested but not ever charged, Canada wouldn't let him travel unless his arrest record was expunged like it never happened. Getting released and never being charged apparently wasn't good enough.
Canada is also liable to refuse you for basic motoring offences (speeding etc.) whereas the US doesn't care about that stuff.
I also have family in Canada and tried to mail them presents from the UK for Christmas. The post office rejected the package saying that I hadn't written part of the address on the correct corner of the label and that they knew Canada were picky about it. Again, sent presents to the US with no issue.
How would they know if you have a record if you don't tell them? Not every country has access to the US national criminal record database
As an American, living in Japan for almost 20 years, yes, Japan is strict about this. Not long ago, they denied entry for Paris Hilton for her past drug violation in the US. Japan does not play. As a result of her refusal, she ended up cancelling her concerts in Japan.
Australia was a colony which made a fairly brief use of very disposable convicts in the settiing up stage. It was never going to be an ongoing plan.
And they didn't just come from England.
And even today Australia is turning back migrant boats and landing people on crappy islands.
Paul McCartney was arrested in Japan for marijuana possession and today they can't get enough of him. He has toured there frequently.
some animals are more equal than others...
I’ve been living in Japan for 24 years. I’ve never committed a crime, but things are screwed here. I’m extra careful even about who I’m walking together with if I suspect that person has drugs on him or is high on something. I have to add that I believe in second chances and just because, say, you got arrested and sentenced for, say, fraud or tax evasion shouldn’t mark your life forever specially if you’ve already payed the price.
Countries might run your name on TH-cam so they make you watch your own video , you be like that's not me .
I'm an American living in Cambodia and there are a TON of foreign criminals here from all over the world. It's still relatively safe, though.
It works both ways.
I knew someone here in the UK who was arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault and released without charge (because he didn't actually do it and the whole thing was BS).
Canada wouldn't grant him a tourist visa unless the arrest was removed from his record, it didn't matter that he hadn't ever been charged. That took months of arguing with the police force that arrested him to get that sorted out.
The US also wanted him to attend an in-person interview at the embassy before they would allow him in. The lead time for the interview was at least a couple of months and he missed the event he was supposed to be travelling to.
@@halfbakedproductions7887 Canadian immigration law talks about "reasonable grounds to believe" that someone "committed an act" that's an offense in both countries. Because in some countries you can buy your way out of a charge
Thx for this breakdown. Nice work. I appreciate immigration keeping less desirables out, but would like to see more rehabilitation programs like Canada’s. Things like time since conviction, severity of crime, repeat offender, productive citizen since conviction, etc.
Not everyone who made a mistake at one point in their life is a threat to society. Not fair to still be subjected to ‘life sentence’ once you’ve paid ur debt.
I noticed you never included any central Asian countries? Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan. No mention of Georgia or North Macedonia, these are places you should look at because their beauty is outstanding
Thanks for making this awesome video!
You can plead your case by going to the embassy or consulate. They can give a visa or an authorization to enter the country.
Seems to me it would be grounds for violations of Human Rights. If a person served their time, and kept out the the criminal lime light for a number of years...shouldnt be a problem.
In the future, is Aussieland going to keep grandpa Joe out when he committed a crime 40 years ago and hasnt been in trouble with the law since ? No way.
I’ve never had a problem getting anywhere!! And no one will ask you about a crime at the gate!!
Regarding the misdemeanor comment on Canada's laws. People are inadmissible to Canada if convicted of a crime that if committed in Canada carries a maximum sentence of 5 years incarceration. Since drink driving is under that ( drink driving with a BAC over 0.08) then Canada won't let you in without a ministerial waiver.
*Australia:* "We have enough criminals here, mate. Go back! As a matter of fact hold on! You can come in if you take our country's best break dancer Raygun when you leave."
Yea. That was a sight
I'm leaving for a trip around the world in August, with a criminal record. Hopefully all will go well. So far I've been to some EU countries, Turkey and Thailand with no issue.
Enjoy! That’s awesome
Did you go to Turkey recently after they removed the visa requirement for US citizens?
@@janewright315 I went twice in 2022 and once in 2023. The visa application does not ask anything about criminal records. It's a simple online process with a 60$ fee. You get the electronic visa instantly. I'm Canadian but it seems the requirements were the same back then.
@enshrineddisillusion7728 thanks, I appreciate it. I know they eliminated the visa requirement for us citizens recently but was curious if it was an issue before
When the EU will put ETA they will check for criminal records so u have to go before 2025
I'm surprised about Cuba. Literally everyone I've encountered with a criminal record seems to have gone to Cuba (I'm Canadian). It seems to be the go-to place for people with criminal records here.
u can sill enter Australia if you apply for a special visa, if you have a necessary reason for entry and it become easier for u if have been released for jail for at lest 10 years
Please keep posting on this topic! A wealth of info in the comments!
Just a side note. If the person has a sex offense conviction, everything on the "denied if discovered" list moves to the denied entry side. Most of the EU will also go into the denied entry side for most offenses once ETIAS goes online in 2025.
Does is apply to trans as well because that could become problematic you know.
No it won't .
@@dimitar297 whisky tango foxtrott? What are you repressing you poor soul?
The ETIAS system will only ask about convictions so far back as well so you might be wrong in that aspect.
@braveheart9097 ETIAS will only look back a certain amount of time, but International Megan's Law will still be in effect. In the case of SOs, the State Department here in the US will proactively notify any international destination. SOs in the US are also issued Scarlet Letter passports which contain an alert on the back page so that whatever Customs official is doing the intake has an opportunity to reject them before entry.
Check out a fellow you tuber called Spanian . Spanian spent 13 years in & out of Australian jails but now has gone straight & travels
the World flying business class doing international food reviews. He even got into the USA so he must be doing something right.
TH-camr and rapper Spanian spent 13 years in & out of prison before the age of 30, following several assault, drug and other related convictions.
He then vowed to 'never spend a night in jail again', devoting himself to being an 'upstanding member of society. And he is now a bit of a celebrity in Australia.
One important consideration is availability of records. Many EU countries have in law, that only certain named local authorities can access the records. Not other countries border agencies. However, it is possible to obtain a stamped copy for yourself. And some countries ask for this (no less than than 12 months old or so). Also everything except murder is eventually removed from the records in 5,10 or 20 years depending on the severity.
I don't think that's true. A UK DBS check has always had some crimes other than murder that are never "filtered" i.e. they're on there forever.
Yep, even after you have "repaid your debt", you will be subject to restrictions on travel, declined car and house insurance, face numerous restrictions on employment, and face general prejudice. Even after 25 years of being a model citizen, and a spent conviction order, my past still haunts me.
I can't visit the US (but why would you want to???), or Canada :( so I go to Europe instead. Wonderful place. Next year, not so sure.....
The southern border of the US is literally letting ppl just walk through from Mexico
@@Dreznik88 no one is doing anything of the kind. You need to stop watching the zombie box. As for deportation, the current administration has deported more than the last, and previously Obama was nicknamed the deporter in chief for a reason. Maybe actually follow policy, yeah
I think we need to have a conversation of when do we say enough and the punishment is done.
Because if you know what you're doing you'll avoid living in bad blue states and instead live in not good red states within united states.
My understanding of the upcoming policy of entry into the EU is that you must declare convictions within the last 10 years, or 20 years for terrorist offences. A conviction won't necessarily prevent you from entering the EU, but you would have to obtain a visa to travel. Each case would be assessed individually and a decision made based on the severity of the offence and how old the conviction is
In Canada, admission is dependent on whether your crime in the USA equates to the same thing in Canada in the Canadian criminal code. Otherwise, they will allow you entry.
Is that true for cannabis convictions? Although now legal in Canada I’ve heard the contrary…..
My understanding was that whether the act that led to the conviction would constitute an offense in Canada or not was irrelevant. Except for politically motivated convictions or violations of laws that, if enacted in Canada, would contravene the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
@@dudeleboski2692 Best to consult a canadian immigration attorney, this question is way above my pay grade.
Canada considers a DWI a serious criminal offence... not just the equivalent of a misdemeanour so it's treated as such at the border. Since Both the US and Canada share their criminal databases with each other, they know as soon as your passport is scanned. The only workaround would be to obtain a temporary resident waiver in advance from a Canadian Consulate.
I believe that as an American you get visa free access to Hong Kong. And as an American you can get visa free transit stops in mainland China for up to 144 hours. Many Americans and Canadians benefit from this policy and visited China without a visa. You can check out many stories of Americans visiting China on TH-cam
But remember there is no true "rule of law" anymore in Hong Kong as you can be extradited to the mainland on a whim.
@@peterpain6625 That’s just propaganda by the MSM
Been off probation for a year now amazing feeling
I’ve traveled to Dominican Republic ,through a cruise line and it was seamless
Ireland is EU member, but they're not part of the Schengen Area.
And Iceland and Norway are not in the EU but are in the Schengen Area. It's a strange old world.
@@peterc.1618 The Scandinavian countries plus Iceland had open borders before Schengen, and to keep that freedom they either had to include Norway and Iceland into Schengen or stay out of it altogether. Norway and Iceland were already part of the European Economic Area, so joining Schengen was not too complicated.
@@ge48421 Yes, like the Common Travel Area comprising the UK, the Republic or Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, which still exists after Brexit.
@@peterc.1618 Yes, and is one of the reasons Ireland won‘t join Schengen (which makes sense)
The main reasons Ireland is outside of Schengen are because of the Irish CTA (which is nothing to do with the EU and never was) and the fact that the UK secured an opt-out from Schengen.
If a united Ireland ever happened then it absolutely could join Schengen, probably would.
In 2008, I was denied my passport renual by Oregon because of a state felony in Oregon, which I was convicted for in 2008. It was for aggravated theft for using a work issued credit card in my name for a personal purchase over $10K. It is not federal but a state conviction that I served 20 days in jail for. Not only did it destroy my life, but its prevented my freedom as as a U.S. citizen born in the USA. My lawyer said I was denied illegally but wants $16K USD to fight it in court. I've traveled to Mexico 26 times in 17 years without a passport because I was denied my 3rd passport. I've had two in the past, at ages 15 and 25. Is there anything I can do about this? Or am I prevented from international travel in other countries besides Mexico? I've also crossed the Mexican border with a warrant but never been taken into custody. It's for wrongful conviction that the DA wants for me bouncing my own personal check for $3,400 because my deposited check bounced from a stranger who gave it to me. I was victim in a nigerian scam online in 2010. I've learned that U.S. police, lawyers, and courts are very corrupt. I don't like being an American nowadays, and wish I could get citizenship elsewhere. I don't travel to Oregon anymore because of the corruption I've delt with there.
We don't have to have passport to enter Mexico? How about if all I have is a USA birth certificate and an expired driver's license? Can I walk into Mexico with just that?
I feel like "deny if discovered" is the real policy of most countries. Some countries have a form that includes the question. but for those that don't, it's not something they ask everyone. And while lying to immigration is a big deal that's not worth chancing despite low chance of being caught, simply not volunteering information that wasn't asked isn't.
Congrats bro. I admire your attitude and enthusiasm to start over
I have a pretty bad criminal record and I’ve been to quite a few of these places you said won’t let you in with no issues. Japan on the other hand your right about. Very strict there. They brought me to a wierd jail type room at the airport and treated me like a pos then made sure I was leaving the next day and kept security with me from the airport to hotel. They stayed outside my hotel door all night fallowed me to breakfast and back to the airport to leave. I really want to see Japan haha
did you tell them ahead of time about your record? Or did they find out at the airport?
They found out when I went through there customs at the airport.
@@way3911 did you check "No" on the form that asks about the record? Did they let you buy your own ticket to the destination of your choice? They let you go to a hotel from the airport and buy your own ticket to leave? Mind sharing anything about your record? Sorry to bother.....
willing to share anything else as well like your passport country?
@@way3911 seems like one of my comments got erased. So they let you stay in a hotel and buy your own return ticket? Could you choose any destination or did it have to be your passport country?
I love your idea for Norway! I want to visit Europe and Seoul also.
Canadas policies on criminals are so bull shit and archaic. Like I had a friend wanting to visit he had a dui 20 years prior no other crimes yet he was denied. Yet life sentences are 25 years here. It just doesn’t make sense at all tbh
Yeah, but it's reciprocal, so it's fair. Try crossing into the US as a Canadian with an old DUI, or a record of any other crime. You'll be barred from entry. Too bad, deal with it.
A life sentence is 25 years before you are eligible to apply for parole. Apply is the key word. Doesn't mean you'll get out on parole.
@@tundrusphoto4312 if the black widow killer could get parole anyone can
Most countries don't have the resources to back-check what is on the application. That middle column for example.
Not sure about going down the comparing prison exercise between the US and Norway.
Given that the US is globally ranked No2 for lack of freed with 2% of the population incarcerated, with South Africa No1.
If anything, the US population numbers in prison does suggest the system does not work.
The UK should be able to let you in on discretion as long as you tick criminal record yes, get interviewed and they deem your record as no threat. It could be hit or miss
The UK is more about honesty rather than what you did. Same goes for UK government security clearances - I've seen people who've served time for armed robbery be awarded clearance because they were honest about it on the form.
But some things are a hard no, however.
It is really messed up how many nations won't let people put their mistakes in their past. I'd like the US change its own policy on this.
@@Mr_Spock512 I need to "remember" this, like it is some kind of objective fact? When the government wants to take a right away, the first thing they do is fool you into thinking it is a "privilege". Any human being born on Earth has an innate right to move about the planet, no matter what self rightous tyrants have to say about immigration.
What if you have been convicted of something in your country for less than 12 months in a five month and a six month stint that isn’t an offence in the country you want to travel to? And what if I’ve got family in that other country?
Sometimes you're just banned from entering without a visa.
2:58 Spanian, an Aussie youtuber who did 13 years , recently travelled to Hong Kong and Macao. But Hong Kong is literally becoming just another Chinese city as each day goes by, so if you wanna go, better go now before it's too late.
6:35 He also visited the US. Though, I'm thinking that since he was filming for his youtube channel, it might've fallen under business instead of tourism? Maybe this was the case with Macau as well.
What if you have multiple passports? Personally, I have three. In the US I have a small minor record. I also have passports from Panamá and Jamaica. If they give me a hard time with my previous record in United States, I can just use the other two because I have no record with those. Panama passport has Visa free to all of Europe. I would like to hear your guys experience with that for people that have multiple passports that may have a record in one country, but clean record in the other passport countries your travel experiences.
I’m a USA citizen, how the heck can I get another passport without giving up my American one? That would be amazing to have the option to do. I’m not poor so maybe this is something I can try to do
@@portlandGTR I was born in the US. My father was born in Panama and my great grandfather was a Jamaican that migrated to Panamá to work on the canal in the early 1900s. So I got everything by decent and didn’t have to renounce, my US citizenship. It’s hard to naturalize these days. Your best bet is getting one of the passports from the Citizenship programs or marrying someone from another country. If you get permanent residency from another country they say you can naturalize in five years, but it’s actually gonna take 15 to 20 years if they allow it, but the laws are going to change by then and it’s gonna require giving up your US citizenship that’s a sucky thing. At the end of the day you wanna collect more passports not force us to give them up.
I’ve been thinking about how much easier that would make things
@@portlandGTR😂 I know I shouldn't be laughing and I apologize.
I've personally never heard of anyone being forced to give up their American citizenship to acquire citizenship elsewhere.
I'm sure there are countries where you have to give it up, but I personally am not knowledgeable on which countries they would be.
I watch someone who livestrems GTA 5 online here on TH-cam who is former Navy, was stationed in Japan, and has been living there for close to 30 years or just a bit over 30 years now after his honorable discharge and he still has his American citizenship, still pays US taxes and whatnot.
There are also some countries that do allow jure sanguinis citizenship, which is 'right of blood' aka passed down from parents, grandparents, great grandparents or some other limit set by those individual countries that do allow it. I, am one of them that can claim Italian dual citizenship because of my dad's mom's dad coming to the United States. I just have to gather necessary paperwork and documents, have certain documents translated into Italian, schedule an appointment at a consulate to have my paperwork reviewed and a bunch of other bureaucratic red tape that I cannot remember at the moment.
i was going to fly from Cyprus to Spain with transfer in UK. i was detained in UK and expelled to my home country (Sweden) lol. they didn't even give me s reason just a letter saying "on her majestys order you are not allowed in the UK..."
I have traveled to Japan with a record (sort of), and I admitted it to the officers, and they did let me in. They care about a record IN JAPAN, about crimes against the Japanese, nothing else.
Good to know
i applied and was DENIED entry to Japan
"Zero tolerance on any drug convictions" was the exact quote, doesn;t matter how long ago or how petty it was
@@pj-vq3by applied for a visa is one thing, I you have a passport from a country which does visa free travel then you are good to go as most drug crimes especially in the US are quite minor
@@ps.6023 incorrect.
Please dont talk rubbish and pretend it to be fact.
@@pj-vq3by again douche bag you APPLIED for a visa thus meaning they checked they dont have that ability when you go from a visa free country
Uk won’t let you in but ireland will, so basically if you want to get to mainland uk al you have to do is fly to Ireland, drive into the north (Northern Ireland uk) there’s no boarder so you won’t be checked and then fly from Belfast to mainland and since it’s a domestic flight you won’t be required to show a passport
It's not the "EU" that will let you in. It's the Schengen Area. Hence, why Ireland has a different policy. Being islands, even before the UK left, this was one of the reasons why the UK and Ireland didn't join Shengen. But I guarantee you that if the US changed its policies every country on this list would change theirs for Americans. Most Americans aren't aware that it is significantly easier to emigrate to the EU as a Canadian than it is for an American. It's even easier for a Brazilian or Venezuelan than it is for an American. Because every time the US locks down its travel and immigration policies, every other country responds in kind. Hence, why you now have to complete the world's most complex form to visit Europe as an American nowadays.
Your lucky. We Europeans had to fill out the form for years. Its automatically approved anyway but yeah it's shitty. Nice that you have to fill it out now also as American. I was ever wondering why we have to pay a little fee and fill out the form. 😂
"Schengen" is why you would get into Switzerland ( not an EU member state, but part of the Schengen Area ) I assume.
@@patrick1992the US immigration office gets it's operating expenses from charging fees. They don't get taxpayer money to pay for the computers and tech to process that form.
The difference between traveling with a visa waiver and having a visa and the requirement for good moral character for entry as a non-immigrant. Poor choices have life-long consequences.
I’ve done the uk Japan , HK , Maylasia , Macau , Cambodia all with a criminal record man just get on a plane and don’t declare
Yes, a lot of countries that fall into the "cant go"-category rely on self-reporting, de facto putting them in the "can expell if found out"-category. That includes the US, at least for European Union citizens. I know from first hand experience.
Wouldn’t risk it for Malaysia, they have no human right there.
Thank you for this
Westen countries generally won't share information with countries with spotty human rights records. However the US has a lot of criminal record information available open source
Which I think needs to end. I am annoyed that our neighbor Canada is so uptight with it.
The ESTA-style scheme of the EU may prove to be a problem as it is a visa waiver. You might be able to get a visa through an interview at the embassy. Same with the UK. I've a colleague who was refused the US ESTA because he had been in Iran on an Irish diplomatic passport. Just how the US government knew about that is a mystery. By the way you probably formally need a visa to go to Northern Ireland from Ireland but there are no checks of any kind.
Singapore still has the death penalty for drugs
Weed is legal in Thailand.
Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand as well
How about Thailand ? 😅 i bought my tickets n now reading they might not let me in for a reckless driving charge 😩
The colony of NSW was a penal colony. Australia never was.
Sydney and surrounds was the penal colony, all of NSW never was!
No wait! not all of Sydney and surrounds, some parts of it never was!
Can someone please ease my mind? The Mexican government website and other sources are so vague.
I’ve been convicted of possession with intent to traffic, and I’ve been convicted summarily (misdemeanour).
I’ve heard when you scan you airport your record comes up, will they even let me in? I think they will discover as soon as they scan my passport.
I’ve finished my sentencing (18 months house arrest) and have done all my parole/probation obligations.
I have 3 non-violent misdemeanors..planning on moving to Mexico this year..🛬🇲🇽🏖
There's a little EU/Shengen mixup in this. But that's very understandable (basically, whole Shengen and whole EU except Ireland allow in).
In EU but not Shengen: I dunno if Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus is because they are in the EU and aligning policy there and Ireland have an exception due to CTA or if they just choose to do so themselves (IIRC Bulgaria and Romania do want to join Shengen).
In Shengen but not EU: again I don't know specifics, but Norway, Swizerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein.
edit: Bulgaria and Romania are actually different again, they're in Shengen but only sort of.
I imagine the level of crime matters. Like I had a felony eluding of police, and Canada was the only place to confront me about it, but they eventually let me in. Dozens and dozens of countries never asked or said anything. I might be facing something new though. Any hassle getting a new passport? I think some people with certain crimes will have a difficult getting a passport.
My ex-wife was convicted of domestic assault, nevertheless she was allowed into Israel. Tell me. How in the hell could this happen?😂
I went to Taiwan 2 years ago with 5 felonies on my record. My friend went to Japan with like 10 felonies.
Is his name Bill Bellamy?
Was that recent that your friend went to Japan? Did he admit to them having a record?
@@dylanlucas3629 Late 90's and early 2000's. Didn't admit, wasn't asked.
Does an American have to have current i.d and birth certificate to go to Mexico? My i.d is expired but I have my birth certificate
@truthministries77 you need a passport under the new rules
I will say many of the countries on your list have a lot more nuanced policies on criminal records. Canada will allow you entry if 10 years have passed since completion of all sentences provided there is only one arrest/conviction and that conviction isn't considered a very serious crime. It's called deemed rehabilitation but you do need to provide proof of your conviction and arrest and the outcome of that sentence when you get to the border. DUI doesn't apply to this if you were arrested after 2018 however. You might also want to look into individual rehabilitation which can take over a year to get approved and 5 years have passed since the completion of all sentences ( including probation). But no guarantees on if it will get approved but something you could look into if you want to visit north of the border. Also for Canada if there was an arrest but no conviction you are generally admissible ( again this isn't always black and white) so what's called a legal opinion letter from a Canadian Immigration attorney will be very helpful in this case and also with Deemed Rehabilitation. Once you get rehabilitated then your criminality will not prevent you from entering Canada in the future. Also worth noting that Canada equates what the crime is in your country to what it would be in Canada. So in some cases it doesn't equate to a crime. For example a driving on a suspended license isn't generally covered in the criminal code of Canada unless it was suspended due to something like a DUI or Reckless driving. If your license was suspended for something like an unpaid traffic ticket then it would fall under a provincial civil infraction and not the criminal code of Canada.
Australia has a policy that if you served more 12 months in prison then it's generally a no go. However, there are cases where you can get a visa for Australia if you can prove that despite your past you are now an upstanding member of society. Japan will usually allow entry providing the crime didn't result in more than 1 year of prison and it wasn't a drug conviction ( the reason so many celebrities were denied entry).
I had a shoplifting charge in Florida and the result of that was Adjudication Withheld ( no conviction in 2011) and have had no issues traveling to many of the countries on your list including Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Mexico. No other criminal charges or arrests and my record doesn't show up on a FBI background check.
This is a short list but it is designed to give hope to those wanting to travel to some of the countries on your list. Good luck and safe travels.
I think you found your niche Jesse. If you stick to showing people how a former inmate navigates the world as a free man, that is a different perspective than the other prison channels. If you use your prison experience as a reference point to show how the world views and treats the formerly imprisoned you will carve out your own space and create opportunities for yourself and others. This was a great video!
I'm 49, but when I was 16, I was an idiot and flashed and got a fine for it. I hate myself for it even all these years later. I've never did that since, but worries me if still on my record. It's weird, though, as I have lived in Japan for 4 years and visited Australia without issues. I did hear if my charge happened when under 18 and 5 and a half years have passed, it doesn't show up. Anyway, I just wish I could go back and never have done that stupid thing in the first place.
how would any country except Canada be able to pull up your criminal record? Canada has a treaty with US where they share their databases for criminals.
There's many data sharing agreements. The big English country five eyes Canada USA UK Australia New Zealand have an agreement and generally are the hardest countries for people to get into legally.
Interpol.
Depends on the crime committed...
4:45 there’s a great video that Kara and Nate did last year where they walked across the entire country of Singapore in one day. It’s a great watch!
You should remake this video and bring up misdemeanor versus felony they are quite different, and the countries deny you primarily felonies not misdemeanors
It's different except when it comes to sex offenses. Once you're on the registry, no distinction is made between felonies & misdemeanors. Countries will deny both
i think these countries really need to look into why people have a Criminal Record since it could be about things that aren't even illegal in the country you want to visit like committing blasphemy using weed hate speech owning a gun .these things are not exactly on the same level as murder or theft. and you got crimes that are bad but not as bad like tax fraud or drunk driving. and there are so many nuances they should all be taking into account but i don't think most of these countries do.
Abolishing lifetime criminal records is the number one greatest criminal justice reform we could possibly pass.
I agree. Add a certain point if you were safe enough to let out a prison that you are safe enough to fully rejoin society as a non criminal.
@@FinalLugiaGuardian Stuff like bail reform is fine, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter if you had to sit in jail for a week before you got bailed out, or got a recognisance bond if you now have a criminal record and can't travel or get a job etc.
@TheZombaslaya What I am talking about is the government, after a certain statutory period, legally erasing your criminal record. And erasing it to the point where even if the governments (foriegn or domestic) later searched for it, they couldn't find it. As if you were never even arrested.
I guess my attitude is that the government should erase it so much that it can say "as a matter of law, the facts are these."
As a Kiwi living in and from Wellington, if I had any say in our customs laws I'd welcome you in. Amazing videos, huge fan.
I find it hard to believe that all of these countries are communicating with the USA to figure out who has a misdemeanor. I’ve got friends with drug charges is Missouri but Arkansas knew nothing about them. If the states don’t even communicate together, I find it highly unlikely that India or Argentina etc will have access to that information.
The issue is mostly with the countries which require a visa. Many of them will ask for a police certificate and that's when they find out.
@@enshrineddisillusion7728 That’s interesting, I had no idea. Thanks for the info.
I know someone who walked across the Rainbow Bridge into Canada and was denied entry due to a DUI he received years prior.
There's a nuance for Canada. If your sentence ended less than 5 years ago, you can apply for a _Temporary Resident Visa_ provided that you have a compelling reason to be in Canada. If it has been more than 5 years, you can apply for criminal rehabilitation. If granted, you may enter Canada even if you don't have a compelling reason. However, the price is a steep; from $230 to $1,150 depending on the severity of the crime(s) for which you were convicted.
Been working on this since 2019!
AKA Moneygrab.
I completed the criminal rehab process in early 2000s for a 1983 low level felony. It took several years and was something like 650cdn. Luckily the exchange rate was up around 50% so it was less than $350 US. From then on I’ve had no problem crossing the border.
I believe if you’ve done your time, you should be welcome.
You can in fact go to South Africa with a criminal record, atleast from the US. I have a violent felony and I just been there twice this year 2024. I’m 23 and I’m going back and forth for the foreseeable future 😂👶 you can go almost anywhere as long as you arent required to apply for a visa. I was just in the UK for a few days too after coming back from Cape Town, SA this past December.