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.
@@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
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 😁
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@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
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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 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
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. RUclipsr 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.
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 RUclips
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
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.
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.
@@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.
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
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.
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.
*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."
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.
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.
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.
Is it possible to check US criminal records online. As a Russian person the only problem we have for those people with criminal record is ..there are some countries(LatAm for example) that require “a criminal record certificate” from Russia to get their residence permit but they can’t verify it online or something. I’ve never heard people having problems visiting visa-free countries and if the visa is required I don’t think it’s that easy for a foreign embassy to background check you.
Funny thing is, there appear to be lots of foriegn born Criminals (can tell by the accent) in Australia right now. Many are from a neighbouring country & in bikie gangs etc & they can remain here...
I think if you wish to travel to one of the "Denied Entry" countries you should talk with the embassy/consulate first. I believe they have the ability to grant you a visa or entry into the country after determining if you are a risk to the country.
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.
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.
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.
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 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!
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
It also depend on what type of criminal record one has? For example, if it's only petty crime like theft, shoplifting and the charge is a couple of weeks/months, most countries may not "mind".
Followup: does the US CJ process of sealing or expunging your record affect how those red and yellow countries would/can treat you, and (much less likely) is there any chance that would ever happen to your case?
I believe you can come to Australia as long as you provide police clearance certificate, and the immigration officer processing your application had a good morning, the stars are in the correct alignment, and the queue at the cafe for the morning coffee wasn’t too bad.
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.
Is time from the date of conviction affect the determination to get in? Is a one year old DUI treated the same as a 25 yr old DUI? I would think a 20+ yr old conviction would relieve any concerns a nation might have. An employer might have.
I think you would be wonderful in a docu-series visiting all different levels of jail/prison around the world. You'd need journalist/media credentials of course, and some seedier places would never allow it of course bc of how awful and inhumane it is.
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 RUclips 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.
In Australia it depends on the type of crime and how long ago. Some more serious crimes you will not be allowed. Best apply Before arriving be up front and show you have turned your life around.
I haven't been in trouble since 1991. I hope I can go to the Philippines to see my girlfriend. I am stressed out when I was younger. I did stupid things I regret today
G'day Mate, so sorry you can't come visit our beautiful country. It's total crap our visa program, anyway. maybe one day you can come here to Australia.
Aussie here. Correct me if I’m wrong but I think we will let you in if you have a “spent conviction “ but I think it has to be a sentence under so many years and what the conviction was. My boss spent 6 years in prison for a weapons charge and he said even though it’s like 20 years ago, he will always carry that conviction with him. Purely coz it’s weapons
With Australia and New Zealand you can try apply for visa and have the consulate clear you before presenting yourself at the borders. Just don’t use ETA.
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'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.
Australia has changed its policy slightly while yes in most cases if you have a criminal record you cannot get in here however in some cases they will allow people with a criminal record in depending on how long ago the crime was committed and what type of crime it was and if you have since committed anymore crimes and so some people who have only committed one criminal offence and it was quite some time ago they can be allowed in generally it’s at the discretion of boarder force
Funny thing about Canada and the US is I can visit the US with a DUI conviction but would be refused admission if I had a marijuana conviction, even if it was for a very small amount, but it's the exact opposite if an American wants to visit Canada.
What is important to find out is whether it is possible to have the arrest or conviction record expunged. This means the person‘s record will be wiped clean as if the arrest or crime never took place. Depending on the type of arrest or crime committed, or the age of the person at the time they committed the crime, or the length of time that has passed since that crime was committed it may be possible for the record to be expunged. As long as the record is expunged BEFORE a person attempts to apply for a visa or enter a foreign country then that country will not be able to see that a person was ever arrested or convicted. A person whose record has been expunged can legally answer no to the question of whether they were previously arrested or convicted because the foreign country has no way to find out. It’s important to realize that once a foreign country has kept their own record that a person has an arrest or conviction outside of their borders, the expunging of the record in the country where the arrest or conviction took place does not remove it from the foreign country’s record. For this reason, it is important to complete an expungement before attempting to travel to a foreign country.
I think if you get invited to either NZ or AUS for a speaking engagement or something similar you'd get in no problems. Even if you stayed for a while to soak in the scenery ;)
What about a felony expungement? Does that allow you to enter countries that are on the denied list? (expunged about 24 years ago, no criminal record since)
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.
thank you very much for this information. I'm very glad that you don't have to report but I have three felony DUIs in the last 15 years and I would like to travel to the EU very much and what about ThighLand? lol also my felonies are DUIs (3) and 1 wobbler Assualt If you happen to see this and give some feedback I will be very thankful 🙏
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?
UK is not quite as simple as straight denial Denial is likely if... Your sentence was between 1-4 years long and ended less than 10 years ago Your sentence was less than 12 months but ended less than 5 years ago Your sentence was more than 4 years long The only one that is straight denial is sentence of 4 years or more which maybe the case in your circumstances but if people are trying to find out information on the situation it may mislead them a bit.
The most henious of crimes! If you can't carry a salmon in an honest and fortright way, don't carry it at all! I once red an old news article (from the late 1800s) about a man that got a fine for being suspicusly happy and having a top hat on a weekday. They had their values right in the olden days... (In all seriousnes, I suspect that that was code for "drunk and disorderly", but I hope not).
Much of the denial process happens when you apply for a visa to live and work in a country. If you are just a tourist most countries are not connected to any US data base and would only know about a criminal record if they put in a formal request for information. At most border control points none of your history shows as it is not stored on the passport or the chip it contains. Of course, the US does share data with places like Canada and former UK entities, but not all of them.
I think you're confusing the EU with Schengen. i.e. It would explain Ireland (which is in the EU, but not Schengen) being in a different column to the EU, and Iceland (which is in Schengen, but not in the EU) being in the same column as the EU. Also, in a lot of cases, what a conviction will do is mean you're not allowed to travel visa exempt. But that could mean you can still get in if you go through the visa process. That probably wouldn't help if you're trying to go there for a holiday, but might help if there's a good reason for the travel (work, medical, etc.) Presumably the "EU" changes you're referring to are when they introduce ETIAS (which is actually for Schengen, not the EU), similar to the US' ESTA / Australia's ETA programmes.
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 know where I'm traveling to second. The bathroom. My stomach is gonna be tore up.
@@WaffleCake-q7d only if you have candy bars.
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.
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.
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
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 😁
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.
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.
This is one very good reason why young people should understand that the consequences of committing crimes stay with them for life.
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
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.
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.
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.
They'll swear he got injured at a concentration camp during the war... but forget to mention they were the guard. LOL
More Nazis came to the US after WWII, than they did to Argentina.
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?
I’m I2. With a false charge, I got stopped at the border. I live the UK, whilst tryna enter it
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?
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
As a Canadian, I'm not.
I'm sure the US doesn't want our criminals and Canada definitively doesn't want theirs.
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.
My friend with a felony lived in Argentina for over a year, they never found out or had issues.
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.
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...
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
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.
Congrats bro. I admire your attitude and enthusiasm to start over
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.
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
I subbed, I like your energy and it is an interesting topic!
Thanks for making this awesome video!
Please keep posting on this topic! A wealth of info in the comments!
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
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.
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.
Countries might run your name on RUclips so they make you watch your own video , you be like that's not me .
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.
Been off probation for a year now amazing feeling
I’ve traveled to Dominican Republic ,through a cruise line and it was seamless
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
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.
RUclipsr 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.
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 RUclips
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
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
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.
I love your idea for Norway! I want to visit Europe and Seoul also.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sometimes you're just banned from entering without a visa.
*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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is it possible to check US criminal records online. As a Russian person the only problem we have for those people with criminal record is ..there are some countries(LatAm for example) that require “a criminal record certificate” from Russia to get their residence permit but they can’t verify it online or something. I’ve never heard people having problems visiting visa-free countries and if the visa is required I don’t think it’s that easy for a foreign embassy to background check you.
Funny thing is, there appear to be lots of foriegn born Criminals (can tell by the accent) in Australia right now. Many are from a neighbouring country & in bikie gangs etc & they can remain here...
I think if you wish to travel to one of the "Denied Entry" countries you should talk with the embassy/consulate first. I believe they have the ability to grant you a visa or entry into the country after determining if you are a risk to the country.
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.
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.
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
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 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!
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
It also depend on what type of criminal record one has? For example, if it's only petty crime like theft, shoplifting and the charge is a couple of weeks/months, most countries may not "mind".
Followup: does the US CJ process of sealing or expunging your record affect how those red and yellow countries would/can treat you, and (much less likely) is there any chance that would ever happen to your case?
Good question
I came to ask the same question in regards to a misdemeanor
Concerning Hong Kong, Wendover Productions just did a 20min piece on that last week.
I believe you can come to Australia as long as you provide police clearance certificate, and the immigration officer processing your application had a good morning, the stars are in the correct alignment, and the queue at the cafe for the morning coffee wasn’t too bad.
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.
Is time from the date of conviction affect the determination to get in? Is a one year old DUI treated the same as a 25 yr old DUI? I would think a 20+ yr old conviction would relieve any concerns a nation might have. An employer might have.
Good question. I think it depends on the country. I think you have many countries that focuses on certain crimes vs the time of your crime.
I think you would be wonderful in a docu-series visiting all different levels of jail/prison around the world. You'd need journalist/media credentials of course, and some seedier places would never allow it of course bc of how awful and inhumane it is.
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 RUclips 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 wonder how would they know. In Finland criminal records are highly confidential.
In Australia it depends on the type of crime and how long ago. Some more serious crimes you will not be allowed. Best apply
Before arriving be up front and show you have turned your life around.
I haven't been in trouble since 1991. I hope I can go to the Philippines to see my girlfriend. I am stressed out when I was younger. I did stupid things I regret today
G'day Mate, so sorry you can't come visit our beautiful country. It's total crap our visa program, anyway. maybe one day you can come here to Australia.
Are you talking about felonies? I have a misdemeanor in the USA but have not had trouble getting into Canada.
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 can plead your case by going to the embassy or consulate. They can give a visa or an authorization to enter the country.
if you apply to the Countries you listed, they have special wavers you can apply for usually takes up to a year to get the wavers..
Aussie here. Correct me if I’m wrong but I think we will let you in if you have a “spent conviction “ but I think it has to be a sentence under so many years and what the conviction was. My boss spent 6 years in prison for a weapons charge and he said even though it’s like 20 years ago, he will always carry that conviction with him. Purely coz it’s weapons
With Australia and New Zealand you can try apply for visa and have the consulate clear you before presenting yourself at the borders. Just don’t use ETA.
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'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.
Australia has changed its policy slightly while yes in most cases if you have a criminal record you cannot get in here however in some cases they will allow people with a criminal record in depending on how long ago the crime was committed and what type of crime it was and if you have since committed anymore crimes and so some people who have only committed one criminal offence and it was quite some time ago they can be allowed in generally it’s at the discretion of boarder force
Funny thing about Canada and the US is I can visit the US with a DUI conviction but would be refused admission if I had a marijuana conviction, even if it was for a very small amount, but it's the exact opposite if an American wants to visit Canada.
I know someone who walked across the Rainbow Bridge into Canada and was denied entry due to a DUI he received years prior.
What is important to find out is whether it is possible to have the arrest or conviction record expunged. This means the person‘s record will be wiped clean as if the arrest or crime never took place. Depending on the type of arrest or crime committed, or the age of the person at the time they committed the crime, or the length of time that has passed since that crime was committed it may be possible for the record to be expunged.
As long as the record is expunged BEFORE a person attempts to apply for a visa or enter a foreign country then that country will not be able to see that a person was ever arrested or convicted. A person whose record has been expunged can legally answer no to the question of whether they were previously arrested or convicted because the foreign country has no way to find out.
It’s important to realize that once a foreign country has kept their own record that a person has an arrest or conviction outside of their borders, the expunging of the record in the country where the arrest or conviction took place does not remove it from the foreign country’s record. For this reason, it is important to complete an expungement before attempting to travel to a foreign country.
I think if you get invited to either NZ or AUS for a speaking engagement or something similar you'd get in no problems. Even if you stayed for a while to soak in the scenery ;)
What about a felony expungement? Does that allow you to enter countries that are on the denied list? (expunged about 24 years ago, no criminal record since)
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 very much for this information. I'm very glad that you don't have to report but I have three felony DUIs in the last 15 years and I would like to travel to the EU very much
and what about ThighLand? lol also my felonies are DUIs (3) and 1 wobbler Assualt
If you happen to see this and give some feedback I will be very thankful 🙏
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?
Is it possible that these countries have access to other countries records?????
UK is not quite as simple as straight denial
Denial is likely if...
Your sentence was between 1-4 years long and ended less than 10 years ago
Your sentence was less than 12 months but ended less than 5 years ago
Your sentence was more than 4 years long
The only one that is straight denial is sentence of 4 years or more which maybe the case in your circumstances but if people are trying to find out information on the situation it may mislead them a bit.
that and I believe sex crimes no matter how minor or how long ago they were correct me if im wrong
I don’t know why I’m watching this As a laws abiding citizen who won’t even carry a salmon suspiciously
The most henious of crimes! If you can't carry a salmon in an honest and fortright way, don't carry it at all!
I once red an old news article (from the late 1800s) about a man that got a fine for being suspicusly happy and having a top hat on a weekday. They had their values right in the olden days... (In all seriousnes, I suspect that that was code for "drunk and disorderly", but I hope not).
Much of the denial process happens when you apply for a visa to live and work in a country. If you are just a tourist most countries are not connected to any US data base and would only know about a criminal record if they put in a formal request for information. At most border control points none of your history shows as it is not stored on the passport or the chip it contains. Of course, the US does share data with places like Canada and former UK entities, but not all of them.
I think you're confusing the EU with Schengen.
i.e. It would explain Ireland (which is in the EU, but not Schengen) being in a different column to the EU, and Iceland (which is in Schengen, but not in the EU) being in the same column as the EU.
Also, in a lot of cases, what a conviction will do is mean you're not allowed to travel visa exempt. But that could mean you can still get in if you go through the visa process. That probably wouldn't help if you're trying to go there for a holiday, but might help if there's a good reason for the travel (work, medical, etc.)
Presumably the "EU" changes you're referring to are when they introduce ETIAS (which is actually for Schengen, not the EU), similar to the US' ESTA / Australia's ETA programmes.