Is it possible for me to travel?

[Rolloofthenorm 0]

I'm a United States citizen and want to visit/work abroad someday. The issue is 9 years ago I got arrested for a misdemeanor. Although I didn't get convicted and the arrest got expunged am I still able to travel? 

[CarmenD 44]

If you have a valid U.S. issued Passport you can travel. Period

[Rolloofthenorm 0]

10 minutes ago, CarmenD said:

If you have a valid U.S. issued Passport you can travel. Period

idk what that's suppose to mean or prove, but sure?

[CarmenD 44]

“Mean or prove?” 🤯 You claim to be a U.S. Citizen and not aware that as such you can apply for a U.S. Passport? 🤯🤯 Again, IF you have in your possession a valid U.S. Passport, you can travel on it … Bye 👋🏻 

[Rolloofthenorm 0]

Just now, CarmenD said:

“Mean or prove?” 🤯 You claim to be a U.S. Citizen and not aware that as such you can apply for a U.S. Passport? 🤯🤯 Again, IF you have in your possession a valid U.S. Passport, you can travel on it … Bye 👋🏻 

ok but wouldn't my arrest be an issue even though it was expunged?

[TBoneTX 43,519]

1 hour ago, Rolloofthenorm said:

wouldn't my arrest be an issue even though it was expunged?

It's hard enough for U.S. authorities to retrieve expunged records.  Imagine how difficult this would be for authorities in foreign countries.

 

I think it's Canada that won't let U.S. citizens in if there's a conviction for DUI, DWI, or similar (others can confirm or correct this).  An expunged misdemeanor arrest from 9 years ago would almost certainly be beyond their capability to research.

 

If you have a U.S. passport with at least 6 months of validity left on it, you can travel just about anywhere, of course keeping in mind any lengths of stay or work permits required by other countries.  I wouldn't worry about your arrest.

 

[Rolloofthenorm 0]

5 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

It's hard enough for U.S. authorities to retrieve expunged records.  Imagine how difficult this would be for authorities in foreign countries.

 

I think it's Canada that won't let U.S. citizens in if there's a conviction for DUI, DWI, or similar (others can confirm or correct this).  An expunged misdemeanor arrest from 9 years ago would almost certainly be beyond their capability to research.

 

If you have a U.S. passport with at least 6 months of validity left on it, you can travel just about anywhere, of course keeping in mind any lengths of stay or work permits required by other countries.  I wouldn't worry about your arrest.

 

I don't have a DUI/dwi or anything like that. I appreciate the advice, but I find it hard to believe. I wanted to go to countries like Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Bosnia, Hungary, etc. and they're supposed to honor an expunged arrest from 9 years ago? Ok

[Boiler 43,847]

1 hour ago, Rolloofthenorm said:

I don't have a DUI/dwi or anything like that. I appreciate the advice, but I find it hard to believe. I wanted to go to countries like Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Bosnia, Hungary, etc. and they're supposed to honor an expunged arrest from 9 years ago? Ok

 

Everyone of those Countries has its own regulations on who can visit and what effect a criminal history will have, I doubt something being expunged has any effect, it certainly would not if you were not a USC and wished to visit the US.

[Rolloofthenorm 0]

10 hours ago, Boiler said:

 

Everyone of those Countries has its own regulations on who can visit and what effect a criminal history will have, I doubt something being expunged has any effect, it certainly would not if you were not a USC and wished to visit the US.

Ok, but I'm a US citizen not trying to go to the US cause I'm already a US citizen. As I said I don't believe those countries I listed is going to honor an expunged charge. 

[Lemonslice 4,631]

42 minutes ago, Rolloofthenorm said:

Ok, but I'm a US citizen not trying to go to the US cause I'm already a US citizen. As I said I don't believe those countries I listed is going to honor an expunged charge. 

Each country has their own requirements; you can usually visit the country's website/their diplomatic mission's website to learn about entry requirements.  

For example, this is the information for Canada: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/inadmissibility-interdiction-eng.html

 

You will need to look up for each country you want to visitl

[Rolloofthenorm 0]

2 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

Each country has their own requirements; you can usually visit the country's website/their diplomatic mission's website to learn about entry requirements.  

For example, this is the information for Canada: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/inadmissibility-interdiction-eng.html

 

You will need to look up for each country you want to visitl

I don't see how this is suppose to help. 

[Lemonslice 4,631]

I don't think anyone here will google the entry requirements for each and every country you want to visit.  Best of luck!

[Family 3,584]

Have you ever traveled outside the US ? 

[Boiler 43,847]

2 hours ago, Rolloofthenorm said:

Ok, but I'm a US citizen not trying to go to the US cause I'm already a US citizen. As I said I don't believe those countries I listed is going to honor an expunged charge. 

Seems unlikely

[TBoneTX 43,519]

The lingering question in my mind is how another country would or could know about a misdemeanor from 9 years ago, and expunged on top of that.  If you had to apply for a visa to enter or to stay for a long time, you might have to report it, but if you can simply enter for a stay that's shorter than 90 or 120 or 180 days, the entry personnel probably won't even ask.

 

Regardless, researching the entry requirements of your countries of choice is sound advice.  You might even contact the U.S. Citizen units of the U.S. consulates in those countries to gain their feedback.

---

Just today, I found this online article, which is good for everyone to read:

 

The 1 Big Mistake You Should Never, Ever Make With Your Passport

 

[...] "A lot of us just think we need a valid passport to travel the world beyond our borders, but what many people don't realize [is] that a current passport alone might not be enough," said Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for the flight alert service Going.

 

Indeed, many countries require your passport to have a certain duration of validity remaining beyond the intended dates of your trip.  The most common lengths are three and six months past the date you fly back to the U.S.  [...]

 

Continues:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/1-big-mistake-never-ever-111603933.html