When you have a felony conviction on your criminal record, it may make you nervous to apply for a passport or try to leave the country. While this may be the case, with a little bit of preparation, you don’t have to worry about leaving the country with a felony.
That said, you do need to learn about when you can leave the country and when you can’t leave the country, because sometimes a felony conviction can result in travel complications.
So, can a felon leave the country? In this article, we take you through everything you need to know, and also how to prepare to leave the country if you have a felony conviction on your record. Read on to learn more.
What Is a Felony?
A felony is one of the most serious crimes that someone can commit, and this is reflected by how harsh the punishments can be.
Typically, felony crimes are crimes that are punishable by more than one year in prison, and some common examples of felonies include murder, assault, sexual crimes, and fraud. Most felonies may also carry additional penalties, like fines and probation.
What Is a Felon?
A felon is someone who has been convicted of a felony crime. The conviction aspect is the most important part because people who are charged with felony crimes aren’t always convicted. Therefore, a felon is someone who has been proven guilty of a felony crime.
Can a Felon Leave the Country?
Yes, a felon can leave the country. Felons are able to leave the country after they complete their sentence. That said, it’s important to note that there can be restrictions in place. For example, if someone is convicted of drug or sex trafficking, there’s a good chance that they won’t be able to leave the country or qualify for a passport.
That said, it’s important to note that sometimes there may be additional restrictions placed on someone, but this depends on the crime and its sentencing.
When Can a Felon Leave the Country?
A felon can leave the country when they’ve completed their sentence and don’t have any outstanding charges against them. At this time, convicted felons can apply for a passport and check the destination’s rules for traveling felons.
Felons can also leave the country after:
- If they don’t have a court order against them.
- No outstanding warrants are placed against them.
- No court dates for the case are scheduled.
- Probation and parole are finished.
- No unique release programs have been assigned to monitor travel.
- The felon was never a convicted felon.
As you can see, once a felon completes their sentence, they can travel outside the country.
How Felons Can Prepare to Leave the Country
When it’s time for a felon to leave the country, there are a few ways to prepare. You want to make sure you’re prepared to prevent any problems.
Check Your Criminal Record
The last thing you need to run into when trying to leave the country is an issue with your criminal record.
For example, if you get to the airport and they find a warrant that should’ve been removed from your record, this can result in delays or even missing your flight. What’s more, this can prevent other countries from letting you through because you may be accidentally breaking one of their rules.
For these reasons, we recommend using an arrest records search tool to check your public records. If you notice that something is off, you can then take the necessary steps to ensure that the records are removed.
Check a Country’s Entry Requirements
It’s also important to check a country’s entry requirements. Every country handles felons differently, and while you may be cleared to travel in the United States, that doesn’t mean you’re cleared to travel to another country.
Thankfully, most countries have information about who can travel to them online. Make sure you thoroughly check this information to determine if you’re eligible to travel to that country.
Can Felons Leave the Country? Our Final Thoughts
So, can felons leave the country? At the end of the day, yes, felons can leave the country. The only caveat is that most felons who leave the country have to have completed their punishment for the crime they committed. There may also be other travel restrictions, even if you’re approved to travel from the United States. Make sure you take all of this into account before you try to leave.
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