I've tried everyone from embassies to consulates to home offices and this is the best I could find to travel to the UK for convicted felons:
I have been trying to find out if my past felony conviction would pose a problem for my traveling to England with my wife this fall. This morning I received the following response from Public Enquiries [K], UKvisas, London SW1A 2AH (
Home UKvisas)
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Paragraph 320(18) of the Immigration Rules requires that admission to the UK should normally be refused if the traveller has been convicted of an offence in any country which, if committed in the UK, would be punishable by imprisonment of 12 months or more.
The Home Office may exercise discretion if there are compassionate or exceptional circumstances involved. Some offences may also be considered to be 'spent', after a period of time, under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (see
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Fr...708466&to=true for details). A visa application will not be refused under this paragraph of the Immigration Rules if the applicant's conviction is so considered 'spent'.
To pursue this matter further, the person concerned should contact their nearest UK visa-issuing office (address at
www.ukvisas.gov.uk/missions).
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I went to the website for the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and found the following explanation:
SENTENCE: An order of conditional discharge, bound over to keep the peace, be of good behaviour or a probation order
REHABILITATION PERIOD: One year or when the order ceased to have effect, whichever is the longer.
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The long website listed above has a chart for a range of circumstances.
I'm also trying to get information on travel to Italy, with even worse luck; I was told to contact the Italian Border Police, but my inability to speak/read Italian has been an obstacle there.
Anyone know anything definitive about either Britain or Italy?