My fiancee and I are planning out our honeymoon, but recent media articles have put a damper on these plans. We've read that in January 2007, all American citizens traveling throughout the Caribbean, and Mexico must be in possession of a U.S. passport. This even applies to simple border crossings. Unfortunately, this has forced me to revisit my status as a convicted felon once again. Will I be able to obtain a passport?

aduckart

What you will want to do is become very familiar with all of the information on the US Department of Travel Passport site (http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html). My husband and I are going to Australia/Fiji in April for our honeymoon and we also had to do some major research on the subject.

I'm unsure about the details about a convicted felony but this is the information from the site about the specific passport requirements come January 2007 and January 2008. Please note the highlighted:

Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

Again, please read the site as you'll save yourself a lot of headaches (missing information or what not) and good luck! Have fun on your honeymoon and congratulations!

excon

Hello again, Chris:

Dude! What am I chopped liver??? If I wasn't cruising around, I woulda never seen your question.

Here's the answer. I'm a convicted felon. BOY, am I a convicted felon, and I have a passport! IF you haven't been convicted of terrorisim, there is no law that prevents you from obtaining a passport. You're an American citizen and you have a right to one, just like any other American.

Here's the clincher. Apply. Pay your $90 or $120 bucks (I don't remember), and wait by the mailbox. It'll come. I promise. If it doesn't, lemme know, and we'll go kick come State Department butt.

excon

Chris Petinaud

Thanks Bro. That really takes a load off of the shoulders. Sounds like I could learn a lot from you. I'm assuming that you are familiar with my "obstacle", so I'll just ask you. How the heck did you rise above the mistakes of your' past, and regain foward momentum with your' life?

excon

Hello again, Chris:

And, what makes you think I've risen above anything (he writes from his lonely cell on death row - where they allow him internet access)... Nahh, just kidding.

Look. I'm no better than you. I've had plenty of people out in the free world look at me with disdain. I got awfully tired of asking people for something, a visit, a better cell, a parole, an apartment, a job, a damn license for driving a lousy taxi cab, for crying out loud.

The person in the taxi department of the state thought I was the lowest of the low. But then decided, because he was so benevolent, to grant me one wish.... I wonder what woulda happened if wanted a job as a street cleaner...

So, I decided, that I'm not going to ASK for ANYTHING. Just like I don't suggest that you ASK for a passport. Demand it - don't ask.

Yes, that position limits me. But it also opens up opportunities. I'm self employed in a field that doesn't require licensing from ANYBODY.

Next. You're not a crook. You're a druggie. There's a BIG difference. The drug business is the most honorable business I know. Take those concepts into the legal business world, and you'll make a fortune.

excon

exdetroit

I am in the exact same predicament! I am really scared, and once again embarrassed by my past. I know that Canada turns felons away, but I have no idea of anywhere else. I don't want to waste the money if I cant get a passport. Has anyone successfully traveled with a passport since a conviction, or applied or renewed a passport for that matter?

excon

Hello detroit:

Like I said above.

excon

CellerDoor

Chris:
You overcome it by knowing yourself, and not allowing those a$$wipes to define you. The biggest problem I had to overcome was the idea that I COULD strive for better. That I wasn't just an ex-con but a regular guy who Fu(kd Up! All they teach when you are in prison, if you use any of the programs available is that hoping to get a job as a manager isn’t realistic, because you are scum (paraphrasing of course). They use words like realistic and rehabilitation, when really they want you to be programmed to be punishing yourself so they don’t have to. I have issues of course, but the thing I can say, the one thing that got me through this was decision to redefine myself –
From: Inmate/Convict/Felon/Resident/DOCNumber|
To: HardWorker/Thinker/Husband/Father.
It gets tough, there will be times when the temptation will be huge, but the benefits in the end are worth it. At one time I was working at a job, my girlfriend was pregnant (she was bedridden), and wham they discovered my conviction and I was fired on the spot and black balled from most of the work in the area (this was while I was in Tucson AZ). It was tough, I ended up moving out of there to California once my daughter was born. We lived in the back room of one of our friends for almost a year, working temporary work until I worked my way up into a full time job (3 years), and I’ve been at that job for over 7 years now.
I guess what it comes down to, is that you can live up to what is expected of you, or make your own expectations and live up to them.

Have a good one.

steelo72

HE'S RIGHT!!!!!

To all ex felons trying to do better: They will continue to kick you as long as you allow them. If your sentence has been served then it's up to YOU to ut the past behind you and shrug off the ignorance in our society that says you're scum. Martha Stewart had a television show and her company stock has risen since her release. Yeah, she's rich but we all have an opportunity to improve ourselves and HELL YES it's gonna be hard. Best wishes to all of you in 2008 and I pray that God allows you to prosper beyond measure!

jimstewa1

i am a convicted felon a 3rd degree drug trafficking charge and i just recieved my passport in november took bout 45 days, i went on a cruise and went to jamaica and the caymon islands. all they did was look at passport nothing was ever said.