Hello, I was convicted of a felony in 2003 in Alabama. I will be off probation in 2009. I want to take a cruise. How long do I have to wait after I'm off probation before I can apply for a passport.

Hello t:

You can probably apply now. If they refuse (which I doubt they will), apply again when you get off.

excon

Contact the local government or your probation officer and ask. They should know whether you can get one. The only reason I can see them turning you down for a passport is because you are on probation, for obvious reasons, so you don't leave the country.

According to information obtained from the U.S. Department of State website Passport Home (http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html) I would check with your probation officer to see if they would have any objections to starting the process. If there is / are restrictions set upon you, then once you you have completed your probation there is no delay in beginning the process of applying for a U.S. passport.