Will I be able to obtain a passport? | Existing US misdemeanor
#1
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Will I be able to obtain a passport? | Existing US misdemeanor
I'm a 22 year old U.S. citizen and want to travel outside the U.S. the issue is though a couple of years ago I was arrested for a misdemeanor. Despite that I wasn't convicted and having my misdemeanor dropped and expunged is it impossible for me to get a passport?
Last edited by Listenupjunior; Nov 14, 2017 at 5:24 pm
#2
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You should not have any problem at all getting a U.S. passport.
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I'm a 22 year old U.S. citizen and want to travel outside the U.S. the issue is though a couple of years ago I was arrested for a misdemeanor. Despite that I wasn't convicted and having my misdemeanor dropped and expunged is it impossible for me to get a passport?
For example if you were a citizen of another county and wanting a visa/visa exemption for USA it may be declined.
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1. The State Department can only refuse issuing passports in certain conditions. Having a non-drug related criminal record is not one of those.
2. Arrest record is different from criminal record. Arrest record will usually not affect your admissibility while arrest record will definitely affect.
3. Regardless arrest or criminal record, the acts leading to the record matters.
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Here's what USA Today has to say on the subject:
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/thing...rt-105724.html
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/thing...rt-105724.html
#6
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I'm a 22 year old U.S. citizen and want to travel outside the U.S. the issue is though a couple of years ago I was arrested for a misdemeanor. Despite that I wasn't convicted and having my misdemeanor dropped and expunged is it impossible for me to get a passport?
#7
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Here's what USA Today has to say on the subject:
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/thing...rt-105724.html
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/thing...rt-105724.html
IRS seeking writs of ne exeat republica, something that has been around for decades, is distinct from the government denying passport applications.
#8
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Several issues:
1. The State Department can only refuse issuing passports in certain conditions. Having a non-drug related criminal record is not one of those.
2. Arrest record is different from criminal record. Arrest record will usually not affect your admissibility while arrest record will definitely affect.
3. Regardless arrest or criminal record, the acts leading to the record matters.
1. The State Department can only refuse issuing passports in certain conditions. Having a non-drug related criminal record is not one of those.
2. Arrest record is different from criminal record. Arrest record will usually not affect your admissibility while arrest record will definitely affect.
3. Regardless arrest or criminal record, the acts leading to the record matters.
So can I still get a passport or not?
Last edited by beckoa; Nov 17, 2017 at 9:26 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts
#9
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#10
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how is it a failure to communicate? the guy just said in his original post that an arrest record can definitely affect my chances of getting a passport. So it's a yes or no question
Well since no one here acts like that can't replay I ask somewhere else for a direct answer
Well since no one here acts like that can't replay I ask somewhere else for a direct answer
Last edited by beckoa; Nov 17, 2017 at 9:27 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts
#11
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I'm not sure how many different ways people can say that you will have no problem being issued a US passport. Only very limited things as GUWonder explained, would be a problem, and those aren't applicable to what you've said.
#12
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Well Gary Kung said an arrest record will definitely be an issue so I'm confused whether I can get one or not.
#13
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"Arrest record is different from criminal record. Arrest record will usually not affect your admissibility while arrest record will definitely affect."
He seems to be talking about "admissibility" (to a foreign country?), rather than eligibility to acquire a U.S. passport. In any event, it's apparent -- at least to me -- that he mistyped, since in the quoted paragraph he says that an arrest record will and won't affect admissibility. Perhaps he meant to say that an arrest record won't, but a criminal record will. In any event, you asked about your eligibility to acquire a U.S. passport, not about whether you would have any difficulty being admitted to a particular foreign country.
Last edited by guv1976; Nov 17, 2017 at 9:33 am
#14
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Why do you need a passport? What good is a passport?
Welcome to FT!
You are asking the wrong question.
Yes, you do need a passport to travel abroad. However, having a valid passport doesn't mean you can travel to any other country in the world. Read what Mwenenzi had mentioned up thread:
What is a visa?
Say Americans need to have a visa when traveling to Country X. When Country X refuses to issue a visa for American notlistenupjunior, notlistenupjunior will not be able to enter Country X. Even when notlistenupjunior insists on flying to Country X with the passport at hand, the airlines will most likely deny notlistenupjunior's boarding at check-in due to insufficient documentation (aka visa for Country X). What good is the passport when you can't proceed with your intended travel plan then?
Whether a country will welcome a foreign visitor to enter is up to say country. You didn't mention which country you plan to visit. If I were you, I would first find out the requirements for visas from say country and see if I would have problems getting the visa with this expunged "record" of yours. If Americans are visa-exempt for say country, I would make sure I meet the visa exemption criteria before buying any air ticket.
The question is whether you will have problem traveling to Country X. If not, you then can start preparing for all travel documents, passport included.
Where do you plan to travel anyway?
Yes, you do need a passport to travel abroad. However, having a valid passport doesn't mean you can travel to any other country in the world. Read what Mwenenzi had mentioned up thread:
What is a visa?
Say Americans need to have a visa when traveling to Country X. When Country X refuses to issue a visa for American notlistenupjunior, notlistenupjunior will not be able to enter Country X. Even when notlistenupjunior insists on flying to Country X with the passport at hand, the airlines will most likely deny notlistenupjunior's boarding at check-in due to insufficient documentation (aka visa for Country X). What good is the passport when you can't proceed with your intended travel plan then?
Whether a country will welcome a foreign visitor to enter is up to say country. You didn't mention which country you plan to visit. If I were you, I would first find out the requirements for visas from say country and see if I would have problems getting the visa with this expunged "record" of yours. If Americans are visa-exempt for say country, I would make sure I meet the visa exemption criteria before buying any air ticket.
The question is whether you will have problem traveling to Country X. If not, you then can start preparing for all travel documents, passport included.
Where do you plan to travel anyway?
#15
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Just using the arrest record as an example - you could have a plea bargain that sentenced you for probation only and the charge would be dismissed once the probation is completed. In that case, the probation you have might affect your ability obtaining a passport (as many probation impose travel restrictions).
Thanks. You are correct. Sorry for the mistyping.
Last edited by garykung; Nov 16, 2017 at 3:05 pm