Can felolns travel internationally?

August 13, 2005 12:34 PM

A friend of mine is a felon. He has been convicted twice, but he would like to travel internationally. Does the US government issue passports to felons? Do they even care? Does the type of felony even matter? Is there any hope!!?
posted by dead_ to Law & Government (4 answers total)

Yes - unless the felony was treason.

Did you even try googling this?
posted by fourstar at 12:45 PM on August 13, 2005

The US government will let you leave, but another country may not necessarily let you in.
posted by nathan_teske at 1:02 PM on August 13, 2005

Seriously though, if you just google felon passport it pops right up in the first hit.
posted by cyphill at 1:10 PM on August 13, 2005

Canada, for instance, has issues with admitting felons. Might be worth it for your friend to check in advance whether he can get into the places he'd like to visit before going to the bother and expense of getting a passport. (I say this not knowing if it's the rule or exception for countries to refuse to admit felons.)
posted by Zed_Lopez at 4:20 AM on August 14, 2005