International Travel Planning
Traveling internationally with a felony record or as a registered sex offender (RSO) is possible — but it requires very careful planning, strict compliance with federal law, knowledge of your state’s notification requirements, and — most importantly — a thorough understanding of how destination countries treat incoming travelers with a registry requirement.
At Smith & Good Associates, we help registered individuals and their families understand the landscape of international travel, meet all required notifications, avoid violations that could result in serious criminal consequences, and minimize the chance for rejections from a country.
We offer full, turn-key international travel planning — including “travel agent-type” details to help with travel plans: specific airline flight and times, bus routes, train schedules, and other public transportation and hotel specifics. Our planning includes helping to navigate entry into countries that have mixed reviews on allowing entry to a registered sex offender.
Why should you hire a SORNA consultant to help with international travel plans?
When traveling internationally, it is important to understand there are some countries that will be completely inaccessible to someone coming from the U.S. who is on the sex registry (such as the UK). Other countries, such as Germany, are well known to have no issues for U.S. citizens with registration requirements to gain entry.
However, a significant amount of countries fall into a grey area of “sometimes, yes” and “sometimes, no” scenarios. Often these countries have no specific laws barring people with criminal records or on the Sex Registry — and gaining entry is based on the customs official you interact with. In other cases, it’s how you enter the country — flying in versus taking a train.
It’s these types of scenarios where hiring a SORNA travel consultant can help you create the best travel plan possible to minimize the risk of being turned away at Customs.
Quick Review: What Is the International Megan's Law (IML)?
International Megan’s Law (IML) requires covered sex offenders to notify authorities before traveling internationally with a 21-day advance notice. Some registered sex offenders must also carry a passport that includes a unique identifier — commonly referred to as the “Angel Watch” passport marker. This notification requirement is enforced by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Angel Watch Center.
Failure to provide the required advance notice is a federal crime that can result in prosecution, even if you were unaware of the requirement.
Simply notifying your local registry office of your intended international travel plans does not guarantee entry into a country.
In addition, your local registry office has no obligation to tell you that you may be rejected from a country (if they happen to know), but in many cases a local registry office has no idea of the details of what countries you are likely to be rejected or admitted to.
Their job is an administrative function and only focuses on compliance and (typically) they have a very limited knowledge of international travel rules.
What We Help With
International travel planning for registered individuals involves multiple overlapping systems. Our consultants help you navigate:
- USMS Angel Watch notification requirements — understanding when and how to submit your travel notice. This can be confusing as some states may have a lower threshold for international travel notification than the U.S. Government requires.
- Passport endorsement — what the IML passport marker means and how it may affect your travel. We help clients understand the marker and the specifics behind traveling if you have one — or don't have one but are subject to one.
- Destination country entry laws — many countries restrict or ban entry to individuals with criminal records, including persons on the Registry; we help you understand the issues and best way to travel to your destination before you book.
- State-level travel notification requirements — your home state's registry may have additional rules. They can be more rigorous (or less) than the federal laws.
- Documentation and recordkeeping — ensuring you have the right paperwork to demonstrate compliance and follow best practices.
- Travel Planning — whether you are traveling to one country or planning a multi-country trip, understanding the specifics of specific countries and how to plan a trip. Simply using an online travel planner such as Expedia is not a guarantee of success.
Why This Matters
Many registered individuals are surprised to learn that even a vacation, family visit, or business trip can trigger federal notification requirements. Countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many others actively screen incoming travelers against U.S. registry databases. Being turned away at the border — or worse, arrested upon return — is a real risk without proper preparation.
We have had clients who hired us only AFTER they attempted to travel to a country and were rejected upon arriving at Customs — and then placed on the next flight back to the U.S.
These types of mistakes are not only unfortunate but also can result in the loss of thousands of dollars in non-refundable plane tickets, hotel rooms, etc.
Our International Travel Reports
- Research to determine the likelihood of getting into a country using our legacy knowledge and contacts
- Discussions with consulates, embassy, and other governmental officials as needed
- Additional research with others in our network to understand the current travel situations abroad
- Working with a travel agent who has experience with travel planning for people with criminal histories, including sex offense charges — to create a detailed travel itinerary that includes flights, public transportation, etc.
- A comprehensive written report providing the most current, up-to-date info, a detailed agenda, and recommendations for a successful trip
We are not a travel agent and do not provide travel agent booking services. However, as part of our travel reports we will provide a detailed itinerary (like what you would receive from a travel agent).
You can then choose to either book your own travel or, we can connect you with a travel agency to book your trip.
Our reports are only intended to provide you with information so that you and your family can make an educated decision regarding travel. We do not guarantee entry into any country.
Contact Us
Call us at 240-599-2126 or visit our contact page to book a free consultation to discuss your international travel plans. We serve clients throughout Maryland and nationwide.