Under federal law 22 U.S.C. 2714, the US government will not issue a passport to anyone if convicted of a felony, federal or state drug offense while using a passport or crossing international boundaries during the commission of that crime. They would also revoke any existing passport in these cases.
Felons may sail on either type of cruise, although the requirements for a closed loop cruise are less restrictive than for open loop cruises. U.S. citizens going on a closed loop cruise can depart and enter the U.S. with only proof of citizenship.
No Visa Country and Convicted Felon
So, any persons with a valid U.S. passport can enter without issues, even a convicted felon.
Much like a hotel or plane, cruise lines in the U.S. are not required by law to do criminal background checks, or block passengers who may be registered sex offenders. Published policies for cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian do not state any restrictions on passengers with a criminal history.
Visit the Embassy of Jamaica web site for the most current visa information. Jamaican law prohibits entry by all persons convicted of a felony and still under community supervision.
Can you travel on a cruise to Mexico with felony charges? If you are currently facing felony charges and awaiting trial, you cannot board a cruise and travel to Mexico.
Following a bit of quick action by the U.S. government, big-ship Alaska cruises have finally restarted after a nearly two-year-long hiatus, and Americans with criminal records can now cruise there with less hassle in 2021.
Consider a cruise. If you take closed loop cruises (meaning your trip begins and ends at a U.S. port), you can sail to a variety of dreamy destinations as a U.S. citizen without a passport. For “closed-loop” cruises, U.S. citizens will need to provide: A boarding pass.
When you take a cruise, the ship completes a manifest — a list of the name and details of each person on board — that it presents to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. While you are out cruising, law enforcement then scans that list looking for anyone with outstanding warrants.
Restrictions on Foreign Travel
Traveling outside the U.S. to another country after a felony conviction is an interesting question. There is no set standard for restrictions on felons wanting to visit a foreign country.
Felons can travel to the Dominican Republic by flying or on a cruise. The only difficulty for them flying would be if they have a felony warrant outstanding against them.
The main restriction for them flying to St. Lucia would be if they have a felony warrant outstanding against them. The other possible issue would be if their name is on what is called the no-fly list maintained by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for those suspected of being terrorists.
Re: can a convicted felon travel in mexico? The convicted felon would be restricted in travel pursuant to the terms of his probation or parole. Once off probation or parole, there may be issues entering certain other nations, if the person's record is known to the foreign authorities.
If you are aboard a Caribbean closed-loop cruise, (a cruise that departs and ends at the same U.S. port), you can travel with a state-issued ID (for example: your driver's license) and an original birth certificate. You must have both of these documents in order to be able to travel without a passport.
If you are a US citizen, you can take a “closed-loop cruise” (one that begins and ends at the same port) to The Bahamas without a passport. Instead, you'll need to present another proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.
Citizens may sail using their: Official US Birth Certificate and a supporting Government Issued Photo ID, like a driver's license or an identity card.
Flying to Hawaii shouldn't pose a problem for felons as long as they fly from one state to another, Hawaii included. The only difficulty for them flying would be if they have a felony warrant outstanding against them.
Most convicted felons can receive passports to travel out of the United States, according to the U.S. Department of State. However, some countries prohibit travelers from crossing their borders with criminal records. Felons on probation must consult with their probation officers before traveling.
Under US Immigration law, if you have been arrested at any time, you are required to declare the arrest when applying for a visa. If the arrest resulted in a conviction, you may be permanently ineligible to receive a visa.
Felons may have served time in prison, but they have the same interests as any other U.S. citizen. Traveling to Bermuda is no exception.
Entering Costa Rica
Felons will have to demonstrate that they have a return ticket to depart from the country at the end of the trip. They must also be prepared to pay an exit fee, about $29. Tourists entering the country by sea must show their passport upon arriving at their port.
The CBP officers can use this database to view an individual's criminal record and prior criminal history. Even without disclosing your criminal record, CBP officers can access your full criminal history on the CPIC database. Any questions asked by the CBP officers should be answered truthfully.
Felons may have served time in prison, but they have the same interests as any other U.S. citizen. Traveling to Bora Bora is no exception.