Cruising with a record

[MisterBill99]

Yup...now I remember why i left these boards for so long. Been here today all of an hour and it's disgusting the assumptions and comments that are made.

You didn't have to keep reading this thread. There are plenty of threads that are informative and not at all confrontational (actually, I assume there are, I don't typically frequent the Carnival board).

[kona_wahine]

Well, the truth is he can’t get a passport because of something stupid he did early in life and went away for 5 years. During that 5 years child support racked up. So, he got out to a huge debt, along with all the other issues of his new free life. Getting a job to support yourself is hard enough, and it takes time to pay it back. But you all just enjoy looking down your noses. I’m done. Thanks to those who actually had something of value to add. I appreciate it.

[L1211]

It’s up to your friend to jump through any and all hoops that are out there - it seems like a pretty tempting opportunity for a resentful ex to cause an unwanted problem, if that’s a possibility. He would be well advised to carefully/meticulously investigate it.

 

 

 

Or pay his owed child support versus cruising. Resentful ex? Smh.

 

 

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[evandbob]

Well, the truth is he can’t get a passport because of something stupid he did early in life and went away for 5 years. During that 5 years child support racked up. So, he got out to a huge debt, along with all the other issues of his new free life. Getting a job to support yourself is hard enough, and it takes time to pay it back. But you all just enjoy looking down your noses. I’m done. Thanks to those who actually had something of value to add. I appreciate it.

 

 

So he paid his debt for the crime he committed long ago, that's a good thing. I worked in alcohol/drug rehab and recovery, and we had a difficult time helping ex offenders find gainful employment. Seems the deck was stacked against them even though they were now attempting to become productive citizens. Many get frustrated with repeated failures and fall back into old criminal easy money habits.

 

But that is a far cry from someone being in arrears on child support yet willing to spend several payments of support on a cruise for himself. Be a parent and man up, get right with the support first, then take the whole family on a cruise.

[sparks1093]

So he paid his debt for the crime he committed long ago, that's a good thing. I worked in alcohol/drug rehab and recovery, and we had a difficult time helping ex offenders find gainful employment. Seems the deck was stacked against them even though they were now attempting to become productive citizens. Many get frustrated with repeated failures and fall back into old criminal easy money habits.

 

But that is a far cry from someone being in arrears on child support yet willing to spend several payments of support on a cruise for himself. Be a parent and man up, get right with the support first, then take the whole family on a cruise.

 

If the court has ordered payments toward the arrears, which they typically do, and he is compliant with those payments (haven't read anything to suggest he isn't) then he is under no legal obligation to pay any more toward the arrears than what the court ordered.

 

With that said I would be more concerned with the stupid thing he did earlier in life. If that was egregious enough to prevent him from getting a passport now then it may be egregious enough to keep him from cruising.

[mredandchis]

my son and his buddy are talking about a cruise. His buddy has a record, owes child support so doesn’t have a drivers license but has state issued ID, and can’t get a passport because of his record. So, will a birth certificate get him on the ship and state issued ID be enough to get back on board in ports? Ya, I know if something happens.... but that’s not my problem. And he’s actually a good guy, doing right with his daughter now, she’s living with him.

 

Ok, one thing stands out here. "he cant get a passport". That say to me there will be a serious problem coming back into the US. Those fellows down in immagration dont play well. They got these laws they follow. I would be very concerned and I am sure he is now a good guy and just had a problem in the past but he needs to figure out the passport issue first. If he took care of it all and now is personally caring for his child he should be able to get it all fixed.

[salty dingo]

I've read that agents at the border can let you enter at their discretion if it has been over 10 years. The only sure way though is with Rehabilitation or the temp resident permit.

This is true for misdemeanors, but all DUIs are treated as felony offenses by Canadian immigration. Their laws can charge DUI as either and they err on the side of more serious when they don't have any other information.

 

Therefore, they do not have discretion to allow DUIs offenders in after 10 years, as they would with, say, misdemeanor pot possession.

 

FYI - Canada is the only country with unfettered access to the NCIC database, where all US citizens have their criminal record stored. So, this sort of problem is unique to Canada. No other country is going to know if you had a DUI 20 years ago.

[angeleyez915]

my son and his buddy are talking about a cruise. His buddy has a record, owes child support so doesn’t have a drivers license but has state issued ID, and can’t get a passport because of his record. So, will a birth certificate get him on the ship and state issued ID be enough to get back on board in ports? Ya, I know if something happens.... but that’s not my problem. And he’s actually a good guy, doing right with his daughter now, she’s living with him.

 

for a closed loop cruise - that is where you are leaving / returning to the same US port. the required documents are a state issued picture ID and a birth certificate or proof of citizenship. Some ports do require additional documentation/visas - such as Cuba, but you will have to check your itinerary information to see what would be required. At the very least if there is a port that will require something he does not have he would just have to stay on the ship rather than get off at the port

[sparks1093]

for a closed loop cruise - that is where you are leaving / returning to the same US port. the required documents are a state issued picture ID and a birth certificate or proof of citizenship. Some ports do require additional documentation/visas - such as Cuba, but you will have to check your itinerary information to see what would be required. At the very least if there is a port that will require something he does not have he would just have to stay on the ship rather than get off at the port

 

Actually if a port required something that he did not have he would be denied boarding since the cruise line cannot carry a passenger into a country that is lacking the documentation for entry into that country.

[sft429]

This is true for misdemeanors, but all DUIs are treated as felony offenses by Canadian immigration. Their laws can charge DUI as either and they err on the side of more serious when they don't have any other information.

 

Therefore, they do not have discretion to allow DUIs offenders in after 10 years, as they would with, say, misdemeanor pot possession.

FYI - Canada is the only country with unfettered access to the NCIC database, where all US citizens have their criminal record stored. So, this sort of problem is unique to Canada. No other country is going to know if you had a DUI 20 years ago.

 

I really don't care but it's raining and I can't combine beans so ...

I think you're wrong.

 

From the Government of Canada website...

 

Depending on the crime, how long ago it was and how you have behaved since, you may still be allowed to come to Canada, if you:

• convince an immigration officer that you meet the legal terms to be deemed rehabilitated, or
  
• applied for rehabilitation and were approved, or
  
• were granted a record suspension or
  
• have a temporary resident permit.
  

And

Deemed rehabilitation, under Canada’s immigration law, means that enough time has passed since you were convicted that your crime may no longer bar you from entering Canada.

They aren't talking about misdemeanors.

You may be deemed rehabilitated, depending on:

• the crime you committed
  
• how serious the crime was and how much time has passed since you completed the sentence imposed for your crime:
  
  • 10 years for one indictable offence
    
  • five years for two or more summary convictions
    

  [*]whether you have committed one or more crimes and

  [*]if the crime would be punishable in Canada by a maximum prison term of less than 10 years.

From another, non-govt, website

There exists a process called “Deemed Rehabilitated,” which is available to individuals who only have one offense on their record and at least ten years have passed since the completion of sentencing. For example, if a person has a single DUI conviction on their record and at least ten years have passed since the completion of sentencing, they are automatically no longer inadmissible to Canada. This process requires no paperwork and there is no associated cost.

[JaxsMama]

Drove to Canada with my now husband and he had a dui that was about 7 years old at the time. We we're stopped at the border and had to pull into a garge type structure to be searched. Both us and the car. Then after some questions we we're allowed to enter.

 

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[MisterBill99]

Ok, one thing stands out here. "he cant get a passport". That say to me there will be a serious problem coming back into the US. Those fellows down in immagration dont play well.

That is not the issue. If he needed a passport to get back into the US, the cruise line would not allow him on the ship. There are situations (closed loop cruises like this) where a driver's license (which he also doesn't have) or official state ID (which he does) are sufficient.

[BallFour4]

There are two things in play here. Child support and if a warrant exists.

 

Perhaps not all ports are the same, but here in Galveston the authorities run the passenger manifest while you are at sea. If a warrant exists they will contact the agency or city that issued it and inquire about extradition. Some will, some won't.

 

Take a look at galveston.com and the cruise webcams. Almost every time when a ship returns to port law enforcement walks aboard and escorts those with warrants off the ship. About an hour later the county police blotter website shows the names, where the warrant was issued and what the charges are. Child support comes up often.

 

Your call.

 

.

[MisterBill99]

There are two things in play here. Child support and if a warrant exists.

 

Perhaps not all ports are the same, but here in Galveston the authorities run the passenger manifest while you are at sea. If a warrant exists they will contact the agency or city that issued it and inquire about extradition. Some will, some won't.

 

Take a look at galveston.com and the cruise webcams. Almost every time when a ship returns to port law enforcement walks aboard and escorts those with warrants off the ship. About an hour later the county police blotter website shows the names, where the warrant was issued and what the charges are. Child support comes up often.

 

Your call.

Interesting info. At least they don't do it before the cruise, although I guess contacting the issuer takes some time. Still an unpleasant surprise to come home to (although I guess it should not be unexpected if you're in that situation).

[ManyMore]

People can be judgemental on this board, including me. But I have no sympathy for anyone who doesn't take care of their responsibilities as a parent, and I am willing to bet most people on this board will agree with me, especially this situation where a parent doesn't pay overdue child support but has money to spend on a cruise. I am sorry, but that is 100% wrong in my book.

 

Nobody on this board knows anyone's situation. My husband was in the hospital with a brain injury for 2 months. His child support wasn't being paid that time and then due to his injury he is no longer able to work. His child support wasn't being paid by me because it is not my child, nor was he allowed to see her. I decided to take him on a cruise for him to have something to enjoy. Did he still owe that child support? yes. Should I not be able to do something nice for the both both of us? Yes. So... before you judge people who are cruising with owed child support, they may not even be paying for that cruise.

[kona_wahine]

nobody on this board knows anyone's situation. My husband was in the hospital with a brain injury for 2 months. His child support wasn't being paid that time and then due to his injury he is no longer able to work. His child support wasn't being paid by me because it is not my child, nor was he allowed to see her. I decided to take him on a cruise for him to have something to enjoy. Did he still owe that child support? Yes. Should i not be able to do something nice for the both both of us? Yes. So... Before you judge people who are cruising with owed child support, they may not even be paying for that cruise.

thank you!

[memoak]

This is true for misdemeanors, but all DUIs are treated as felony offenses by Canadian immigration. Their laws can charge DUI as either and they err on the side of more serious when they don't have any other information.

 

Therefore, they do not have discretion to allow DUIs offenders in after 10 years, as they would with, say, misdemeanor pot possession.

 

I beg to differ - I have a DUI in California in 1976 and have cruised many times to Canada on both the east and west coasts - absolutely no issue what so ever. Have also crossed in a car and also no issue

[joepeka]

(y)(y)(y)

Nobody on this board knows anyone's situation. My husband was in the hospital with a brain injury for 2 months. His child support wasn't being paid that time and then due to his injury he is no longer able to work. His child support wasn't being paid by me because it is not my child, nor was he allowed to see her. I decided to take him on a cruise for him to have something to enjoy. Did he still owe that child support? yes. Should I not be able to do something nice for the both both of us? Yes. So... before you judge people who are cruising with owed child support, they may not even be paying for that cruise.

[coevan]

"

they may not even be paying for that cruise."

However, his name, passport or DL info will be in the booking. I wouldn't act so cavalier if he still has past due or has unpaid child support, stuff happens

[kona_wahine]

"

they may not even be paying for that cruise."

However, his name, passport or DL info will be in the booking. I wouldn't act so cavalier if he still has past due or has unpaid child support, stuff happens

 

Which has been asked and answered. Don’t go on the cruise. We got it.

[coevan]

I was responding to ManyMore

[salty dingo]

Drove to Canada with my now husband and he had a dui that was about 7 years old at the time. We we're stopped at the border and had to pull into a garge type structure to be searched. Both us and the car. Then after some questions we we're allowed to enter.

They must have just wanted a look in the car. Doubt they took the time to run his license through the computer.

[salty dingo]

I really don't care but it's raining and I can't combine beans so ...

I think you're wrong.

 

 

...

 

There exists a process called “Deemed Rehabilitated,” which is available to individuals who only have one offense on their record and at least ten years have passed since the completion of sentencing. For example, if a person has a single DUI conviction on their record and at least ten years have passed since the completion of sentencing, they are automatically no longer inadmissible to Canada. This process requires no paperwork and there is no associated cost.

Yeah, there is some truth to that. I also found this:

 

To be considered deemed rehabilitated, a US citizen or resident must have only a single DUIon their record (misdemeanor criminal conviction or traffic infraction) and must have paid all fines and successfully completed all probation at least ten years prior. Any other court-ordered conditions, such as attending a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Impact Panel, must also have been fulfilled a minimum of ten years before attempting to travel to Canada. In order for Deemed Rehabilitation to apply, a visitor to Canada may need to prove to border security that ten years has passed since all court-imposed requirements were satisfied. Americans may also need a copy of their FBI Police Certificate to prove to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers that he or she has no criminal convictions in the past ten years.

 

So, if you have the foresight to have your fingerprints sent to the FBI recently, you probably can use the rap sheet you get back to prove you have no recent violations. Or they can just look you up in the computer, assuming they have one. You never know ...

[sparks1093]

They must have just wanted a look in the car. Doubt they took the time to run his license through the computer.

 

Running a license takes seconds (barring system issues, of course).

[salty dingo]

If he would be arrested when reentering the country why isn't he arrested now while he's still in the country? Or on embarkation if he's that hard to find?

Maybe because he owes child support in one state and lives in another? The other state is not going to be looking for him. If he's arrested for something else and he has a warrant out in another state, they will hold him to see if that state wants to extradite. They almost never will for misdemeanors.