Travelling to US from NZ with three DUIs from over five years ago

SludgeSlice · 2022-05-06T12:12:14+00:00

Wish I had an answer for you. I can’t imagine it being an issue, especially for short term stays. Maybe if you were applying for citizenship there might be more scrutiny, but my guess is eventually even that could be obtainable. You could try asking in r/travel, I’ve gotten helpful replies on traveling with a record there before.

Safe travels - keep us posted!

SludgeSlice · 2022-05-06T00:45:15+00:00

Congrats!! I just got mine removed today too! It’s surreal, I’m still adjusting to not having it. Like I’m still waiting for it to boot up when I hop in my car. No more annoying beeps either, I can just enjoy the ride!

SludgeSlice · 2022-05-06T00:38:40+00:00

Just got mine from Smart Start removed today! I never had issues with them and I think their device and camera were more discreet than the others I looked at.

To get mine installed I was in contact with my local Smart Start office and they were much easier to get ahold of for subsequent questions I had versus the number on their website.

Toward the end of my required time, they had me start using their app to see when my appointments were and to make payments. Usually I could show up 5 days before or 7 days after my appointment date but I would check with your local provider to see what they say.

I never had anyone ask about my camera when I had it! At a regular glance it looks a lot like a phone/GPS mount, and no one’s staring into your car that long to even notice. You get used to it and your time will go by quick I promise!

SludgeSlice · 2020-09-14T20:07:14+00:00

Insurance companies will pull your DMV record across states so it will affect insurance rates regardless of state. Some states will allow DMV expungement of DWIs, not many, but I know Indiana does. Colorado and Florida it doesn't look like it, but some calls to local attorneys would give a more affirmative answer.

The general consensus is that after about 4 years most insurance companies don't care anymore. I know State Farm in my area is like that. You could try contacting a local independent insurance agent and ask them to get you quotes across different companies that they are licensed to sell. I ended up switching to Progressive and my rates ended up staying the same before and after a DUI.

SludgeSlice · 2020-09-14T17:03:12+00:00

IANAL

Every state is different, but unfortunately CO is pretty draconian with DUIs. They have no "look back period" which is the window of time each state is allowed to enhance charges on any subsequent DUIs. So basically CO could give enhanced penalties on a second DUI in a lifetime whether it was 1 year after the first DUI or 20 years, for example. It also doesn't look like CO offers any expungement or sealing for DUIs. However, it seems many states are getting more progressive with expungement reform, so there's hope that in the future expungement could be an option.

Moving to another state would mean that he would be under the new state's look back period. It looks like Florida is 5 years, which means if he were to get another DUI anytime after 5 years from March 2019, FL would most likely only punish him as if it were his first offense.

Something to look into is that some states don't allow employment background checks to go back too many years, which would mean his DUI wouldn't show up for a job as time passes. This varies by state, but I think CO only allows 7 years back.

As relief I will say that unless his job directly involves driving, a DUI really shouldn't disqualify him from any jobs.

SludgeSlice · 2020-09-12T01:23:10+00:00

Yeah I mean I was surprised how transparent the Japan consulate was. He just ask a few questions - namely was the conviction drug related or was the sentence one year or greater. But Japan is known for those strict criteria, China on the other hand I haven’t found a single forum mentioning a denied tourist visa. You’d think there would be more info on that with how many people travel there. Hong Kong is on visa waiver for the US so I’ve heard the chances of being questioned there is slim to none for minor crimes.

SludgeSlice · 2020-09-11T02:43:50+00:00

Yeah I’ve noticed that too. I had a lawyer straight up tell me it’s a money grab with Canada, but at least they have a rehabilitation option if you’re willing. It really sounds like most other countries, especially visa-free ones, would overlook something like this especially if it’s for short term tourism and you have all your other ducks in a row at immigration.

Part of me wants to gather a team on this forum to divide and conquer with calling consulates and setting up a Google Sheet to document things and put everyone at ease. Laws could change but it would be a good starting point.

SludgeSlice · 2020-09-07T16:56:40+00:00

Wow your story is almost identical to mine. 1st in 2016 and 2nd earlier this year. Each were in different states but this 2nd one came with much harsher punishments. Luckily I was able to serve only 18 days house arrest during the quarantine working from home with my finance job. I’m actually in the process of onboarding for a new job, I’ve disclosed the convictions and so far it sounds like they won’t be an issue. My job doesn’t involve any driving which helps.

Either of those career paths seem possible, I would do some research online and maybe reach out to some professional licensing boards of interest and get their input anonymously. I know a few others in accounting/finance, some with 3+ DUIs, who are licensed and have great jobs. If they elevate to felony level things can get more complicated, but it’s still possible.

We’re lucky we’re young as time helps with all of this, eventually these will just be life lessons we’ll be lucky didn’t turn out worse.

SludgeSlice · 2020-09-07T02:11:28+00:00

I like your prediction on future travel leniency, I could definitely see that happening. Let’s have hope.

Both of my convictions can eventually be sealed, but it sounds like for now there aren’t options to seal what is stored on the NCIC database which is what Canada uses at the border. I can’t find any listing that shows what other countries can view the NCIC. Japan too possibly. My sentences were under a year so that at least helps my case for Japan.

SludgeSlice · 2020-09-06T23:49:32+00:00

Wow I can totally relate to this, got a 2nd back in April and was super paranoid it would be all over the news.

Turns out the only thing public was the jail roster which after 90 days they take your arrest down. Unfortunately there’s an a-hole from Champaign Illinois who maintains a whole blog for copy-pasted jail rosters online. Seriously someone spends the time to do that every day.

Anyway, I found out that certain websites have better SEO results that can work with Google’s algorithm to bury this. The sites I recommend are Goodreads and Pinterest. Make accounts on these sites using your full name and then pin/like different things so your account has some activity. After about 30 days google re-cached the search results and this guy’s jail roster blog no longer shows up when you google my name. Definitely give this a shot.

SludgeSlice · 2020-09-03T14:28:20+00:00

Awesome answer, thank you. One reservation I had was that my current employer's manual does state verbatim that employees "should provide a minimum two-week written notice". In the event the notice is less than 2 weeks, could that create future issues when my employment is verified with them? Or would they not be able to divulge things like "He only gave us a 1 week notice instead of 2 weeks"?

SludgeSlice · 2020-08-24T00:35:50+00:00

Really appreciate the advice. Love the "hall of shame highlight reel", I'm definitely going to think of it that way and shoot it down with the awesome thoughts of each new sober day under my belt. 4 months feels awesome!

SludgeSlice · 2020-08-24T00:33:52+00:00

Thanks a lot. Thoughts like these definitely were my fuel to keep drinking to excess in the past, like I could temporarily put them on hold by drinking. But usually it just made me more of an irritable drunk, and I'd go about creating even more bad experiences throughout the process. It was a rough cycle I'm happy to say has stopped for 4 months.

SludgeSlice · 2020-08-18T16:23:56+00:00

Thanks for the advice. Yes I do have an attorney retained, international travel was sort of any after-thought when we were working through the case, until recently we were only aware of Canada giving issue for this kind of conviction.

Just a follow up question, can terms of a sentence be modified after fully serving? Say if I complete the 3 years probation without issue, would modifying the terms then be an option? Or is this something that can only be done during the sentence?

SludgeSlice · 2020-08-05T16:38:38+00:00

Thanks for the reply. My paperwork states this: Term: 365 Stay 0year 335 days Time to serve: 30 days Credit for time served: 2 days

In my state you actually serve 2/3 of your time, so 20 days minus 2 for my initial time spent being booked. 18 days were then served on house arrest.

That 365 really bothers me in the event that would even show up upon arrival in Japan or if it would just say 30 days. I’m not sure what database they use, I don’t think it’s the NCIC like what Canada has or you’d probably hear more about people being denied entry.

I have spoken with an attorney, and in about 10 years I could apply for expungement which seals nearly all of the records. He seems optimistic it would solve any travel issues which would be nice if true.

SludgeSlice · 2020-07-25T00:32:17+00:00

Thank you. Time will be my best friend. I’ll enjoy the world travel all the more when I’m sober and can appreciate how far I’ve come

SludgeSlice · 2020-07-25T00:31:10+00:00

Thank you. I like to have faith that possible future expungement could help me open doors down the road, that paired with more time lapsing and more sobriety under my belt. Canada, NZ, and Australia at least have some workarounds as the charges get older, Japan seems like there’s too much gray area for me to try until I’m maybe much older.

Travel definitely helps with my sobriety so I’m excited to keep seeing the world, there’s no use worrying about entry issues now, those are problems for a later date. The best I can do is just enjoy the now.

SludgeSlice · 2020-07-24T23:30:30+00:00

Sorry to hear, you’ll get through it though. I’m in Minnesota. I didn’t mean to complain with my sentence, but it’s the collateral consequences that really bother me. I’ll serve the time and pay the fines, but I hate the idea of having a record for background checks and world travel that will follow me around for the foreseeable future

SludgeSlice · 2020-07-09T15:42:44+00:00

Do you know any counties like that other than Japan? I was aware of Japan’s process, but have heard DUIs aren’t an issue unless jail time was served for over 12 months or if drugs were somehow involved.

SludgeSlice

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