If you wish to travel or emigrate abroad, you may find that your criminal record restricts your entry to certain countries.
Each country will have its own entry criteria, and if you are thinking about moving or travelling to a country outside the EU you should check the entry criteria with the relevant embassy and find out whether it is necessary to provide any documentation.
Monan Gozzett can advise on the implications of an arrest or a caution/conviction for travelling around the world.
Different countries and jurisdictions have different rules and require specialist advice in relation to applying for visas and the effects of any criminal investigation.
The rules can be confusing and require specialist legal advice.
Monan Gozzett can help you avoid being arrested if the police wish to speak to you about an offence, as we understand the implications of simply being arrested.
Moral Turpitude
For example, the USA and Canada ask if you have ever been arrested or convicted for a crime that resulted in serious damage to property or serious harm to another person or government authority.
This question relates to ‘moral turpitude’ offences.
‘Moral turpitude' is a legal term in the US that includes offences relating to:
- crimes against the person such as murder, manslaughter, rape, gross indecency, serious assaults, kidnapping
- crimes against property such as arson, burglary, theft, robbery, fraud, receiving stolen property
- crimes against government authority such as benefit fraud, tax evasion, bribery, perjury.
The list is non-exhaustive, but advice should be sought as this can be open-ended.
Monan Gozzett regularly advises in this area.
If you would like to speak to our expert legal team about this, or any related subject then please contact our team by phone on 0207 936 6329, Email or by completing our Quick Contact Form below.