Perhaps somebody knows about international regulations or policies regarding ex-convicts. My son Mariano (28) will cpmplete his 40-month sentence and be released in March 2004 and deported from US to Argentina. He will not have any criminal record in Argentina, since his offense was committed and the time served in the US.

However I know that he will not want to stay in Argentina, because his girlfriend lives in Venezuela and because of the catastrophic situation in Argentina. (Not so terrible: I am working and surviving well, and could help him) If not Venezuela, he will want to migrate to other countries. He had already taken that decision in 1999 when he migrated to Venezuela and in one year got involved in drugs out of our sight. Why he wants to try again, nobody will be able to explain to me.

My question is: will other countries (Latin American, European, Canada) grant a TOURIST VISA to someone who is an ex-convict for drug smuggling in the US, and who has been surely put in the list of the DEA and Interpol ? We know that in five years he could be allowed to enter in the US again, but his plans are other countries, mainly Venezuela.

Isn't it reasonable that other countries will NOT want to grant visa to an ex "mule" ? Do you know of some experience ?

These policies are never published, that's why I don't find anything in the Web, and it is not advisable to go ask directly at an embassy.

In case that my suspects are true, do you know how many years it takes for DEA and Interpol to clear the record of an ex-convict ?

Any information will be most helpful, because I want to be prepared for the problems we will face after my son's release.

Un abrazo - Andrés

Hi Escamillo,

I read your post and saw you mentioned that your son might want to go to Europian countries. I'm from Holland and i found a website where you probably will find the information you're looking for:
http://www.immigratiedienst.nl/

[You can read it in English too.]

if your son want to come to Holland and you need some help with it perhaps i can do something for you, just let me know!

Bye, Moos.

Moos, I even check the site out and pluged in for longer then 3 months and partner reunifcation from the USA. WOW that's easy as too what is needed to apply. :-) It said, coming from the USA that a MVV wasn't needed, what ever that is? Maybe a visa?

It was interesting to play with.

Thank you, Moos, it seems that the procedure for an Argentinean citizen is easy, because no visa is required for a holiday. A different matter would be a student visa, but anyway, nothing is said about criminal records. Tha phrase "you should not be a danger for national security" is very vague and seemingly appropiate for terrorists. Perhaps my suspicions are exaggerated. I'll continue searching.

Un abrazo - Andrés

Hi B-Ray :D

I have been searching for the meaning of 'MVV' it is short for ' machtiging tot voorlopig vervblijf' (=Dutch) in English it means :
'authorization for temporary stay', so that means for longer than 3 months. (up to 3 months is a vacation)

It will take 3 months to get that authorization but once you have it in your passport it is valid for the following 6 months and they will let you in Holland with it.

:D

Escamillo,

I asked someone who works in an asylem if he knows if your son would come to Holland when he is released in 2004, he thinks your son won't get in Holand for the next four years after he was released :( He said that he would take a look at it and search the code of law again, when i know some more i will let you know.

moos.

In Denmark its the same but here he can stay for 6 month without an visa

Kristin

Thanks very much for the inputs, I guessed that some resriction was very reasonable. But, how they know ? The passport does not show any record, or does it ? My son will have a clean Argentina passport and absolutely no criminal record at the Argentina Justice. They MUST have some info from Interpol or DEA in order to deny a visa or simple entry for vacation. For example, the Netherlands will not require a previous visa from an Argentine citizen. He arrives with his clean passport, and they find that he is in the list of ex-convicts. What will they do ? deport him in the next flight ? Perhaps it will be necessary to go first to the Consular offices and explain the subject very honestly and obtain a firm approval or denial ... before attempting to travel.

Un abrazo - Andrés

when your son would be at the airport and they would look at his pass port and search with his number in their computer they can see that he once has been in prison or jail. They can't see what he did or for what he had to stay in prison but they can refuse him, [what probably will happen] on the basis of his sentence.

You know what, Monday i will call the IND and ask them all about it, i am curious myself too! This is all i know, perhaps there are more things which are good to know.
I'll keep in touch,

moos.

Hi together, this way I also love to go, that my Eddie come to Germany, but don´t find any Information if he can come and to live here with me ...so maybe is in everyCountry same ?

Hi Sabine,

I don't know if it i the same for all countries in Europe, i don't think there are many differences, the countries are pretty close, but i don't know this for sure.
There must be a website from the German government where you can find all kind of answers and when the answers not at the website you can call them and asked them your questions. My German is even worse than my Englis :D otherwise i could call for you

moos

I've been surfing for an hour with no results. It seems that the decision to allow or not the entry of a visitor to any country is hidden somewhere. I think that, like Netherlands and Denmark, there will be no country whose authorities will not check the name and passport number of a visitor against a list of ex-felons, especially in regard to drug smuggling. I am almost convinced that this is another consequence of my son's offense, and he will have to live with it, at least for some years after his release.

Any further information will be very appreciated.
Un abrazo - Andrés
(I started a topic named "Singing, anyone?" in the Non-Prison Talk Conversations forum. It's getting very interesting)

Thanks Moos...maybe one day I get the answer..LOL...have time until 2005 and than I must know what to do :-( .Thanks once again...

Hi Escamillo,

I just called the IND and asked for information.
They told me that when you’re from Argentina you don’t need a visa to enter Holland, however when someone got a sentence longer than 3 years in a row, the entrance can be refused.

When your son wants to live here in Holland he needs a destination, such like a job or a partner who already lives here. You already told that his girlfriend lives in Venezuela so I asked about what he should do to get a job here.
The man on the phone told me that he has to apply for a job, (there are several ways to do this from another country) and he will need a work permit and he has to show a back ground inquiry to the Dutch Embassy in the country where he is also he has to ask for a MUV which is an authorization for temporary stay.

I asked how the customs would know that your son has been in prison and how long etc. The man on the phone told me that the customs wouldn’t know unless your son was added to a list from the C.I.D, I don’t know exactly how to translate it into English, I hope you understand me, if not then let me know!

So, an ex-convict can travel into Europe, but when he is on the list then they can find out that he is an ex convict and when he had a sentence longer than 3 years in a row then they can refuse him. I don’t think your son is on such a list [is he?], but make sure you are informed well before he starts his journey.
I guess that you probably can find some information at the embassy? Did you call them already? Perhaps they will have a website too?

I hope the information above is useful to you and your son! Whenever I can help you with something just let me know.

Bye, Moos.

I'm not to sure about Europe but as for canada, your son will need what's called a ministers permit. In other words permission from the country to enter with a criminal history. If approved then he will have a valid 6 month visitors visa. I must tell you that in the past they did not check into this very often (I know through some experience with a few people). I assume that since 9/11 security is stricter especially immigration. As for applying for residency in Canada, from what I understand of the law he must wait for 5 years after his release and prove "rehabilitaion" like completion of a drug program, hold a job longterm, maintaining stability with an apartment etc. Try this site, they even have the score sheet for approval as far as your proffesion etc. From memory I think you have to score a 60 to be approved:
http://cicnet.ci.gc.ca

My suspicions were reasonable. My son will have to carefully plan his visits to other countries to avoid the risk of being rejected at an airport. This information (which is not easily accesible at Foreign Offices websites of all countries) is very useful for Mariano when he is released and will have to reorganize his life.

Thanks to the thieves who emptied and ruined Argentina these last 10 years, this country, otherwise rich and generous, has become a land of anger and desperation for millions of people. If he accepts the situation and decide to stay and work hard and fight, he may well be happier here, than begging for a job abroad.

If you see the incredible wealth of this country's natural and human resources, you may find it absolutely unbeleivable that this debacle was possible. We are now importing insuline as humanitarian help from Spain, and at the same time building and exporting a nuclear reactor to Australia. Isn't it absurd ??

Un abrazo - Andrés