# Passport question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651 "2010-04-19T18:36:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/1 "2010-04-19T18:36:47Z")
I’ve never had a passport but am considering getting one with a friend so we can travel. We started joking about being denied due to our checkered pasts. But it made me start wondering what would prevent an application from going through. Past felony conviction? Owed back taxes? Commie party affiliation? What are they really looking for and what are the things that would prevent you from getting one? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/2 "2010-04-19T18:40:55Z")
Lying on the application about your citizenship would probably be one, but assuming you’re a citizen, I can’t think of a reason they’d deny you one. Now, actually getting permission to enter _another_ country is another matter. Other countries can exclude people for any reason they want. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/3 "2010-04-19T18:51:50Z")
Actually, from what I remember from a fairly recent thread on this very topic, there ARE several things that will prevent an American citizen from getting issued a passport. I remember that certain drug crimes (especially if they include trafficking across international borders) certain felonies and some financial issues (apparently, owing the government a big pile o’ money will make them want to keep you around here in the USA until you pay up) can all keep you from getting you passoprt. The thread was very interesting, and it was from just sometime in the past year or so… PS—There were also some terrorism related issues listed—If you are on a terror watch list, I don’t think Uncle Sam is anxious to help you travel the world. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/4 "2010-04-19T19:08:08Z")
Lying about your citizenship is one; being under a court order to surrender your passport so you do not flee while awaiting trial might be another. Most other countries outside the USA hav pretty straight-forward explicit rules. New Zealand, IIRC, had something like: No visa to enter if you have been sentenced (even if not served) to more than 5 years, no more than 12 months in the last 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/5 "2010-04-19T19:47:44Z")
Canada can deny you entry for having a non-felony DUI conviction. Technically they could have excuded this [guy](http://www.azduiatty.com/bush-an-inadmissible-person-to-canada.htm) but decided not to. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/6 "2010-04-19T20:28:22Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Canada can deny you entry for having a non-felony DUI conviction. Technically they could have excuded this [guy](http://www.azduiatty.com/bush-an-inadmissible-person-to-canada.htm) but decided not to. Wouldn’t he have been admitted as foreign diplomatic or consular staff instead? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/7 "2010-04-19T20:31:19Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Wouldn’t he have been admitted as foreign diplomatic or consular staff instead? Actually there was somewhat of a stink raised in Canada over his initial visit and he recieved a special pardon in order to quite the media attention. Those Canucks can get pretty fiesty when they want to and for some reason this one pushed thier buttons. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/8 "2010-04-19T20:32:32Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > What are they really looking for and what are the things that would prevent you from getting one? The main reasons for denying an application would be insufficient documentation, outstanding arrest warrants, non-payment of child support, association with illegal narcotics trade (such as having a past conviction for smuggling), status of default on a government-backed loan, or being mentally incompetent. [Linky linky.](http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=3ead326fbd14163c874c9225b79e5c8f&rgn=div6&view=text&node=22:1.0.1.6.33.5&idno=22) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/9 "2010-04-19T20:34:03Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Past felony conviction? Owed back taxes? Commie party affiliation? What are they really looking for and what are the things that would prevent you from getting one? The first & last ones – we’d probably be glad to see such a person leave the country, and maybe not come back. But the middle one (owed back taxes) – we want them to stay & pay those! ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/10 "2010-04-19T20:38:52Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The main reasons for denying an application . . . being mentally incompetent. Must . . . resist . . . temtation . . . to bash former President. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/11 "2010-04-19T20:58:01Z")
A garden-variety criminal past (simple possession of drugs, most non-violent crimes in general) won’t stop them from printing you up a passport and sending you on your way (maybe as another poster pointed out they are actually glad to help you get out of the USA) it seemed to be mainly crimes where international travel was part of your M.O. (the smuggler who is caught crossing borders with a trunkful of Bolivian Marching Powder) are the situations where they may turn down the application… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/12 "2010-04-19T22:27:01Z")
Something I’ve learned that I didn’t know was that you can apply for a pardon for a past criminal conviction, which I believe might make your passport application go better (or go at all). I always thought of a criminal record as something that will affect you forever, but it appears that it might not necessarily be so. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/13 "2010-04-19T22:58:59Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Something I’ve learned that I didn’t know was that you can apply for a pardon for a past criminal conviction… This is true for Canada, but not necessarily for the United States. It is my understanding that pardons in the US are fairly rare. A pardon in Canada doesn’t wipe the record clean, by the way; it merely “buries it a little deeper,” as it were. It’s still there, but it won’t show up on certain police searches. Note that American border authorities don’t recognize Canadian pardons. I’m unsure, but I don’t believe a past criminal conviction will prevent you from obtaining a Canadian passport. Really, all it is is an identity document–that you are who you say you are, and you’re a citizen of the country that issued it. It also records dates of entry into other countries; and dates of exits if those countries have exit controls. Of course, a passport won’t be issued if you’re likely to flee the country while out on bail; but a past criminal matter that is over with shouldn’t affect your obtaining a Canadian passport. Whether or not your past criminal conviction(s), pardoned or not, will allow you into another country is another matter. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/14 "2010-04-20T00:22:05Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The main reasons for denying an application would be insufficient documentation, outstanding arrest warrants, non-payment of child support, association with illegal narcotics trade (such as having a past conviction for smuggling), status of default on a government-backed loan, or being mentally incompetent. > > [Linky linky.](http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=3ead326fbd14163c874c9225b79e5c8f&rgn=div6&view=text&node=22:1.0.1.6.33.5&idno=22) Appreciate the link, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/15 "2010-04-20T02:55:07Z")
[hijack] I’m in the US and need to visit the UK for about a week. The UK website says I don’t need a visa so can I just grab my passport and fly to London? [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/16 "2010-04-20T03:01:33Z")
On a US passport, right? After a brief (and often quite intimidating) interview, they’ll stamp your passport and in you go. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/17 "2010-04-20T03:22:35Z")
Deleted ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/18 "2010-04-20T03:23:52Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > … can I just grab my passport and fly to London? That “fly to London” part might be somewhat trickier than usual this week. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/19 "2010-04-20T03:25:32Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > That “fly to London” part might be somewhat trickier than usual this week. End of May for maybe a week. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question/536651/20 "2010-04-20T03:33:07Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > On a US passport, right? After a brief (and often quite intimidating) interview, they’ll stamp your passport and in you go. Intimidating? I just got a John Cleese type asking “You aren’t planning on any (pause)\*folderol \*(raise eyebrow), are you?” “No…” “Oh, quite alright, then! (stamp passport with a flourish) Do have a cracking time, then, won’t you?”