Can Felons Travel To Turkey?

Despite the ages, the mystical aura that surrounds this ancient country still unbelievably persists. It’s hard to imagine that any real traveler would not go to Turkey and marvel at the greatness of an empire that was once.

The good thing about the Turkish government is that it is pretty straightforward with its requirements from foreign nationals who want to enter its borders. With felons who wish to travel though, having to deal with uncertainties concerning their criminal history is a perpetual struggle.

Travel Restrictions

While it is true that one’s criminal history is not a concern in other countries, it could be a huge thorn when it comes to one’s country of origin.

Conviction for a misdemeanor that involves controlled substances is enough to disqualify anyone from traveling outside the country. Needless to say, drug traffickers and other drug-related offenders are all the more ineligible.

Even without these compulsory grounds, the State Department is fully armed with the power of discretion to determine whether it is proper or not for someone to depart from the US.

Judicially-declared incompetence, absence of legal guardian’s consent, unpaid federal loans and child support debt, among others, are discretionary grounds to disallow one’s travel.

Without question, your passport will be denied if you are subject to a warrant of arrest or a subpoena that involves the investigation or prosecution of a felony.

This is true also with respect to a request for extradition presented by a foreign government or an order of apprehension issued by a US Armed Forces Officer.

Reasons To Travel To Turkey

Turkey is relatively a massive parcel of land lodged between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It is probably the only large country where nothing is bare, and every nook and corner has rich history and scenery to behold.

The most recent internet splutter that perhaps put the modern name of Turkey under the radar, aside from brewing rumors of war, is the supposed finding of Noah’s ark in Mount Ararat, Turkey’s highest peak.

Not that anyone would travel to Turkey looking for the wooden arc. The thing is – every city and town in Turkey has witnessed the ancient world and incredibly suffered the sharpest turnabouts that shaped history.

For all the beauty and glory that each country on earth has to offer, you simply could not leave Turkey out of your travel plans.

Entry Requirements To Turkey

The State Department advises US citizens to comply with all Turkey visa regulations, to secure the necessary permits and to satisfy the following necessary requirements:

• Passport with 6-month validity beyond entry date, with one blank page and enough space for entry and exit stamps
• Turkish visa for tourism or commerce if stay is up to 90 days within a 180-day period (May be obtained online through the e-Visa system)
• Foreigners who stay for more than 90 days must register themselves at the nearest local police department upon their arrival in Turkey
• Visa for other purposes such as work, study or academic teaching (Must be obtained only through Turkey embassy or consulates)
• Special permit must be obtained from the Turkey government for foreigners who will shoot a documentary film, conduct a research or an archaeological excavation
• US citizens traveling on cruise ships may enter without a visa and permission of port of entry security authorities (Maximum of 72 hours)
• Turkey entry stamp on the passport page containing your visa before transferring to domestic flights

Can you think of any other reason or ground that could possibly affect your freedom to travel outside of US? Why do you want to go to Turkey?