+xSo we are told we do not have to disclose our previous life once the conviction is spent. That is in the UK, so what about visiting other countries? I recently posted about visiting a beautiful lady in Uganda, only to discover the visa asks if i have previously been refused entry or have a criminal conviction in the past. I was refused entry to the Philippines and New Zealand (as posted a few times) and have a conviction (4 years left of my 10 years.) So would I be breaking other countries rules by not admitting to them as it was in the past and now Spent ? As for the refused entry would they know if I said no ? What is anyones understanding of the legal situation of all this? It certainly is not clear. For the UK yes, but not for other countries As I understand it, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 only applies in England & Wales these days, although travel to Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man shouldn't be a problem. Beyond that, no country has to consider whether a conviction in the UK is spent or rehabilitated. OK, Canada does have to give consideration to whether a UK conviction is spent under the ROA, but they have the power to ignore that if they can justify it.... I did notice that you referred to your 10 years, and if that's a 10-year SOPO or SHPO, then your conviction isn't spent until that order ends. If you notify foreign travel to the police, they should do a risk assessment. That might include whether they know you have to disclose to get in, and that might give them leeway to disclose because they can say non-disclosure is immigration fraud. In the specific example of Australia, they have a law banning any foreign national who has been convicted of an offence that involves a child or children. They would also assume that if you want to get into the USA, if you disclose you will be refused, which they can then use to justify disclosing on your behalf and also raising your risk level.... I'd say wait until the police are no longer involved, then make your own decisions. Yes, that's four years away, but once a foreign country is told of your record, they won't forget it.
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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)
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