Planning for a getaway trip abroad can be exciting, especially when you have been planning for months. However, as you count the days to your trip, you suddenly face a driving while impaired (DWI) arrest in Missouri. Will this affect your itinerary? Understanding state laws on DWI is key to finding an answer.
Traveling abroad according to your legal status
If you are currently on probation, you cannot easily leave the state or country. Requesting written permission from your probation officer is a must. While this is possible, they must ask the court for permission. Because approval may take time, you need to submit your written request at least 15 days in advance.
Facing a pending charge
Are you safe if your case has not gone to court yet? Not necessarily. Border agents often have access to real-time arrest records. If you have an open case in Missouri, the immigration officer can ask you about the status or disposition of your charge. Without the right paperwork, they can deny entry simply because the legal outcome is still uncertain.
Identifying countries with strict entry bans
Even after your probation ends and your case closed, these countries view a DWI as a severe crime and may deny you entry at the border:
- Canada: Treats a DWI as a serious criminality and may deny admission even for a first offense
- Japan: Bans entry for individuals with any conviction with a sentence of at least one year
- Australia: Requires a disclosure of criminal history and denies entry for those who fail the character test
- New Zealand: Bars those who have a sentence of 12 months or more of imprisonment in the last 10 years
- China: Requires disclosure on visa applications and grants entry on a case-by-case basis
Before you book flights and accommodation, it would be best to check these countries’ guidelines on entry.
Learning more about your issue
Navigating international travel with a pending charge can be tricky. To ensure your travel investment does not go to waste, it is highly beneficial to have a DWI attorney review your case and provide the specific documentation needed to cross borders with confidence.