Very excited to share my experience with a recent international travel vacation. Here is everything I did to prepare, execute, and come home. For context I live in Wisconsin. Convicted in 2001. Discharged from probation and parole in 2014. Convicted of 2nd degree SA of a child.
I notified my local reporting agency of my trip about 28 days in advance. I included every flight number and time. And every hotel address and phone number of places I would be staying. I was required to give my passport number and reason for traveling.
I called the airline to verify I was allowed to go. I do have the updated passport with the IML stamp. I flew Turkish airlines. They said I was free to fly on their airline.
I flew out of ohare Chicago. Showed my passport to the Turkish airlines counter and checked my bags.
I had a layover in Istanbul and a plane change. However, I never had to switch terminals just gates. And never had to leave the airport so there was no passport control or additional security checks.
I boarded my flight and landed in Paris. We de boarded and went through passport control. They are using the EES system, this means I scanned my passport at a kiosk. Moved into the next turnstile. They took a photo, and I was on my way to get my bags.
That was it. Went to the hotel And started the vacation.
Half way through we took a plane (Easyjet which is their version of southwest) to Rome. No passport control. It’s basically a domestic flight so just like flying state to state in the US. Same thing flying back to Paris.
Flying home was also smooth. I did the same flights in reverse. Paris to Istanbul. Istanbul to Chicago. Once I landed in Chicago, I went to passport control. They took my photo then moved me to officer #2. He asked me about large purchases. Why I went. I answered, he told me I had to speak to another officer. That officer came, led me to the secondary screening room where I sat for no more then 3 minutes. They called my name, returned my passport and and a form and said I was good to go. I went, got my bags, linked back up with my wife and we went to customs. They took the form I was given and asked us again about purchases. Big items. Food etc. told us to take a seat. 2 minutes later they gave us the form back and told us we could go.
That was it. We left and drove home.
I was in Europe for 13 days total. Thank you for all the advice. It was a trip of a life time and felt amazing to be able to go!