BootsnAll Travel Community

I'm looking to try long term travel here in the near future however, as sad as it sounds, I've never actually left the USA. I have money saved up but I do plan on finding work along the way -- probably under the table gigs.

From what I've read I can get deported and fined for working illegally. However, that's all I've found. On the surface, getting the proverbial boot out of the country doesn't sound too bad. If on the other hand the boot is real, that could hurt.

I'm curious if anyone knows any additional problems that I could encounter from being deported. Am I not allowed in that one country or is that information marked on my passport which would reflect poorly in other countries? Is imprisonment an option?

Ben

Can anyone who has been kicked out of a country (ahm...I know there are a few of your on the boards) speak about this? I assume it varies depending on the country...

Court

I´ve been 'repatriated´from another country, all it meant was that my (British) password was held until I paid the cost of the fare home. I do have a friend (British) who was thrown out of the US for working illegally and she thins that it may be very difficult for her to return. I suppose it depends on the nature of your circumstances for deportation.

From what I understand, if you are deported from the US or Australia, they don't let you back right away. I think it is after something like 5 years before the would let you back in.

Being deported isn't like dying, but it could be serious depending on your circumstances. For instance, because I used to live in Vancouver, Canada and a lot of flights around the world route through the US. If I was deported out of the US, I would have a lot of difficulty traveling.

yeah, I've only heard the point of view of being kicked out of the US too.

My friend was jailed over night while he was deported from the US, and the big problem was that he'd met a fine lady from CA. In the end she had to move to England. They got married and had to stay over here for a few years before he was let back into america.
But all is well that ends well.... them and their little boy are living happy and legally in san fransisco.

For your situation I'm sure there are a million jobs you could get anywhere in the world, it seems pretty rare for people to get caught - especially if you're not outstaying your visa and only getting a bit of money here and there for some bar work. Good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm from the US so I hopefully won't have any problems getting deported from here. I'm hoping to hop around to different countries frequently so as long as I don't have to submit to chinese water torture for illegally washing dishes I don't think I have too much to be worried about.

I don't think you'll have a problem with the under the table gigs. There are plenty available, and I've known quite a few people who have done them. I did a small job that paid $40 cash, and had no problems. I also broke the US law according to the US State Dept while I was in Peru, but have yet to be confronted...ssshhh

To answer one of your questions, yes it could and does go into your immigation record. Unless you were deported from a country which doesn't have diplomatic relations with the US, I would say it's not a good thing. I don't know who exactly has access to your record, or how often it is looked at, but I do know this:

Every time an immigation officer slides your passport through a reader, he/she can see EVERYTHING, even back 15 years or more.

Thanks for the advice. Anybody know how long countries generally keep you out after deportation and does anybody know which countries don't have US diplomatic relations?

I'd ask the State Department(?) or just do some research online to find out about diplomatic relations. Also, look into cash work while you're doing research.

As I mentioned previously, I believe the USA and Australia set 5 years before they will let you back in if you have been deported. But, depending on how serious your offense, I am sure they can make this longer.

In short, don't get caught. As I mentioned before, it isn't like you are facing the death penalty, but it can make life awkward.