A DUI conviction in Illinois comes with major penalties, which increase with each successive DUI conviction. If you are facing a DUI charge, you are likely worried about the immediate consequences, such as fines, jail time and the loss of your driver’s license.
You could be denied entry to certain countries
You may not initially realize that a DUI conviction can affect many other areas of your life, including international travel. You might love traveling to other countries and exploring other cultures or you might need to travel internationally due to employment.
DUI convictions can create obstacles to international travel and/or obtaining a visa. A DUI conviction in Illinois, even if it is a misdemeanor, means that you have a criminal record.
There are many countries that have strict entry requirements. Having a DUI conviction on your record can make entering another country difficult or impossible.
For example, even one DUI conviction can prevent you from entering Canada and Mexico. Other countries have the option to deny entry to anyone with a criminal record.
Although each case is generally examined individually, your chance of gaining entry to another country is significantly lessened when you have DUI convictions on your record.
Misdemeanors versus felonies
Your chance of entry may be higher if your criminal record consists of only one misdemeanor DUI conviction. However, your chances are lower with multiple DUI convictions since they are felonies.
If you are denied entry, there might be other options, depending on the country. Canada allows you to apply for some temporary permits to gain admission, but the process of obtaining these is long and expensive.
However, several countries deny entry to anyone with a felony record. Some of these countries include China, Cuba, India, Israel, Japan, South Afrida and the United Kingdom.
What about getting a visa?
DUI convictions can also complicate the process of obtaining a visa. Most visa applications require you to list your criminal convictions. This is particularly true if you are applying for a long-term visa to work or study in another country.
You should always be honest when attempting to gain admission to a country or applying for a visa. With some exceptions, most countries will not automatically deny you if you have a DUI conviction but prepare to face additional scrutiny and delays.
As you can imagine, this can complicate matters if your job requires regular international travel. If your employer learns that you could be delayed or prevented entry to a country because of DUI convictions, your job could be in jeopardy.
Defending yourself against a DUI charge
Being denied a visa or entry into a country is probably not the first thing on your mind when you are charged with DUI. But these are more reasons to put on the strongest possible defense to a DUI charge.
There are several potential defenses to a DUI charge, but knowing if any apply to your case requires a thorough investigation of the circumstances. Being proactive and taking steps to defend yourself can increase your chance of a dismissal, allowing you to continue to your international travels.