Expunged Drug Conviction Record in T&T is no Guarantee to Get Visa to visit U.S.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The United States has told Trinidad and Tobago nationals with expunged drug convictions they may not necessarily be granted a visa to visit the North American country.

The announcement came as Port of Spain began the process of having persons jailed for the possession of small quantities of marijuana released.

Attorney General Faris Al Rawi last month approached the High Court to begin the process to release an estimated 100 inmates who had been jailed for being in possession of small amounts of marijuana in keeping with the decision by the T&T Parliament to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act so as to allow for the decriminalization of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes.

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Under the legislation, which went into effect on Dec. 23, a person could be in possession of 30 grams of marijuana without fear of being arrested and charged. However, in a statement, the U.S. Embassy here said that the adoption of the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2019 into T&T law “does not exempt persons with expunged convictions from disclosing such information on visa applications.

“Under U.S. immigration law, visa applicants who have ever been convicted or arrested for any offense, including drug-related offenses, still must disclose that information to U.S. officials when they apply for a U.S. visa.”

Washington said“prior arrests and convictions, even if expunged, could still indicate visa ineligibilities,” adding “failure to reveal arrests or convictions could lead to visa ineligibilities.”

T&T is among a number of Caribbean countries that have recently tabled legislation allowing for the decriminalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes.