US Embassy: Confess expunged T&T convictions or face visa cancellation
PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC):
THE UNITED States on Friday said Trinidad and Tobago nationals with expunged drug convictions may not necessarily be granted a visa to visit the North American country 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 week 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 Trinidad and Tobago Parliament to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act so as to allow for the decriminalisation of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes.
Under the legislation, which went into effect on December 23, a person could be in possession of 30g of marijuana without fear of being arrested and charged.
In a statement, the US Embassy here said that the adoption of the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2019 into Trinidad and Tobago law “does not exempt persons with expunged convictions from disclosing such information on visa applications.
“Under US immigration law, visa applicants who have ever been convicted or arrested for any offence, including drug-related offences, still must disclose that information to US officials when they apply for a US visa.”
Washington said that “prior arrests and convictions, even if expunged, could still indicate visa ineligibilities,” adding that “failure to reveal arrests or convictions could lead to visa ineligibilities”.
Trinidad and Tobago is among a number of Caribbean countries that have recently tabled legislation allowing for the decriminalisation of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
The Keith Rowley government has also tabled the Cannabis Control Bill that will provide for the licensing, control and inspection of the formulation of businesses operating within the sector. The bill is now before a joint select committee of Parliament, which has to report by February next year.