residency in Spain with a criminal history
Posted: 04 April 2010 08:07 PM  
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My wife and I are looking at Spain as a possible retirement location in a few years.  We are both highly educated and have avove average retirement income however we seek to live simply and enjoy the culture the country has to offer.  Herein lies a potential problem. 

In 1985 I was convicted of a drug related offense in the US.  Due to my cooperation with the authorities I only received a minor sentence of six months in a federal halfway house and three years probation.  I only had to serve four and a half months in the halfway house and was on probation for only a year and a half due to good behavior.  I also almost immediately start to work as a drug counselor and began work on my second master’s degree, one in social work.  For the past twenty plus years I have had a very successful career as a social worker, therapist, drug counselor, administrator and director, and consultant of psyciatric and chemical dependency programs for prisons, jails, public and private entities.  Will my old record bar me from residency in Spain?

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Posted: 05 April 2010 12:18 AM   [ # 1 ]  
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ducksoup,
in spain after serving one’s sentence, the criminal record can be legally erased after 4 or 5 years i think.
can you have that criminal record erased legally in the usa?

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Posted: 05 April 2010 01:47 AM   [ # 2 ]  
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I seriously doubt it, it was a federal offense but the twenty plus years and my successful career helping others with drug addictions and other problems may help me.

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Posted: 22 April 2010 05:49 AM   [ # 3 ]  
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I appreciate the feedback.  I finally got in touch with the Consulate here in the United States in SanFrancisco and they say I should have no problem.  Taikes a load off my mind

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‹‹ moorcroft      so worried! ››