Country artist Jelly Roll recently expressed frustration with challenges booking an international tour due to his felony convictions. It’s funny, America has finally agreed to let me leave and give me a passport, but some countries won’t let me come because of my felonies,” he said. We’re working on that. I think it’s going to work in my favor.
The U.S. Department of State can refuse or revoke passports for several reasons. These include defaults on government loans for repatriation or emergency aid, significant arrears in child support payments, and being a registered sex offender as specified by law. Passports can also be denied to individuals with outstanding federal or state felony warrants, or those under criminal court orders preventing them from leaving the country.
Other factors include commitments to mental institutions, legal incompetence, active extradition requests, federal subpoenas, military orders, and severe tax delinquencies certified by the Treasury Secretary. Incorrect or invalid Social Security numbers on applications can also result in denial. Furthermore, activities abroad that pose risks to U.S. national security or foreign policy can lead to passport refusal. In such cases, a limited validity passport may be issued solely for direct return to the United States.
Jelly Roll has been transparent about his past, including struggles with addiction and run-ins with the law, claiming he has been to jail 40 times. It was a heinous crime, admittedly. It was horrible. We robbed a couple of guys for some weed,” he said. It was an armed robbery. I mean, we went in there with a gun. I regret it every day of my life.
He explained that he finally turned his life around in 2008, when he learned about the birth of his daughter while he was in jail. Jelly Roll, whose legal name is Jason Bradley DeFord, began his music career in 2003 and has since become known for blending genres such as hip hop, country, and Southern rock.
Mr. Bon Jovi agreed with Jelly Roll’s frustration, replying, “I hope so. Those are really archaic rules. Entertainers should be able to go and do their job.