[mandelken]

> Third, while the French Foreign Legion is romantic and all, they won't take you if they find you have a criminal record.

This is not true unless you are wanted by interpol or a very serious record such as murder.

For an American, might crossing into Canada be an easier option?

[leereeves]

I don't think Canada would be easier. People with a criminal conviction are generally "inadmissible" without special permission.[1]

And if someone was desperate enough to try to hide a US criminal record, Canada is the last country they should try, because Canada and the US share their criminal history databases.

1: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/se...

[_carbyau_]

To support this: http://foreignlegion.info/joining/

The page is pretty plain language reading which makes it appear very trustworthy.

However, they avoid explicitly saying that past crimes - whether convicted and served or not - don't matter. The DO say that catching the eye of Interpol is bad.

[publicola1990]

Why not Mexico? Enforcement is not as strict there?