A person might have a criminal record with various offenses, some of them minor and others more severe. Needless to say, not all offenses will cause a problem on the Canadian border. On the other hand, travelers might be taken by surprise if they encounter being denied at the border for a offense they for themselves and subjectively believed as rather minor. Amongst those offenses are often DUI offenses that are considered felonies in Canada. They will make admission to the country impossible.
Canadian immigration law describes more of those offenses which will pose a problem for anyone that wants to go to Canada. Amongst those offenses are:
- Misdemeanor drug possession.
- DUI or DWI – Driving under the influence and driving while under the influence, regardless whether this caused an accident or not.
- Theft or shoplifting.
- Negligent driving.
- Domestic violence.
For residents of the United States, DUI pose a particular problem due to how Canadian law considers them a felony. This is not normally the case back home in the United States. If persons are not aware of this they will be in for a surprise at the border by being denied admission, quite often unexpectedly.
In the past, many travelers simply tried their luck attempting to get into Canada, for example by not telling border officials about their convictions on the record. However, background checks on the border are becoming more and more strict, in particular after 9/11. Not telling about a conviction can be a mistake that could well result in being barred entering Canada for many years.
With a competent immigration lawyer, anyone who has severe convictions could be admitted to Canada. The immigration lawyer will know about the right steps required, such as the approval of rehabilitation or obtaining a temporary residency permit. With competent legal help, admission to Canada will be possible, even with severe offenses.
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