Admissibility
Welcome to the Admissibility section of our web site.
If you have a criminal or arrest record, chances are you will be declared “inadmissible” to Canada at the border or airport. Inadmissibility includes misdemeanor as well as felony offences such as a DUI or Wet Reckless (or “regular” Reckless).
To overcome your inadmissibility, you have a couple of options. You may seek to cure your inadmissibility – permanently, or you may seek a temporary respite or “waiver” called a Temporary Resident Permit.
An approved application for Criminal Rehabilitation will permanently remove your bar to Canada. This application is generally submitted at the consulate or Embassy of Canada. In rare cases, a “rehab” may be submitted directly at the border. If professionally prepared, an application for rehabilitation will take a year to approve.
An approved Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) will temporarily remove your bar to Canada. This application is preferably obtained in advance via the consulate but may also be requested at the border or airport pending the right circumstances if your travel is urgent. If professionally prepared, a TRP will take about two weeks to obtain via the consulate. (The preparation of a TRP will take time as well.) If your trip is truly urgent, we will explore the option of obtaining a TRP directly at the border/airport.
If your entry to Canada is important, and you have a record, you’re not going to be able to “talk you’re way out of this”. Border officers need complete, credible and precise paperwork before even entertaining the possibility of granting a waiver. Your purpose or mission in Canada will have to be deemed important enough to be issued a TRP.
Hiding your criminality in the hope of avoiding the onerous process of a waiver or TRP is the best way to poison your entries forever. Given current events, governments are investing millions of dollars on border security. Your offence or arrest from “back in the day”, even if expunged, is likely going to show up on a database at the border. The requirement of an eTA in September 2016 is going to make it almost impossible to hide your criminality.
We have helped over a thousand professionals and family members enter Canada despite a criminal record. Admissibility is our core practice area. We know exactly what consular and border officers expect in terms of paperwork for entry into Canada. We also have a good idea if your case is going to fit within the parameters of a waiver. (In other words, we may advise you not to try!)
Given border enforcement, an application for Rehabilitation or a Temporary Resident Permit is both rigorous and time consuming that is not for amateurs. If you have a record and wish to know your options for entering Canada give us a call or click on the situation below that best fits your needs.
Select the option below that best applies to your situation or needs:
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PURPOSE IN CANADA
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Top Offences
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Admissibility Services
Admissibility Hearings
Select this option if you believe that you are not inadmissible to
Canada and wish to pursue an “admissibility hearing” to permanently resolve/cure your entry.
Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC)
Select this option if you were deported or removed from Canada and need an ARC
to return.
Canada Criminal Record Check
Select this option if you need to conduct an RCMP-compliant background check within
10 days.
Criminal Rehabilitation
Select this option if you have a criminal record and you need a permanent solution to
your entry into Canada. (Full Pardon)
DA Negotiation Support
You are charged with (but so far not convicted) of an offense in the US and need to
work/negotiate with the DA to lessen the impact of your entry into Canada.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
Select this option if you have a criminal record, and you have urgent travel needs
into Canada. (Waiver)(Full Pardon)
Given border enforcement, an application for Rehabilitation or a Temporary Resident Permit is both rigorous and time consuming that is not for amateurs. If you have a record and wish to know your options for entering Canada give us a call or click on the situation below that best fits your needs.
To download our Admissibility Brochure, click here.
