Entering Canada with criminal background

please refrain from hurting my feelings

 

Should have just gone into politics. Oops. Now i did it

 

, oh i had better not say antything

 

See the chart I posted on pg2. If that's the only, I mean only conviction you have, your considered rehabilitated and will be allowed entry.

 

I'm currently in the document gathering process to make the application. The more work you put in on your end, and the more complete your application for rehabilitation is the better chance you have of approval. From my research they do read and consider all attachments. Also gathering letters from businesses, entities or people who know you have improved your life is also advised, and they do consider these.

The documents CIC requires are located at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5507E.pdf (NOTE: This is a hotlink to a pdf file of IMM 5507 "Document Checklist")

The application and information relating to applying in all scenarios is located on the Canadian immigration and Citizenship website at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5312ETOC.asp

As far as cost, I know the basic fees are as follows:

• Application processing fee, if inadmissible on the grounds of criminality CA$200
• Application processing fee, if inadmissible on the grounds of serious criminality CA$200+800

(Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp#other )

I've never heard or read that the fees are any more than this. My research and calling and asking questions at the Embasy in NYC indicate that the application fees are per application for consideration, even when listing multiple offenses. Additional fees are usually required when you seek outside legal assistance.

Other costs incurred will be:

• Paying local jurisdictions for "Police Clearance" aka background checks for jurisdictions you lived in for longer than 6 months. This will usually just be a letter from your local or state law enforcement indicating your criminal background.
• Paying for your FBI National Criminal Check (Last time I checked, this was $26)
• Paying court fees for obtaining certified documents for your conviction(s)

 

Sounds like a good idea to me since a good chunk of the water in the great lakes watershed comes from Canada. What say we run your northern wall through the great lakes so you can suck your side dry?

 

This is for travelling as a tourist, not for business.

To the OP, I too have a felony, mine is over 25 yrs old. I've been to Canada several times as a tourist, they've never said a word, HOWEVER, the last time I went was '04, customs asked for my license, after inputting it, he scrutinized me more than previously, a lot more questions.

Without a Ministers permit, you will be denied entry at the border if entering for business purposes. As others have said, it's a long, drawn out process, back around '00 I looked into doing it, at the time I was told it could take 12 to 30 months, I've since been told it can take up to 5yrs. When I was in trucking school, Werner was one of the only companies who didn't care about felonies, they would just simply not route you to Canada. Fortunately, I didn't go OTR, and lucked out finding a local gig.

 

Tourist or business, requirements are the same for entry. Honestly, the easiest way to tell if you will have issues is to apply for a fast card. Both countries review your file and both have to accept you for you to be accepted into the program. Only cost you 50.00 to apply and find out.