If you’re eager to make travel plans after spending time in prison, you may have to wait a while before you are able to travel overseas.
Regardless of the conviction (whether it’s petty theft or firearm violations to murder, sex-related offences, or illegal drug trafficking charges i.e., conviction for possession), you may have to face a volley of questions before you can start making travel plans. Most importantly, you’ll need a pardon!
Canadian pardons services offers beneficial knowledge and guidance for all who have a criminal record and wish to travel. Consult professionals from Canadian Pardon Application Services to get everything sorted.
Canadian Pardon To Travel to the US, Any Country
Every foreign country you intend to visit will impose checks based on their existing security concerns. However, the slight variations in immigration laws don’t mean that countries don’t understand immigration benefits and the importance of a flourishing tourism industry and strong business relations. Generally, most countries are always willing to consider requests to enter.
However, if you have a criminal record, you need to secure a Canadian Pardon first regardless of your reasons for traveling. Securing a pardon ensures you don’t violate any country’s entry laws that can lead to additional scrutiny or serious criminal justice issues like detention and travel restrictions for the rest of your life.
For Canada, a criminal record removal is necessary to ensure hassle-free traveling in any part of the world. However, discretion is adopted based on the type of offence and the period after the conclusion of a sentence.
If you have been charged or convicted in Canada, you have to seek a pardon to get your criminal record removed from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database.
Does a Criminal Record Removal Permanently Erase My Past?
There is a common misconception that seeking criminal record removal eliminates your record from the Canadian database. However, there is little truth to it. Criminal records are permanent records. A record removal just conceals public accessibility! In specific circumstances, the records can be accessed.
Can I Travel to the US after a Criminal Conviction in Canada?
American immigration laws are very strict. The country has continued to tighten the noose around its border security and admissibility requirements to provide complete protection to its citizens. Often, many people are reported to have crossed the border without any valid evidence of permission.
It has only compelled the Canadian border agents to ramp up security checks to maintain friendly relations with the United States. If you have been convicted, you have to apply for a Canadian pardon to cross the U.S. border.
Canadian Pardons and Waivers
Whilst you may attempt to conceal, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been privileged with easy access to the RCMP’s National Repository of Criminal Records. They can comfortably enter your name or scan your passport to determine if you have a criminal record in Canada.
Instead of exposing yourself to trouble, get in touch with legal experts to find the most suitable way to get traveling permission without raising any suspicion. Even if you were convicted for impaired driving or any other less serious criminal activities, you stand a good chance of being denied legal entry into the US if you don’t have a pardon.
If you were convicted of criminal charges of grave degree such as one equivalent to ‘moral turpitude’ and evidenced to have committed in the recent time, you are likely to face a traveling ban. Such offenses include murder, sexual assault, forgery, and many more.
Although every country has its own guidelines, there are brief guidelines provided by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in order to verify the authorized admissibility of a criminal record of people.
If you were convicted of serious charges, consult legal experts from Canadian Pardon Application Services to get a pardon or secure a US Entry Waiver. If there is substantial document evidence supporting your claims, there are good chances for hassle-free travel.
Do I Qualify for Criminal Record Removal?
Whilst you may be desperate to travel, it’s worth noting that you have to wait for some time to apply for a record suspension. This is dependent on the nature/seriousness of your criminal record.
You can request for criminal record removal if:
- Convicted of an offense under a federal act or regulation of Canada.
- You were convicted in another country and transferred to Canada.
- You do not possess a Canadian passport.
- You’re not a Canadian citizen.
However, there are circumstances indicating that you may fail to qualify for a Canadian Pardon. If you have been convicted, make sure you have completed the three following conditions:
- You have concluded the sentence and the penalty or fines imposed.
- You have evidence of rehabilitation i.e., have shown considerable improvement in your moral character/public conduct after the imprisonment.
- You have not been convicted of any other offence after completing the last term.
- You have completed the minimum waiting time.
Consult professional legal experts to confirm your qualifications before you proceed further. You should also seek expert help to boost your chances of a successful entry application.
Crimes that Make You Inadmissible to the USA
As per updated norms in 2012, an individual may not qualify for a record Suspension if convicted for a certain list of crimes and meet other conditions below:
- A Schedule 1 Offense under the Criminal Records Act i.e., if you have been convicted of a sexual offense involving a child.
- Anyone who has been convicted to a jail term of 2 or more years for at least 3 indictable crimes is deemed ineligible to file a Canadian pardon.
Depending on the type of crime and sentence term, you will be ask to produce some mandatory documents that includes proof of conviction, immigration documents and court information.
A criminal record removal is mandatory for all convicted Canadians to ensure that their dark past does not haunt them again and block them from going ahead. Whether for education, business, or leisure, consult professional legal experts from Canadian Pardon Application Services to get more information on the legal process, and restrictions and seek approval to materialize your traveling plans.
How Long Will It Take for a Criminal Record Removal?
On average, it may take 6-12 months for a Record Suspension to be granted by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC). However, you would be required to produce a number of supporting documents as part of your application.
It is highly recommended to start preparing to file for your Canadian Pardon Application before you reach the stage of qualification to give yourself enough time to prepare for all the documentation.
US Waiver Application From Canada
A US Entry Waiver is another “route” to traveling from Canada to the US if you don’t have a pardon and need to travel urgently. A waiver allows you to legally travel to the US without risk of detention or being denied entry by border officers.
Can You Travel While on Probation in Canada?
In most cases, you can only travel outside Canada if you complete your sentence (which includes parole and probation). However, in special circumstances, you can be allowed to travel by your probation officer as well as the supervising judge. What’s more, some common crimes may not have travel restrictions.
How to Get a Pardon in Ontario Through Canadian Pardon Applications?
While you are planning to resume a normal life after getting through the rigorous punishment, you may encounter some roadblocks. However, that’s not the end of the world. You can very well get over it by applying for a criminal record removal.
Whilst you can file for a pardon yourself, you need to find out all the mandatory conditions required. In addition, you may not find it easy to fill out the application form to get the desired permission.
What’s more, some countries have independent barriers for criminals, so you may have to ponder over consulting professionals to find all the pertinent information to get through it all.
We suggest you seek assistance from the right people to seam through the temporary hurdles and achieve criminal record removal without much delay. Consider consulting Canadian Pardon Application Services to help with the entire process.
Most people choose Canadian Pardon Application Services to ensure that they get the best information to boost their chances of success with pardons, entry waivers, and other immigration applications.
Each step we take is well thought-out and configured to best meet your interests. We let you charter your life journey the way you want! No need to hire immigration lawyers or bother yourself with a complex online application form process.
