We have all made dumb decisions when we're drunk, and unfortunately these decisions can have major consequences down the line. Whether it's an STD, a black eye and an assault charge from a bar fight, or a drunk driving conviction, drunk decisions can have a serious on your life. If you made a horrible decision and got caught drinking & driving, being refused admittance at the Canadian border can be another issue brought on by your drunk decision. Fortunately, a Temporary Resident Permit or Canada Criminal Rehabilitation program can help you secure entry to the country with a criminal record.
One of my favorite television shows these days is Canada's Border Security. Other countries such as Australia have a similar show - basically reality show camera's hang out at the border and videotape immigration officials protecting the country from drugs, weapons, and undesired foreign nationals. There has been some backlash as people believe the show is in bad taste since real lives are being ruined on camera (a lot of people get sent home) but ultimately I think it's a great educational tool that will hopefully make more people realize if they are inadmissible for any reason they should plan ahead before trying to fly or drive to Canada.
The best way to cross the border to Canada with DUI is by being honestIn the Canadian Immigration Act there are provisions to permit discretionary entry, so being honest and forthright with border security is always the most effective strategy if you hope to gain successful entry. These provisions make it possible for a senior immigration officer or a Canadian immigration adjudicator to grant entry to anyone who would normally be inadmissible to the country.
In general, the older your DUI, the better your chance of successful entry into Canada. It's much easier to convince Canadian immigration officials that you are "rehabilitated" and no longer a threat to Canada if your DUI was years ago, as opposed to last month. It can be tricky to enter Canada with a DUI; there are ways to make trying to enter the country more likely, especially if the conviction occurred more than 5 years ago. It is just a matter of recognizing the laws of the country and doing everything that you can in order to abide by them. Here are several options that you have if you have anything on your record that might make you inadmissible to Canada.
Any resident of the United States who has been charged with drunk driving (either a DUI or DWI) in the past 10 years will be stopped at the border and not permitted entry into Canada without express written permission. In many cases, a United States resident trying to go to Canada with a criminal record will not be eligible for the deemed, streamlined or approved rehabilitation process. Instead, this person will require special permission to enter the country in the form of a Temporary Resident Permit or TRP. A TRP is a type of pardon or executive action process that grants someone special permission to temporary visit Canada. Without special approval via entry permission documents, Americans with DUIs will often experience problems at the Canadian border and will often be refused entry and asked to immediately return to the United States. In some cases enforcement action can even take place which includes forcible removal, arrest or even detention.
How to Apply for a TRP Applying for a Canadian TRP costs money, and the fee is not refunded if your application is not approved so it’s important to fill out the form correctly and include all the necessary paperwork and documents. Professional help in the form of a top Canadian immigration lawyer can assist you with the application process and help you avoid any negative surprises while going to Canada. If you're a gambler you can always show up at the Canada-USA border unannounced and hope to successfully receive a TRP on the spot, but applying for a permit in advance is much less stressful! People who plan to immigrate internationally should always use a trusted attorney so they don't end up getting screwed like the many human trafficking victims across the globe who have become slave laborers in places like Dubai and Qatar, or have been forced into prostitution in western countries. If someone else is paying for you to immigrate, you must be skeptical on why and if it seems too good to be true it likely is. While it's a pain in the ass to have to pay government fees and lawyer fees just to enter another country, many developed countries such as Canada purposely make it difficult for foreigners with a criminal record (including a simple DWI) to visit their nation. Reckless Driving If you have plead a driving while drunk charge down to a lesser offense such as reckless driving, you still could be rejected from other countries if they can see your original DUI arrest. While entry to foreign countries can always be challenging, it's always on the traveler to be able to prove to authorities that they are legal to visit. The Canada - USA border is the longest in the World, and the two countries are best friends so it's easy to forget that any time you visit another country it's always a privilege not a right to be let in. |