Have you recently been denied entry to Canada? There are plenty of reasons why this can happen, but try not to panic as there are steps you can take to remedy the situation.
1. Contact VisaPlace
The first step you should take after being denied entry to Canada is to contact VisaPlace.com – we can help. Whether you simply don’t have the right visa, or possess a criminal record like a DUI or something more serious, you may still be admitted into Canada as long as you have the correct paperwork.
2. File for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
Next you will have to file a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), also known as a Form IMM 5708. According to ptla.org.uk: “If it has been less than 5 years since the end of your sentence and/or you have special circumstances, you may be able to get a ‘temporary resident permit”’.
Form IMM 5708 is an official document issued by a Canadian visa office, and will be placed inside your passport to indicate you’ve met all the requirements to be admitted to Canada as a temporary resident (whether as a visitor, student, or worker).
3. Be Deemed Rehabilitated
Although a criminal record is one of the main reasons most people are denied entry to Canada, it’s not the only reason. You can be deemed rehabilitated if enough time has passed since your conviction (usually around 10 years), or all the conditions of your sentence have since been met.
According to AboutTravel: “Denial of entry to Canada is not automatic if you have a conviction. Be honest about your criminal history. You may be able to persuade the immigration officer that you have been rehabilitated. Alternately, you may have to prove individual rehabilitation, which is an application process that proves though you have a previous conviction, you no longer pose a risk.”
If you need to apply for a formal decision, you can go the ‘Individual Rehabilitation’ route. The advantage of this is that it provides you with a certain decision regarding your ability to successfully cross the border before you arrive there. Applying for a Determination of Individual Rehabilitation involves submitting a written application to the Canadian Government, along with a set fee.
However, for this last option, you’re only eligible if it’s been at least five years since a) you committed the crime and b) completed all conditions of your criminal sentence.
Have you been denied entry to Canada?
Have you been denied entry to Canada? Or do you think you might be denied entry when you try to enter? We can help you. We have literally helped thousands of people to successfully attain a TRP so they can visit, work, or study in Canada and we are certain we can help you too!
All you have to do is fill out our free online immigration assessment form and we will get back to you (within 24 hours) to discuss your eligibility and immigration options.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
