(Below is a transcription of this video)
Can I come to Canada with a criminal record? We get a lot of people asking us, what if I have a criminal record? Can I still get a visa? Can I enter Canada? Hello everyone, my name is Hishgee Bessey of visaplace.com. If you’re planning to apply for a permanent or a temporary status in Canada and you were charged or convicted of a criminal offense, you maybe found inadmissible to Canada. That means you can’t get in. Even if you are from a visa exempt country, you will be denied entry at the airport or at the land border if you are found inadmissible. This could be a problem especially if you are into your trip and spend money and time to travel. More importantly, you may not be able to attend the urgent and/or important matter. If you do not deal with your criminality, you should prior to your arrival.
Traveling to Canada with a Criminal Record
If you’re charged of any crime outside Canada regardless whether you’re charged was withdrawn or pardoned and you had a conditional sentence, you may be found inadmissible to Canada. But there’s a hope, depending on the nature of your visit and trip, and available time to address the concern, there are two options.
Applying for a Temporary Resident Permit
Option 1, for people who intend to visit Canada urgently due to work related matter or emergency family issues etc. If you’re in a such situation, you may be able to address your inadmissibility at the airport or at the Canadian consulate by submitting a temporary resident permit application or known as TRP. As the name suggests, it is a temporary solution and may allow you to enter Canada only once.
Criminal Rehabilitation Application
Second option, is criminal rehabilitation application, will allow you to remove your inadmissibility to Canada from your records, so in the future you may be able to travel to Canada with no obstruction. These applications are submitted to the consulate or visa office overseas, and it may take many months for processing. But if you approach this solution as permanent, if you have a past criminal record and want to cross the border, I suggest you to consider consulting immigration professionals to avoid any complication that may arise during the processing.
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Are You Interested in Traveling to Canada With a Criminal Record?
Normally, if you have a criminal record, you will not be allowed to enter Canada, unless you know how to prepare the ‘right’ paperwork. If you have a ‘reason’ to travel to Canada that is justified in the circumstances, you may be issued a temporary resident permit (TRP). The big question is, do you know how fill a TRP application? Although its possible to file the application on your own, we do not recommend it.
At Visaplace, we have assisted a lot people to successfully attain a TRP so they can visit, work, or study in Canada and we are certain we can help you too!
Getting started is easy, simply fill our free online immigration assessment form here and we will get back to you (within 24 hours) to discuss your 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.
