Entering Canada on a Temporary Resident Permit
Entering Canada on a temporary resident permit because of a record of arrests or a conviction can be challenging. You must follow the process to overcome your criminal inadmissibility to enter Canada for an urgent matter. An immigration officer can deny you entry even if your record includes minor or old criminal convictions.
What is the Justification for an Emergency Entry?
There are reasons that the immigration officer could approve an application for entry because of an emergency. Some reasons include:
- Family matters such as an illness or death.
- Business purposes, such as meetings and conferences.
You must be present during the request and approval process to apply for approval to enter Canada.
An Emergency Entry at the Canadian Border Without a Waiver or Documentation
The chances of qualifying for an emergency entry without a waiver or the appropriate documentation are low. Gaining access to Canada for emergencies with criminal inadmissibility is a complex process. Thus, seeking the help of an experienced lawyer could mean avoiding delays or receiving denials in error.
You must explain your reasons for traveling to Canada; there is room for this in the application. You must also provide the supporting documentation and forms. You can expect to wait for the decision, as the immigration officer will not hurry the process because of an emergency.
Your Best Option: Temporary Resident Permit
A person with a criminal record has two options for requesting entry. You can apply using the Temporary Resident Permit TRP or the Criminal Rehabilitation. The TRP is the quickest method to gain entry but will expire after the set amount of time the immigration officer allows for access.
Before applying, you can check the eligibility requirements to determine that you meet the criteria. You should provide as many details about traveling and your criminal past as possible on the application. The documents must show the officer that your reasons for requesting entry into Canada are vital and you will not pose a risk to the country.
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An option to consider for the future: Criminal Rehabilitation, aka Pardon
The second option to apply for entry is Criminal Rehabilitation or a record suspension. Criminal Rehabilitation takes much longer for approval, but it does not expire. The officer will review your information to decide if you are inadmissible. After they approve your application, they will grant you the pardon and allow you entry into Canada.
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