If you have a criminal record, you will need to complete an application to get it sealed. You get a copy of the Record Suspension application by visiting the Parole Board website. You can also get help with your application by contacting AllCleared. We are an accredited company that has been helping Canadians with the Record Suspension (formerly called pardon) application since 1989.
Determine your eligibility
Before you get started with your application, it’s important to determine your eligibility. You will need to pay for many of the documents you collect. Also, there is a fee to submit the application. Don’t waste time and money if you are not eligible or not yet eligible.
The first thing you should know about eligibility is that there is a wait period between the time you complete your sentence and when you can apply. Currently, the wait time is five years for a summary (minor) conviction and 10 years for an indictable conviction.
If you do not know if you have a summary or indictable conviction on your record, you will need to get the documents from the courts. If you apply through AllCleared, we will request these documents for you.
The second issue you need to take into account is the nature of your offence. Schedule 1 offences against a minor are ineligible. Also, having more than three offences each carrying a sentence of two years or more would make a person ineligible.
Getting started with the Record Suspension application
If you are planning on completing your application on your own, your first step will be to download the complete guide and application from the website of the Parole Board of Canada.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you will just need to fill out a form and send it to the Parole Board. There are actually a lot of documents you will need to collect before you can complete your application. Schedule about a year to collect all of your documents.
Also, make sure you do not miss any steps. Many applications that are submitted to the Parole Board are not accepted because the person applying did not follow the instructions properly.
Getting started with AllCleared
If you are applying through AllCleared, we will help you with your application, but there are a few things you must do on your own.
The first thing you will need to do is get your fingerprints taken. This is a necessary step for retrieving your criminal record from the RCMP.
We will request your court documents and police information checks (except in the case where personal attendance is required). The other main thing you will need to do on your own is complete your Measurable Benefit statement. This is because the Parole Board wants to hear from you about your convictions and how you have changed. We cannot write this for you because it is a very personal statement. However, we have a guide that will help you.
Once your application is compiled, it is sent to the Parole Board, which will make the final decision on your file.
If you are considering a Record Suspension application, contact our team today for a free consultation at 1-866-972-7366.