Frequently Asked Questions

No. Applicants can still qualify for a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa without a Canadian job offer. However, Canadian employers play a greater role in Canadian immigration under the federal Express Entry immigration selection system than they did previously, meaning that, for many candidates, obtaining a valid Canadian job offer significantly increases their chances of being invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Candidates in the ExpressCandidates should note that the Quebec Skilled Worker category of immigration and some of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) do not require a Canadian job offer in order to qualify either.

Updated Dec 21, 2021

As of January 1, 2022, the cost of applying for a record suspension will be $50, reduced from the current cost of $657.77. However, this is just the last expense owed to the Parole Board of Canada once the pardon application is ready to submit. There are expenses other than the application cost to consider, such as fees for court documents and a criminal record check. The Canadian government has steadily increased the basic application fee over the years. At one time, it was a mere $50 out of the recognition that everyone in society benefits when people are able to reintegrate into society. Then the fee was raised to $150, quadrupled to $657.77, and recently lowered to $50.

The $657.77 is the cost to submit your application only. In order to complete the application from start to finish, you will have to provide a number of supporting documents. Those include criminal records from different agencies in multiple cities. You may also have to provide copies of your court documents and immigration records. In general, you must pay a per-document fee for each.You must also be fingerprinted as part of the process. This is another step that will cost money, and it is essential for your record suspension application to be considered complete from the perspective of the Parole Board of Canada.Since a criminal record creates many barriers for you to live your life fully, you may simply choose to go ahead with the Canadian pardon application. But, you do not have to do it alone. You can get help with all aspects of the record suspension process. As you can see, it can become a costly and lengthy proposition when applying for a pardon. It's crucial to make sure you're following all the right steps to receiving one as smoothly as possible.

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An indictable offence is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada that carries more serious penalties. This often includes jail time. If you were convicted of an indictable offence, you must wait 10 years after the completion of your sentence before requesting a pardon.Indictable offences carry heavy penalties. Some have mandatory minimum sentences, and some may carry a maximum of life in prison. But, even those convicted of indictable offences, which include theft over $5,000, aggravated assault, fraud over $5,000, arson and robbery, can get a second chance to move on from their criminal record.You can request a record suspension if it has been more than 10 years since you paid all fines, retribution and penalties associated with the conviction and finished any jail time. In addition, you must show good conduct by not having any subsequent offences. Then you can apply to the Parole Board of Canada to have your criminal record removed from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database.The Parole Board is supposed to issue a decision about pardons for indictable offences within one year of receiving a completed application. Because the process of putting together your materials may be lengthy, you may want to get started as soon as possible.You can get help to apply for a record suspension after a conviction for an indictable offence. Taking the first steps now can get you on the road to a more positive future.

The US Entry Waiver cost is $585 USD, which you must pay on submitting your application. Most Canadians submit their application at a port of entry. This could be a land border crossing or an airport. At this time, you will need to pay the fee.However, it is important to keep in mind that this is not the only fee. You will also need to pay for your record checks and court documents, drug test or any other miscellaneous expenses.If you need assistance compiling the application, this is a service that we offer. A agency, like AllCleared, can ensure that your application is complete and is persuasive. You don’t want to pay the application fee only to be turned down. As well, missing documents can add delay to your application.We have a variety of different pre-approved payment plans available to help you get started on your US Entry Waiver.

When a criminal record can be expunged depends on the nature of the record. A criminal conviction record stays with you unless you take steps to receive a Record Suspension, also called a pardon. However, you may be surprised to learn that even non-guilty findings can show up on police record checks. A non-conviction record can appear after charges are withdrawn, a stay of proceedings is ordered, or acquittal after a trial is granted, among other circumstances.Thankfully, you can request that these records be destroyed. Like a criminal record, they will not go away on their own. Often, there is a specific waiting period before records are purged. Stayed charges have a waiting period of one year, for example, and a peace bond will stay with you as long as it is valid.However, the RCMP will not always purge a non-conviction upon request. If the records are related to certain crimes, such as first- or second-degree murder, aggravated assault or sexual offences, it will remain on the books for five years from the date of the court decision. The RCMP can also keep the records on the basis of “compelling” reasons, such as if the individual has an outstanding criminal charge in the courts.Taking steps to remove your police record history is important to safeguard your privacy and prevent any future barriers to employment or travel. You must request that records be purged by contacting the specific police agency. If you can’t do it yourself, you can get help from an organization that knows the system and is committed to working on your behalf.

A US Entry Waiver is generally good for one to five years. US Entry Waivers are essential documents for Canadians who have a criminal record and need to travel to the US. Since a Canadian pardon is not recognized by the U.S. authorities, Canadians who try to travel to the US risk of being detained or having property seized if they have a criminal record.A US Entry Waiver is authorized by the Department of Homeland Security. They will decide how long the waiver will be when they consider your application. Generally, it depends on the seriousness of the crime and the age of the conviction. Usually your first waiver will be for a shorter time period, although we have had several clients receive the maximum five years on their first attempt. A waiver is renewable, so you can continue to travel to the US for many years as long as you possess the right documentation.Since the US government requires specific supporting documentation in order to proceed with a US Entry Waiver application, you may want to use our service to assist you. With the right guidance, you can have confidence your application is complete and should not be rejected on technical grounds.

Yes, a DUI will appear on a background check. This is because a DUI is considered a criminal offence in Canada. To remove it, you will need to apply for a Record Suspension. However, you likely do not need a waiver to enter the United States.A DUI is considered a hybrid offence. This means that it can be tried as a Summary offence or an Indictable offence. If you have a DUI on your record, you will need to determine whether it was summary or indictable. This will affect whether you need to wait five years for a Record Suspension or 10 years.Once you have cleared your DUI record you can apply for jobs without worrying about the background check. However, a Record Suspension will not help you with higher insurance rates, or with a driver's licence suspension. If you have a DUI, there could be penalties based on your driver's abstract. The insurance companies will still be able to see that you have a DUI on your driver's abstract. Depending on the province in which you live, a DUI penalty on insurance could go back six years.As well, if you want to work in a driving position, such as truck driving, taxi driving or courier, you might be asked to provide a driver's abstract. Depending on how long ago the DUI occurred, the circumstances might appear.

You have a criminal record if you committed an offence as an adult and were convicted in a court of law. You may have had contact with authorities over the course of your life. But, whether or not you have a criminal record can be a source of some confusion. Some incidents are handled differently than others, and your situation may fall into a grey area. To know for sure, you may have to look at your own criminal record to see what information it holds.If you are over the age of 18 and have been convicted of a criminal offence, you do have a criminal record. Provincial offences, such as those related to liquor or driving, will not show up on a criminal record. You should be aware, however, that some driving offences, like DUIs, can be criminal offences that will show up on your criminal record.You may also have been found guilty by a court but received an absolute or conditional discharge instead of a conviction. Neither is a criminal conviction. However, it will appear on your criminal record for a period of time. Since neither is a criminal conviction, you cannot get a pardon for a discharge. An absolute discharge should be sealed automatically after one year, and a conditional discharge should be automatically sealed after three.

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