Felon from US and entry problems into Canada

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nobbie48

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I have a US buddy with a checkered past (Convicted felon). He has really turned his life around but "Gee He's a nice guy now" doesn't mean squat with officialdom.

What kind of an obstacle course does he have to run to be able to visit Canada?

I am assuming that if he just drove up to the border he would get picked off and turned around on the spot. Nothing like having a passport and no place to go.
 
I wouldn't want to roll the dice on getting turned around at the border.

Seems he can apply for some kind of rehab status;

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/rehabil.asp

"...You can apply for individual rehabilitation if at least five years have passed since you completed your criminal sentences. People who are ineligible for approval of rehabilitation because not enough time has passed can complete the form and check “For Information Only.” An officer will decide if special permission for temporary admission is warranted...."

Reading through the page the minimum fee for this is $200CDN, and may go as high as $1000. Your friend would likely want to read the fine print on this before plunking down any cash.
 
You might want to share THIS with your buddy to determine his options.

EDIT: Yeah, mugwug's post, extended.
 
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Well, considering it's been 10 years since my ONE LITTLE incident, military service, kept my nose clean etc etc and I STILL can't get in to the states... If his involves things like drugs or of a violent nature he just might be screwed.

I'm still fighting and trying to find how to get in without paying $750 per year, even if I had a pardon.
 
rmemedic said:
Well, considering it's been 10 years since my ONE LITTLE incident, military service, kept my nose clean etc etc and I STILL can't get in to the states... If his involves things like drugs or of a violent nature he just might be screwed.

I'm still fighting and trying to find how to get in without paying $750 per year, even if I had a pardon.
Click to expand...

He was a mean SOB. Not someone you would want to cross in a bar. Can't own firearms even in gun lax USA. Totally changed person but computers don't forget.
 
^ I wasn't after personal info. Wanted to understand what $750/mo would buy you.
 
johnp said:
^ I wasn't after personal info. Wanted to understand what $750/mo would buy you.
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It is for an I-92 US entry waiver form that lasts for 1-5 years and once you have done it once, you have to have everytime you enter the US for life.
 
OP your friend may not get turned back at the border, Canada has a history of letting in a lot of people that have a really cloudy past. When you read about them in the paper later you think, how'd that guy ever get into Canada?
BUT, the US and Canadians have computer sharing that we dont have with Eastern block countries or Carribean Islands, so its a crap shoot 50/50. A lot depends on the questions and answers at the border.

Convictions can be overturned, and pardons can be issued, but charges are never removed from your record. The fact you were charged appears, even if you were NOT convicted and certain criminal offences are on a priority list, drugs and violent acts foremost.
 
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