[Bearklr]

OK, I know there is already another post with questions regarding this but I just got done calling every person and office I can think of and here are the facts that I found.

1st - A DUI or any offense in the U.S. that is also considered an offense in Canada will get you classified as an inadmisable person. They have the right to, and can turn you away on the spot. Below is a link to the general consulate's website explaining this.

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/buf...nu_id=63&menu=L

2nd - If you do have a DUI AND IT HAS BEEN LONGER THAN 5 YEARS you can apply for what is called an approval of rehabilitation. This is a document that will cost you roughly $200 dollars that must be submitted and approved before you are allowed to enter. There is no guarantee that it will be aproved. If it isn't, you lose the money. Here is a link with more details.

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/buffalo/imm/inadmissible_cr-interdiction_ar.aspx?lang=eng

Here is a link to the actual form that needs to be filled out and submitted.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1444E.PDF

Here is a link outlining all of the documents required when filling out and submitting the request.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5507E.PDF

3rd (ARD)- I just spoke to a local police officer and our clerk of courts. If you have completed an ARD program you may or may not have the DUI expunged from your record. If your lawyer went through the appropriate process to apply for the expungement then your record should be clear. However, if you chose to not pay your lawyer to take care of it or your lawyer never mentioned it to you then you need to request the expungement yourself. Contact your local clerk of courts to get the details. If you are in Lancaster, there is an ARD expungement PDF on the clerk of courts website you can fill out and submit for $34 dollars.


4th - I have spoken with a few individuals who have recently traveled to Canada with DUIs. All of them said they were asked about it with most of them being allowed to pass. The few that weren't were taken inside and asked to complete the "approval of rehabilitation" there on the spot and pay the $200 dollars. A good friend of mine recently did this and said they interogate you on the DUI more than you can imagine. Eventually they'll approve the request and let you through. However, don't take this as gospel. My source is from a few individuals who were there last year on a bear hunt but I do trust their word.

5th - If you try and lie at all about any convictions you will 99.9% of the time be turned away.


Here are a couple links and sites you may find useful on the matter. Please note that if you call the consulate as I did, they will refer you a lot to their website. Also, the consulates "visa" department does not accept phonecalls of any kind.

Canada consulate - Buffalo NY 1-716-858-9501
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/buffalo/index.aspx?lang=eng

Canadian consulate general - NY, NY 1-212-596-1628


Canada border services agency

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html

phone number - 1-204-983-3500 or 1-506-636-5064


Sorry for the new post but I didn't want this getting lost as I spent many days and hours on the phone gathering some of this and wanted to try and keep it all in one spot. You may even want to sticky it based on the hits the other thread got.

 

[2labs]

Thank you.

 

[Quebecbearhunter]

Good work!

 

[mallardsx2]

Nice job!

 

[Bluetick]

Awesome research. This deserves a sticky at the top of the forum!

 

[MFarcher]

Great info, hope I never have to use it.

Also individual customs agents, as you kind of alude to, will treat you different. It's human nature I guess. I had an interesting experience once about ten years ago.

I traveled to Toronto via comercial plane. At the toronto airport I approached customs, which was nearly empty due to realy bad winter weather in the states. I picked out the cute little agent and approached her desk. I was wearing a camo hat and a UBP camo T-shirt. She coldly looked over my documents, pre-911 by the way, and coldly began asking what I planned to do in Canada. She then asked about firearms and if I planned on hunting during my visit. I replied no, but that I'd love to come back up sometime to hunt as the hunting in Canada can be phenominal. Wrong thing to say. She stated that she "deplored Americans who come to Canada to kill thier animals". She looked for reasons to turn me away, but fortunately couldn't find any.

Then there was the time I went through customs at S. St. Marie n the way to an archery bear hunt. We went through at about 6:00 AM nad hte agent just lookded up from his newspaper and inquired if was had guns. We said just bows. Move along. Felt like we were disturbing his quiet time.

 

[StormingLabs]

One question on this, if you went through A.R.D and had your records expunched, are you clear?? Do you know?? I got a D.U.I. 2 years ago and have been under the impression I can't go to Canada but I also have a letter from the clerk of courts saying my records are expunched. I also know that on my driving record my D.U.I is there for 7 years.

 

[sch Co]

One thing to note is that a first time offense in Jersey is just a moving violation.
I think you would slide if this is the case.

 

[Guest]

One question on this, if you went through A.R.D and had your records expunched, are you clear?? Do you know?? I got a D.U.I. 2 years ago and have been under the impression I can't go to Canada but I also have a letter from the clerk of courts saying my records are expunched. I also know that on my driving record my D.U.I is there for 7 years.

You'd be surprised about how little of a persons record is actually recorded even without it being expunged. My father has a rap sheet a mile long in 3 or 4 different states and whenever he has a back ground check only a felony or two pops up and maybe a few misdemeanors. I know that sounds like a lot but if you knew how much trouble he has been in his entire life you would see how little that actually is. He has been in jail more than he has been out.

 

[Shady]

Thats funny that not being able to go to Canada might be the most effective punishment to deter drunk drivers. They should change the slogan: "DUI You cant afford it" to "DUI, you might not be able to go to Canada" and see if it works.

 

[cyril]

Any one have any experience with lesser offenses, under age drinking or disorderly conduct (summary offenses in PA)? I got into a little trouble in my youth. I know the underage would not be an offense in Canada, over 18, not sure on the disorderly. Did a criminal history check with pa state police and nothing shows on record. If that is the case do you even need to disclose? Just wondering.

 

[wis bang]

You may be OK. I did have a truck driver, they often get to cross numerous times b/4 getting really checked due to a 'pre-clearance [PARRS} system, who answered 'no' to the question 'were you ever arrested?' and was deined entry over a disorderly at 19; it was over 20 yrs later!

Each driver that got turned away said no to this question and each time the canadian customs person already knew the answer...most of them were very old infractions, but not real juvenile stuff.

Be prepared to answer that question, if it comes up, w/ a casual mention of a juvenile 'thing' w/ out getting specific. I think my drivers all had problems by their automatic 'NO' response so a tiny bit of CYA might be just the thing you need. Every driver checked [we had 50 US drivers crossing the border daily] wasn't asked THAT question, only the ones that popped up in the computer...

 

[Bear Guide]

I guided two fellows from FL a few years ago. These fellows flew into Bangor and rented a car. On Friday they said we would like you to take us to Canada today because we have never been there. They wanted me to drive their car and were going to take me to lunch in Woodstock NB. DUMB! I was pulled in at the border and each was questioned. When they got to me (I cross every week) they asked me what I was thinking bringing fellows to Canada that I didn't know. Seems one of the fellows had something on his record since he was 18, he was 60 then. They left him through but told him it was his last trip unless he got that off his record.

 

[mallardsx2]

To those who have done it, How long does it take to get your record expunged?

 

[Bearklr]

To those who have done it, How long does it take to get your record expunged?

Mallard, it really depends on a few things. First, are you even eligible to have it expunged. You have to have completed ARD or met the waiting period requirement (7 years I believe). Second, are you doing it yourself or getting a lawyer to do it. Reason being is there's a lot of info that needs gathered from the court case and from the parole officer. A lawyer can usually get it done a lot quicker since they already have a lot of contacts. Finally, once it gets to the clerk of courts it'll depend on how fast they process it. My brother has been going through it for a few weeks now here in Lancaster and he's using a Lawyer. His problem was he had Grubb as an attorney back then and he's not practicing private law any more now that he's with the state attorney general. Luckily a friend of ours is a lawyer who is also friends with grubb. I would suggest calling the lancaster Clerk of Courts. They had all the info I needed for my brother and explained it all pretty well.

 

[mallardsx2]

lawyer is doing it and the ARD was passed and fines where payed. got submitted about 3 weeks ago and I have a trip to canada planned for september. I hope this isnt some 6 month process or I am in big trouble.

 

[beadoo]

lawyer is doing it and the ARD was passed and fines where payed. got submitted about 3 weeks ago and I have a trip to canada planned for september. I hope this isnt some 6 month process or I am in big trouble.

They dont always ask , but if they do as stated before tell the truth....I know a few people they let go even with a recent DUI then have known people that got strip searched for an old DUI....

 

[Bearklr]

lawyer is doing it and the ARD was passed and fines where payed. got submitted about 3 weeks ago and I have a trip to canada planned for september. I hope this isnt some 6 month process or I am in big trouble.

You should be fine but keep on the Lawyer. My brother started about 6 weeks ago and we leave the middle of June.

 

[StormingLabs]

Mine took about 2 weeks to get done but I also had a family friend who was my lawyer and that seemed to help. I know in Beaver County there was a $60 processing fee, plus whatever you have to pay the lawyer.

 

[MD BLACK DUCK]

If you have a DUI ETC...here is a good person to know...she can help..

http://bordercrossing.ca/pardon/about.html