Important Documents Needed for Criminal Rehabilitation

Documents Needed for Criminal Rehabilitation

When applying for a Criminal Rehabilitation application, you may become overwhelmed and concerned because of how much information and documentation is needed from you in order to successfully complete the application process. If you are deemed inadmissible to Canada for a past criminal offence, you must first overcome the criminal inadmissibility and may be able to apply for Criminal Rehabilitation. It is extremely essential that, if you are trying to overcome your criminal inadmissibility, you provide sufficient and accurate documentation to the Immigration officer that will be assessing your application. In this article, I will address the important documents needed for criminal rehabilitation and how to obtain these certain documents to complete your application accurately.

Eligibility for Criminal Rehabilitation

First and foremost, in order to apply for a Criminal Rehabilitation, you must first determine whether you are eligible to apply for one. A Criminal Rehabilitation application is to be filled out by any foreign national that has previous criminal activity and would like to be forgiven of their offences in order to enter Canada in the future. If a foreign national with criminal inadmissibility attempts to cross the border without a Criminal Rehabilitation or a Temporary Resident Permit, they will most likely be denied entry at a port of entry or at the airport. In order to apply for a Criminal Rehabilitation, you must be inadmissible for:

• Being convicted of an offence in Canada
• Being convicted of an offence outside of Canada
  – It must be considered a crime within Canada
• Committing an act outside of Canada that is considered a crime under the laws of that country and would be equivalently punishable under Canadian law

Additionally, another very important factor to recognize before applying for a Criminal Rehabilitation is the time frame since your previous offences. To be eligible for Criminal Rehabilitation, a minimum of 5 years must have elapsed since the offence. Essentially, the 5 years would start on the last day of the sentence imposed. Consequently, if you have not completed the designated time period, then you may not apply for Criminal Rehabilitation.

Important Documents Needed for Criminal Rehabilitation

If you have determined that you are eligible to apply for a Criminal Rehabilitation, you must then consider and compile evidence to show your past convictions and any proof that you have indeed changed your lifestyle for the better. Applying for any immigration matter, especially a Criminal Rehabilitation, is comparable to representing yourself in court and providing sufficient evidence to prove your innocence, or in this case your change of life. Furthermore, below, I have included a list of certain documents that you must provide for Criminal Rehabilitation application.

The required documents for Criminal Rehabilitation are:

• Passport or other travel document.
  – the other travel document should be the one that allowed your travel to Canada and will recognize your right to re-enter the country that issued said document.
  – for U.S. citizens, along with a copy of your passport, you may need to provide a copy of your birth certificate.
• Court judgment made against you
  – This document(s) will show: the charge, the section of the law under which you were charged, the verdict and the sentence
  – This can include a copy of statute under which the criminal convictions were convicted
• Canadian equivalent laws under which you were charged or convicted
  – This can include the criminal conviction certificate or the official proof of sentence
• Any documents that relate to the sentence, parole, probation or pardon
  – These documents will include: court records, judge comments, probation or parole records, certificate of rehabilitation, and more.
• F.B.I. Criminal Record Check
• Criminal Clearance from Police
  – These can include anywhere you have lived for 6 consecutive months or longer
  – Specifically, for U.S. citizens, this can include State Clearances from any states you have lived in for 6 consecutive months or longer

The supporting documents that you can provide for Criminal Rehabilitation are:

• Proof of improvement of financial situation
  – you may provide bank statements, credit card statements, any assets or investments you have, etc.
• Itinerary
  – you may provide details of how you intend on entering and leaving Canada with the date and time as well as the form of transportation
• Well-prepared explanation of how your situation has changed
  – you may provide details to prove why the Immigration officer should issue you the Criminal Rehabilitation as well as details of how your life has changed from before and after your criminal offence(s)
• Details surrounding your inadmissibility and any proof of action to resolve your inadmissibility
  – you may provide details of any action or work you have contributed to the community or to your friends and family to resolve your inadmissibility issue.

Keep in mind, the more information and documentation that you provide to an Immigration officer, the better your chances of having a stronger case and will result in a better chance of approval. In the worst-case scenario, where you cannot provide certain documents, it is highly recommended to provide an explanation as to why. This will show the Immigration officer that you have good intentions and would be willing to provide the documentation but cannot. Unfortunately, this may impede with the chances of success and I recommend you try your best to gather the required information to the best of your ability.

Contact Akrami & Associates to Apply for a Criminal Rehabilitation

It is essential that you have taken all of the aforementioned requirements and documentation into consideration before you attempt to apply for Criminal Rehabilitation. Applications for Criminal Rehabilitation are difficult applications to pursue on your own and it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to submit the application. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients gain entry into Canada as visitors. If you believe that you may be eligible for Criminal Rehabilitation, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!