Major Reason why you can be Refused Entry at the Canadian Port of Entry
There are many reasons why you may be denied entry to Canada. One of the most common reasons is having criminal inadmissibility. It is important to recognize that the Immigration officer has the authority to refuse your entry, even if you have a criminal conviction from over thirty years ago. Thus, it is very important to determine whether you are admissible or not. In this blog, you will learn about the major reasons why you can be refused entry at the Canadian port of entry.
Criminal Inadmissibility – barrier to enter Canada
Immigration officers are vigilant about who enters Canada and their intentions for entry into Canada. The officers want to ensure that Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and any visitors in Canada, are safe and secure from any threats or risks. Therefore, if you have a minor or major offence on your criminal record, it is not advisable to attempt to enter Canada without proper authorization. The authorization that you should obtain prior to travelling to Canada can be either a Temporary Resident Permit or a Criminal Rehabilitation application. It is worth mentioning that a Temporary Resident Permit can be applied for at the port of entry.
If you have successfully dismissed or expunged your charge in your country of origin or residence, it is important to know that this may not translate into Canada. If you have a past charge from a foreign country and have not overcome your criminal record in Canada, you will be refused entry into Canada. You must ensure you take care of your criminal inadmissibility in Canada in addition to your country of origin or residence. Depending on the offence you had, this will ultimately determine which application you should apply for and how long you must wait before applying.
Questions Asked at the Port of Entry
If you have a criminal record and are attempting to enter Canada at the port of entry, it is very important to know what questions the Immigration officer may ask. When you are well-prepared for questions that may come up to you at the port of entry, you may have an increased chance to be admitted to Canada. Furthermore, it is highly recommended to consult with an Immigration professional before attempting to cross the border with a criminal record. It is very common for foreign nationals to be denied entry to Canada, because they are unprepared or don’t know what to expect at the border.
Therefore, to better prepare yourself, expect the Immigration officer to ask you any or all of the following questions:
- Why you want to enter and travel to Canada
- How long you would stay in Canada
- What offence is on your criminal record
- The severity of your offence(s)
- How long ago your offence(s) happened
- How many offences you’ve committed
- If and when you served your sentence
- Whether you have completed your sentence
- Whether you are a risk to Canadian society
Based on the questions mentioned above, it is extremely important that, you answer all the questions correctly and politely. You will need to demonstrate your remorse, regret, and personal growth after the offense to the officer as well. Please note, the purpose of having a Temporary Resident Permit or a Criminal Rehabilitation is that, you are acknowledging your criminal inadmissibility and trying to overcome it. As a result, you do not have to mention anything about how you were wrongfully convicted when you are answering the questions.
Prepare for the Port of Entry
In order to be prepared for the port of entry, it is very important to either have a Temporary Resident Permit or a Criminal Rehabilitation application. The Temporary Resident Permit is a temporary solution. As a result, any foreign national or American citizen who would like to enter Canada can only do so temporarily. Please note, the valid period of a Temporary Resident Permit is made based on the discretion of the Immigration office. That being said, the permit can then be valid for either one day or up to three years. The decision is evaluated based on the foreign national’s need to enter Canada. If the purpose for entering Canada is for leisure, then your chance may slightly decrease. However, if you have a specific event, such as family gathering, wedding, funeral, or your purpose of travel is for business, you chance of entering Canada can be higher.
On the other hand, If your Criminal Rehabilitation application is approved, and you do not reoffend, then you may travel to Canada without any problems.
Contact Akrami & Associates
It is essential that you have taken all the aforementioned information into consideration if you are attempting to enter Canada through the port of entry with inadmissibility issues. If you would like to apply for either a Temporary Resident Permit or a Criminal Rehabilitation, it is essential to note that these are difficult applications to pursue on your own. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help prior to submitting the application. Akrami & Associates work and have experience with many different immigration matters. We have helped many of our clients create strong Temporary Resident Permit and Criminal Rehabilitation applications. Please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at 416-477-2545 for more information, or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advice.
At Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!