When anyone crosses the Canadian border, they are filled with anxiousness and possibly a little fear as to the questions the Immigration officer will ask. This is especially the case for individuals who have criminal inadmissibility, or in other words, have a criminal record. These individuals will have many more questions asked from Immigration officers due to this criminal inadmissibility. It is best to be well prepared and ready at the border when attempting to cross with criminal inadmissibility. Therefore, in this article, I will explain the top dos and don’ts when crossing the border with criminal inadmissibility.
Overall, it is very important for foreign nationals to know what to expect when entering Canada, specifically through a Canadian border. Immigration officers at the border are very vigilant and observant with regards to who enters Canada. Therefore, in order to better prepare yourself before entering Canada, please read the following top 5 dos when crossing the border with criminal inadmissibility.
Because you are entering Canada through a Canadian port of entry, the Immigration officer must examine you physically in order to determine whether you are admissible to enter Canada or in the worst case scenario, if you are a threat to Canada. Therefore, especially when you have a criminal record or have criminal inadmissibility, it is best to be as well-dressed as possible and present yourself in a manner that is acceptable. You don’t necessarily have to wear formal wear or a suit and tie, but it is best to wear something presentable and that doesn’t bring too much attention. The idea is to present yourself as a law-abiding citizen and to recognize that the Immigration officers have the ultimate authority on whether you enter the country.
This is a very important thing to do before attempting to cross the border. Making sure your car is clean before crossing is essential as the Immigration officer may quickly look and observe what is inside the car. If the Immigration officer see something out of place or suspicious, they have the authority to ask you to exit the car and search the vehicle. Therefore, to avoid this from possibly happening, it is best to keep your car in the best shape and tidy when crossing the border.
When crossing the border and speaking with the Immigration officer it is best to be on your best behavior and quietly await the questions the Immigration officer will ask. Furthermore, it is advisable to turn off the radio in order to hear everything that the Immigration officer is saying and to avoid any misunderstandings. You don’t want there to be a miscommunication and as a result you are asked more questions or, even worse, refused entry into Canada. Additionally, it is important to know exactly what the Immigration officer is asking in order to tell them accurate information in response and not to say something that wasn’t necessarily asked for. It is best to answer all questions with sufficient information but not too much information as this can lead to more questions.
This may be the most important thing to do when crossing the Canadian border, especially with criminal inadmissibility. You must ensure that you have the appropriate documentation to allow your entry into Canada. For instance, you must either have an approved Temporary Resident Permit or a Criminal Rehabilitation prior to attempting to enter Canada. These applications allow the temporary entry of foreign nationals to enter Canada with inadmissibility issues. The difference between the two is that a Temporary Resident Permit is usually issued for one visit to Canada and does not solve your criminal inadmissibility if you were to return to Canada in the future. Whereas, the Criminal Rehabilitation is a more permanent solution and will allow the foreign national to enter Canada with criminal inadmissibility in the future with no issues from Immigration. Therefore, it is very important for a foreign national to obtain either one of these applications in order for them to be authorized to travel to Canada temporarily.
As previously mentioned, an Immigration officer will ask various questions when any foreign national attempts to cross the border. This is especially the case for any foreign national who has a criminal history and record as this may cause a risk to Canadian society. The Immigration officer must determine whether the foreign national is a risk or threat and ultimately whether they should be allowed into Canada. As a result, their questions will be very specific and will probe further based on the information that the foreign national submits. As a result, it is best to understand your criminal history and record, if this applies to you. You should know your charges and what your sentence was and how much time has passed since the charges occurred. Essentially, you should know the ins and outs of all information regarding your criminal record.
It is essential that you have taken all of the aforementioned suggestions into consideration before you attempt to cross the Canadian border with criminal inadmissibility. Applications to overcome your criminal inadmissibility 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 cross the Canadian border with criminal inadmissibility with the proper documentation. If you believe that you may be eligible, 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 advice.
With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!
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