How to Visit Canada from the US: Criminal Inadmissibility

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"Canada recently announced that fully vaccinated travelers from the United States will be allowed to enter Canada from August 9, 2021. This exemption will apply only to US citizens and permanent residents who are currently living in the US. Travelers must have completed their full course of vaccination at least 2 weeks before entering Canada."

Written by My Visa Source Team
Published on: Aug 17, 2021

Canada recently announced that fully vaccinated travelers from the United States will be allowed to enter Canada from August 9, 2021. This exemption will apply only to US citizens and permanent residents who are currently living in the US. Travelers must have completed their full course of vaccination at least 2 weeks before entering Canada.

Under this exemption, fully vaccinated travelers will no longer be required to take a Covid-19 test on arrival and then after a week. However, the Canadian Border and Service Agency (CBSA) may still randomly test travelers at the Port of Entry (POE).

The travel restrictions on US travelers were first imposed on March 21, 2021. Since then, these restrictions have been extended every month. However, these restrictions have impacted the Canadian tourism industry as US tourists do make up a hefty portion of tourists coming to Canada. In 2019, Canada welcomed 15 million US tourists.

However, despite the ease in travel restrictions, you may still get denied entry to Canada if you have a past criminal record. Criminal Inadmissibility is the most common reason for denied entry. Having a criminal history can prevent you from coming to Canada, whether for a long-term or short-term stay.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Criminal Inadmissibility

Certain criminal charges such as Driving under the Influence (DUI), possession of controlled substance, or assault may cause you to be criminally inadmissible to Canada. However, if you know that already, th you can prepare for it in advance. There are long-term and short-term options to deal with Criminal Inadmissibility. A possible short-term or temporary solution is known as applying for the Temporary Resident Permit (TRP). The permanent solution is known as applying for Criminal Rehabilitation.

A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) is for travelers who require temporary access into Canada despite their Criminal Inadmissibility. A TRP is usually granted to individuals who can demonstrate that the benefits of their visit to Canada outweigh the risks of letting them enter. Applicants who wish to travel to Canada for short periods for leisure purposes may apply for a TRP as a temporary solution.

Applying for Criminal Rehabilitation is a process that allows an applicant to clear their Criminal Inadmissibility permanently. If it has been 5 years since you have completed your term of sentencing, then you can apply for rehabilitation. The term of sentencing includes time spent in prison or on probation, payment of any fines levied, or community services. Once your application for Criminal Rehabilitation is approved, you will no longer require a TRP or be criminally inadmissible. However, if it has been less than 5 years since the end of your sentencing period, then you will have no option but to apply for a TRP.

If you have been charged with an offense but are yet to be convicted of a crime, then you can take steps in advance to avoid being criminally inadmissible to Canada. You can ask for a legal opinion letter from a Canadian immigration litigation lawyer if you have been charged with an offense in another country. This letter will contain details regarding your criminal charge and the lawyer’s conclusion on how the potential verdict may affect your ability to enter Canada. This is a good way to know how to deal with the future verdict.