Several things wrong with this quote:
1. What exactly does a criminal look like?
2. The correct grammar would be, "Do you talk like someone who DIDN'T get PAST grade 3?" Perhaps the original poster qualifies in this category has he used poor grammar and failed to use an apostrophe.
3. And exactly how does someone look like when they are up to something? And exactly what does that mean?
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On the contrary, it IS something to worry about, if you are an American and have just driven a thousand miles to get to the Canadian border.
Canada, as an independant country, has the absolute right to decide who may enter it's territory. Part of that process, is to stop and question those who arrive at our borders, by any means of travel . Not just the driver of a vehicle, but ALL persons on board, of ANY age, are subject to questioning at the border.
Canada, and the USA SHARE a common criminal record data base, which is available to every inspector at all enrtry points to Canada, or the USA. If you are driving a vehicle, your plate is scanned even before you get to the booth, and your documents are also scanned at the booth, if the inspector wants to do so.
If you are sent for "secondary inspection " it is because something has shown up , either on the computer screen, or in your answers to the inspector at the initial inspection point.
The questions that are asked are NOT random, they are designed to get truthfull answers, and to find out if the person is not being honest about themselves or their past history.
As to being "denied entry to Canada " it is not a mystery. If you have been convicted in the USA, of a felony criminal offence, that has not been pardoned, you will be denied entry. That DOES include DUI or drunk driving, because in Canada that is a Criminal Code offence, and we view it as a very serious offence.
It is possible to apply for a " criminal waiver to enter Canada" BUT it is not a matter that can be done at the border, upon arrival. It takes a long process ( more than a year to complete ) and the services of a Canadian paralegal company to get it done. The costs are about $800 CDN.
Previous posters have pointed out that the Canadian Government has a number of Consulate offices in the USA. Call the one nearest to your home and ask the question. Get the information direct from the source, and be informed properly.
Apparently there is an English teacher in every crowd...
Lets keep this thread on topic and not turn it into a contest.
Yes, I use some sort of forum shorthand when I post, yes my points raise some questions, yes point 2 was meant to read "red necky".
In the future could all members please also inform us if responses to their posts will be "on the test".
My friend, your point has been taken into consideration. While it will do nothing to change my individual posting style, I will keep in mind when I read others posts that English might not be their first language before I make some attempt at insulting them.
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2006 Springdale 292BHLS
2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT 6.0
Jimbunting is right. I had clients last year who were ending an Alaska cruise in Vancouver, and one in their party had had a DUI conviction in the past. I did some research, and all I could tell them was that it was iffy that they would be allowed in. At worst, I figured they'd be jailed for a while; second-worst, they'd be escorted immediately to the airport for return to the states (which they were going to do anyway). Apparently it worked out ok, as they never indicated afterward that they had a problem, but it was a concern. If you're driving across the border with a DUI or felony in your past, chances are you'll be turned back to the U.S. Perhaps if your stay in Canada is to be short and not involving driving, they might let you in. I don't think I'd worry about the class IV misdemeanor, though.
If a person has been convicted of a CRIMINAL offense, they can and will be denied access to EITHER country. Cdns going south face the same at the US Border.
There is NO insurance to get a person across the 49th parallel.
That drug offense from years ago? means they will not be allowed across.
Impaired Driving (alcohol or drugs), Driving over the limit, Drunk Driving, DUI or DWI or what ever you call it in your Province or State will get you a hard time at the border, passport or not .......... we/they don't want drinking and druggie driving people on the roads, no matter how long ago the conviction/s was/were. Drug offences will also get you a hard time. Your name and DOB on the your passport is linked to a data base of convictions (bad guys), when they scan the PP, guess what, up pops your name plus any one else with the same name and birth date. Then it is up to the CBS Agent or the American equivalent to investigate you. Now, I think that a minor offence or what is called a misdemeanor in the US is okay to enter, you may get a few more questions asked than the next person but it is the people who have convictions that carry over a two year jail sentence or the 'Jail Time Offences' that they want to keep out. The key words are 'Criminal Conviction' or 'Criminal Act'. A person can also apply for a 'Pardon' after 7 years I think, but this is an expensive way to go.
My DW and I are planning to visit Canada this summer so this thread is of interest to us. We plan on entering in our RV, have valid passports and neither of us have any convictions of any kind.
That said, I've traveled to Canada a fair amount on business and I only have one or two arrivals where I haven't been hassled. None of those exceptions have been in Toronto where I've been hassled every time. I never seem to have a reason for being there (like attending a meeting) that is acceptable without being grilled. I work for an international company with offices in both countries and don't understand why I'm singled out. Based on the number of people pulled out of the lines for grilling like me, mine is not an isolated case. And yes, I've been hassled returning to the US, too, but not as consistently and not for as long.
My point here is that I view the border situation much like I view my yearly car inspection. Although I work very hard to maintain my cars in peak operating condition because I don't want breakdowns, the inspection stations seem to find "things that I missed." Last year it was a serpentine belt that had too many cracks in it. The stations want to find a certain number of defects by the percentage of cars inspected and, by golly, they are going to find them. I suspect that the border patrol on both sides has the same approach. If they found the exceptions that they needed for the day/week ahead of you, you might sail through. If not...... I don't expect border security to be an exact, predictable science and I'm not disappointed.
Do you ever think that it could have something to do with your name and birthdate ?? Someone else with the same name and DOB will trigger the system when they scan your PP. What is a real PO factor is they will not tell you why........
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