Border Crossing Info

Great news!! The tourism facilitation plan has been put into effect as of march 2012 making it easier for those with 1 minor criminal infraction including dwi's regardless of how long ago.
If a person has 1 and no more criminal infractions with less than 6 months sentence they are eligable to recieve a 1 time admittanace into canada with no fee.
It must be done at the border and is discretionary however if 1 and only one infraction the border crossing personal are discretionarily directed by the policy.
It does not change the basic laws,it is meant to to help those expereince canada who have only 1 infraction and are staying at a tourism facility and thus pose no threat to repeat while on thier vacation.
to get a permanant rehabilitation you still must first wait the the min. 5 yrs to apply and will be instructed as to how to apply upon recieving the 1 time permit.
The immingration personal i talked with suggested it always helps when coming to bring a copy of your criminal record and several references indicating the infraction was a 1 time thing and out of character.

An excellent site with basic easy to understand info on all aspects of preparation for your trip to canada from what you can bring to weather and everything in between including info on permits if needed;

www.infonorth.net

for permanant or temporary eligablity out side of the new act;

as it stands now a person entering with a minor conviction on thier record (no matter how long ago) must be rehabilitated or apply for a temporary 30 day permit to enter canada.

If the offense is more than 5 years old rehabilitation can be handled in advance through the canadian embassy, immigration offices at either ft francis or thunder bay.

If the offense is less than 5 years old or if the offense is more than 5 years old and the time requirements do not allow for the rehabilitation process before your trip there is a 30 day pass called a discrecinary enrty permit that can only be handled at the port of enrty and cannot be processed in advance. if over 10 yrs old it is deemed rehabilitated.

It is highly recommended that these guests call the immigration office in advance to get an indication as to the likehood of thier addmittance. Both these options have a process fee of 200.00 cdn$ . If the offense is older than 10 years old you are considered rehabilitated.

If the offense is between 5 and 10 years old you can be granted temporary visitor status obtaining the forms and filling them out along with a 200$ canadian permit fee

please use good judgement,honesty, and manners in your interaction with immigration officials and your chances will be greatly enhanced.
For more info contact immigration at ft francis 807-274-3818 and thier hours are from 8 am to midnite.
you can call us and we would be glad to help. 888 727 5865