Tourists with MINOR criminal records being turned back at Canadian border

[wanderingjew]

I had no problem going from the Ship into Vancouver if nothing criminal happens between now and may i guess i will have no problem entering canada using the ship transfer from seattle

[gr8tfulscott]

customs was a joke. since all they were handleing was the cruise ship.

you just showed your d.l or passport. no checking of anyones names.

getting back on i.d and seapass.

 

there was none in seattle. some goof collecting the duty free cards a kid (18).

[Ephraim]

I doubted that for the most part there would be problems for people. Anyone with a serious criminal record wouldn't normally be stupid enough to present themselves to customs.

 

As for Prince Rupert, my guess is that they don't expect ANYONE is going to stay when the ship leaves, so there is little harm in letting people in for the day.

 

That being said, you legally should have your paperwork in order for the future.

[orangecounty]

Looking at the dates of these posts I guess that no one has had a problem to report in well over a year.

I will be headed that way soon and I do have 2 non felony convictions about 46 years old from the early 1960's. What are the odds that I will be ask the big question about a criminal record? It is so old that I don't remember the details or the disposition of the charges. I was not able to get a FBI report in time for my cruise. I hope to have a Calif. DOJ record review in time so that I can at least answer any questions that might be ask. I am 67 years old and this will be my 8th trip to Canada in the last 20 years and the question has not been ask yet.

I did not even think about it being a problem until I read a post about a month ago. I wish I had not booked out of Vancouver, but it is too late to change without costing lots of money. This will be my last trip with a Canada stop, the stress is just too much for me.

[Ephraim]

Just be honest if asked. It's too old to worry about and if you have been in Canada since then, it's obviously a moot point.

[orangecounty]

Thank you. I last visited Canada in 1997, so they were not set up with the data sharing yet.

[LeftcoastBC]

I think your comment on the date of the posting previous says it all. I have not read or heard anything about this being a problem recently. When you are cruise bound flying with ID and everything else that goes with a great holiday those items out of your past connected with your misguided youth really are not what anyone is looking for.

BUT for sure don't fudge the answers if asked......

[Rikka]

OK.... here is what happened to me TODAY (21 May) when I flew into Calgary...

 

In customs I was asked why I was here. I told them to attend a trade show. They then sent me to "immigration". There I was asked if I had ever been arrested. I said, "yes, last year for a DUI". I was instructed to go get my bags and come back and so I did. When I got back they had my full police background check from the FBI. I had forgotten to mention an arrest from 12 years ago so they got a little snippity about that... Long story short, they let me "buy" my way into Canada by paying CAD $200 for a "Temporary Resident Permit". I think the Canadians have found a tidy way to help cover the cost of their socialist system.

 

Now, I keep reading about how this had been happening to Canadians "for years" but I find it odd that if you do a google search you won't find

 

stories about Canadians being denied into the USA but you'll find tons of stories about Americans being denied entry into Canada... If this has been happening to Canadians too as many are claiming, there would be at least one story about it wouldn't there be? The only stories I can find about Canadians being denied entry into the USA are Canadians with political issues such as Canadians with ties to Hamas, etc. To me this is a clear case of Canadians either using this as a money making scheme, revenge against Americans because they hate our government or just because they are taking a position they always claim Americans take... the position of "holier-than-thou". This is clearly not nearly as much of a problem for Canadians heading south as it is for Americans heading north.

 

 

I hope you are joking?? My sister was denied entry to the US because the US customs agent didn't like the idea of her entering the US to visit her boyfriend!! Each country has the right to restrict the admission of people at it's borders. It happens at every border in the world, although it is thankfully rare.

 

Let's all chill a bit here. Canada is not targeting Americans any more than the US is targeting us. We are all a bit more security conscious since 9/11. I think the hysteria level is rising just a bit. Very few people are ever affected by this - in spite of the inflamatory news article. Thousands of decent people cross our borders uneventfully every day. Most customs agents, on both sides of the border, are very good at bending backwards - within the strict rules they are given- to give people a break and to promote trade and visits both ways. My son worked at Canada Customs while going to university ( he is in the Mounties now ). He says that honesty is always the best policy. You may not be asked, but if you are, answer honestly and politely. They will do everything they can to give you a break.

 

So please - lets not criticize each other's country. I thought cruisers had more class and sophistication than that.

[weedpindle100]

1. Only those with records that are entered into NCIC (National Crime Information Center) will be found when ANYONE does a criminal history check (this is what Canadian Immigration uses) will 'ring the bell". If you want to find out if your history is in NCIC, trot on down to your local law enforcement agency and ask them to run a 'criminal history' on you. Most will charge a modest fee, altho it costs them nothing and takes perhaps 10 minutes, and unless you are a fugitive from somewhere, it will be painless.

 

2. Canada accepts draft dodgers from the US.

 

3. A really informative site about some Canadian ideas.... http://ezralevant.com/

 

4. Don't misunderstand, I like Canada.

[Calgary North]

Please don't believe Ezra Levant represents Canadian journalism and I promise not to believe Fox News represents the best of American journalism.

 

Regards

[weedpindle100]

Edited #2

 

1. Only those with records that are entered into NCIC (National Crime Information Center) will be found when ANYONE does a criminal history check (this is what Canadian Immigration uses) will 'ring the bell". If you want to find out if your history is in NCIC, trot on down to your local law enforcement agency and ask them to run a 'criminal history' on you. Most will charge a modest fee, altho it costs them nothing and takes perhaps 10 minutes, and unless you are a fugitive from somewhere, it will be painless.

 

2. Canada accepts deserters from the US military.

 

3. A really informative site about some Canadian ideas.... http://ezralevant.com/

 

4. Don't misunderstand, I like Canada.

[Shopinpat]

Just to let everyone know. I have spent and extensive amount of time

contacting the Canadian authorities on this subject. And to some up everything I have learned. Here goes.

If the incident occured over ten years ago they most likely would consider you rehabilitated. Always bring your paper work with you showing disposition and dates.

Even if it was not a conviction as is the case with one of our traveling partners some odd 20 + years ago. You may be considered an undesirable if it is on your record.

 

Bottom line though with everyone I spoke to is, it is up to the person at the border. So I always suggest to be as nice as can be and answer questions truthfully.

[Thurston Howell lll]

You would need to wear a large sign around your neck that said "I am a convict" to be ask about your criminal past at the Vancouver Customs.

Don't dress like a biker or have prison tats on your forehead and you will be fine!

[Putterdude]

Bottom line though with everyone I spoke to is, it is up to the person at the border. So I always suggest to be as nice as can be and answer questions truthfully.

 

You have received very good advice and it really does come down to the discretion of the Customs Officer who interviews you and even if he/she were to say no you could speak to the senior officer in charge. Any offense that is 10 years and assuming there have not been further offenses will in all likelihood be overlooked and even minor offenses that are over 5 years old. Unfortunately the US is not as kind to Canadians going into the States, one offense ever....and you are barred from entry for life.

[Ephraim]

Did the dead horse need to be beaten some more?

[jjrotten72]

Going on Amtrak from Seattle to Vancouver.I have misdemeanor marijuana possession charge from 1999.No other issues on record.Does any body know if I will be denied entry??

[Ephraim]

Know... we can't see your record. Misdemeanour means NOTHING in Canada. It also does not matter how it was adjudicated, but how it is listed at the maximum in Canada.

 

To be honest, the law on possession in Canada is currently in limbo since late 2003. The law was declared unconstitutional in 2007. The problem is that in this case possession previously was a hybrid where the crown could elect to prosecute as a summary offence or a criminal offence. As a summary offence the maximum time for a first offence was six months. As a criminal offence the maximum time was seven years.

 

My guess... and it is simply a guess is that with it having been over ten years you have nothing to worry about. If they ask you about it, just be plain honest and truthful about it and the amount. If you are honest about it they will likely judge you as rehabilitated and you won't have to worry about it. The WORST thing you can do is lie about it.

 

I would ask your local police to see if you even have a record on NCIC anymore. Likely something that minor might have been entirely wiped in any case.

[e050377]

Just wanted to relate what happened to us last week in Montreal coming off the Maasdam. My husband had been charged with DWAI in college, but it was thrown out completely because the judge found him not to be driving the car. He got the charge simply because he was at a party graduation weekend and was too drunk to drive home so he was sleeping it off in his car. His car was parked in an area that you can't park in past 2 am, so the police questioned him and told him it would have to be moved. He stated he was too drunk to move the car and would take the parking ticket of $10! Here's where they got him. He stated he was too drunk to drive yet the keys were in his pocket. Apparently you can not be drunk behind the wheel and with the keys in your pocket! Anyway the judge threw it out because he was being responsible.

 

Flash forward to us clearing immigration last Sat. My husband gets a call that immigration would like to speak with him. Honestly we thought it was because we travel to Canada quite frequently. We live 2 hours from the border. Anyway he goes down and they inform him because he was charged with this crime he is not allowed in Canada until 10 years has passed. There was another guy there and he had an actual DUI and he was given the same talk as my husband. She did say there was no problem with him entering this time, but that she had put a note in his folder and the next time he tries to cross before 10 years he will be turned back and heavily fined! She was very nice about it, but he said she told him 3 or 4 times to either purchase the waiver or not to return until 10 years was up which is next year for us. She was good enough to give him the actual date he can come back. She also told him they get a lot of these each cruise and that is the procedure to warn them that it will be in their file and they can not come back. He was not prevented from visiting Canada this trip, as she told him customs would not know of this when we leave.

 

Now that is our experience entering through Montreal. I'm sure in Vancouver they have similar procedures, but if you are at all worried I would get a waiver. We were not concerned by this as it had been thrown out, but it still showed up as a charge. I'm not sure what would have happened if it had been anything more serious or had they prevented him from getting off the ship.

[tiggerman101]

I hate to resurrect an old thread like this. However, recent research on this subject has me a bit worried. Like many people I never knew the particulars upon entering Canada as I have never had a problem with any other cruise. Anyway, I am booked on an Alaskan cruise from Seattle that ends in Vancouver. I have a couple alcohol related incidents on my record from 8-10 years ago (DUI). By the way, I am a recovering alcoholic and have been sober for 7 years now. Am I in danger of being denied boarding the ship before the cruise in Seattle? What could possibly happen when we arrive in Vancouver for disembarkation? i know this is not the best place to ask. I have contacted the cruise line and the Canadian consulate, but nobody seems to have any kind of answer or help. The cruise is a bit away so I am trying to figure out if I should cancel. Any ideas, suggestions, or related stories would be MUCH appreciated. I would love to hear from anyone else that has been through this. Thank you.

[Putterdude]

No one other than the Canadian Counsulate office closest to your home can give you a 100% answer. Customs officers have great deal discretion of in this type of matter which can be good or bad given the circumstances. However generally speaking with DUI offences that have occrued 5 to 10 years out, the matter is usually overlooked by Canadian Customs. You also have the added advantage of being a member of AA which will demonstrate that you are serious about rehabilitation. I would come armed with as much paper work as you can, don't raise the matter with customs unless asked, if you were denied entry ask to see the agents OIC and explain the situation and if worse comes to worse they can issue you a temporary entry permit for a cost of about $200. However from what you have described I doubt that you will have a problem.