I got a DUI in May and now it looks like I can't go on my photo trip to the Canadian Rockies that I had planned.

Apparently you officially cannot go to Canada if you've had a DUI in the last 10 years (or possibly even longer). They consider any DUI a felony and lump it in with crimes like burglary. Supposedly George Bush had to get some kind of special pass to get into Canada while he was president - due to a DUI in his past.

However I've talked to other people who had multiple DUIs who said they drove in no problem. Apparently they don't always ask you if you've been arrested. And even if you lie and say no, they don't always check their database. But if they catch you lying they put some kind of red flag on you that really screws you up for ever getting into Canada again.

Googling reveals a lot of varied experiences. There are people who get in no problem and people who get turned away just trying to take the ferry over to Victoria for a day of shopping. It sounds like flying is worse because they check the plane manifest while you're in the air. Also if you're driving in a nice car and don't look like a trouble maker they might not ask you if you've been arrested at all. Obviously if they do ask you - the decision to lie or not is a big one.

I guess also in March 2012, after a lot of outcry from the Canadian tourist industry, the govt instituted a thing where you can pay $200 for some kind of a one-time pass. But this sounds like it's totally at the discretion of the border agent. I wonder if I can go this route?

Also there's something where you can prove yourself "rehabilitated" in the eyes of the Canadian govt. But it's a ton of expensive paperwork and you probably have to pay a lawyer to do it for you. Also you have to wait at least 5 years from the arrest date.

I'd be really interested to hear any 2p2ers who have direct experience of knowledge of this situation - especially in the last few years when Canada seems to have softened a little on this issue.

cliffs: got a DUI in May - wondering if I can still get into Canada somehow

This bears little relevance too you but a month ago I crossed from the US to Canada via car and from handing him my passport to getting it back took less than 25 seconds.

Yeah sounds like they didn't run your arrest record at all. I would need to fly though so I'm curious if anyone has had experiences with that. From what I've read, when you fly they make you fill out those little cards - which probably ask if you've been arrested (or "been in front a magistrate" as they put it). So you already have to decide whether or not to try to lie right there. Supposedly you can get screwed by this even connecting in Vancouver. Crazy.

http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ifvc-rpvc-eng.html



the CBSA card : http://cbsa.gc.ca/publications/forms...s/e311-eng.pdf

Hmmm. That's customs, which is usually different from immigration.

It's kind of interesting that that site doesn't even mention DUIs or arrest at all. They don't seem to want to talk about it.

This is where it sounds really scary: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/informa...conviction.asp

And this seems to say flying is better: http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/loca...9bb30f31a.html

Here's the $200 thing: http://www.californiacriminallawyerb...a_dui_can.html
This sounds promising.

I remember filling one in online to visit the USA, but I didn't require nothing for Canada (UK Citizen) so I would very much doubt that you would or if there is any extra paperwork for one to fill in, because I would of had to fill one is too at the border.

I also dont think there are "two" different forms, one for Customs and one for Immigration, I have had to fill in forms for Thailand, India, USA and Cambodia and I have never been given two different forms for each department.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...nvictions.html

Yeah I read that. It's from 2006.

If you go you're probably not going to be asked about it. Most border crossings will be super fast for an American citizen especially if you're arriving on a plane with a bunch of other Americans.

My plan would be to go and if asked about it tell the truth, act remorseful, and ask if there's anything you can do to get in (which leads to trying the other possibilities).

Unfortunately, there's still a small chance it'll suck and you'll be denied entry.

i cross the border a few times a year. sometimes by air......... i've never seen arrest question on any card or been asked that i remember. i assume they can see it on their screen or have some other way of accessing...

curious if it pops up on the screen automatically or if they have to be suspicious and do an extra query.

my experience is that canadian customs/immigration is much much easier going than USA's... but i'm canadian. an american may see if differently (easier dealing with your own country cause they can't refuse you entry)

Suzz from the people Ive talked to the agents have pretty wide latitude to do what they want. I think a felony is something they can use to deny anyone but not a dealbreaker w every agent. If you do go Id be ready to show them your photo equip, itinerary for trip and maybe some banking and job info to show them youre not a deadbeat.

I guess it's just gonna be a math question using the % chance you get denied and amount of time and money youd waste in that case. gl solving for x

I wouldn't underestimate how seriously they take DUI's in Canada. If you go hoping they won't ask, you're running a significant risk of being turned back, and if they ask and you lie, it is highly likely you'll be caught, and if caught lying you will probably receive at the very least a 5 year ban.
Even if you tell the truth, they'll probably deny you with a fresh DUI on your record.
If I were you I would contact an immigration specialist if you're set on going, but they'll likely tell you you're not going to get in (legally) any time soon.

Seems totally worth it to at least give the lie a shot based on this.

Unfortunately I did not do my research, and just ended up getting denied entry to Canada due to a DUI (and the fact that the border officer did not like that I was crossing the border in order to play online poker). Wish I saw this thread first So first of all that $200 thing you guys are talking about in case you get caught "never happens" according to the border officer. Anyone with a criminal record for DUI in the last 10 years is criminally inadmissible and can be denied entry to Canada. The border guard told me Canada just implemented this new electronic travel authorization measure that ensures every person entering has a clean criminal record (they used to just randomly check to see if a person was in the FBI criminal database that Canada has full access to). Secondly, entering Canada to play online poker is a sketchy reason if they start asking too many questions. I think the best bet is to just say you're coming on an extended vacation and have plenty of money saved up. When I said I was going to play online poker, the guy seemed suspicious that I would not be able to support myself while in the country. Canada is socialist so they're paranoid foreigners will enter and become a leach on their social security system if they run out of money or get sick or something.

So now I need to figure out how to get into Canada after a border denial. I prepaid for 3 months accommodation so I can't just fly to Europe or Central America instead. I haven't even told my girlfriend about all this yet, I'm hoping I can fix it in a few days and she won't be the wiser. She also has a flight booked to visit me for a week, so if I can't get back in she'll have to cancel that too. Any suggestions?

Ouch, sorry to hear about your luck. I'm not sure why the Canadian border is so strict about Americans entering with a DUI (USA does not stop Canadians with a DUI from crossing the border), I guess they take the crime more serious. What you need to do is get a Canada Temporary Resident Permit, which is essentially special permission from the Canadian government to enter the country with a criminal record (the technical term is "it overcomes your criminal inadmissibility"). You can present your Canada TRP application at the border and get processed in 30-45 minutes. Even though you have already been denied entry, a DUI is a pretty minor criminal offense and it seems like it's one of the softest reasons someone can be refused at the border: http://www.canadaduientrylaw.com/den...-to-canada.php

I got a DUI in 08, i also lived right on the border of Canada with family there as well. I was never turned away or asked about it and have been to windsor as of 2 years ago, so unless something major has happened in 2 years i dont know why you wouldnt be allowed entry. I mean if you look/act suspicious/have some bizarre story as to why you are entering Canada then of course thats going to raise a red flag and they will probably pull you into immigration for a further questioning. Just plead ignorance if anything comes up

It may help you that you have family in Canada (are they Canadian or what?).
Were you born in Canada or have Canadian citizenship?

I don't know how much of this has changed, but here's my take from living near Canada and having gone up there a few times:

* DUIs are considered a felony in Canada, no matter where they occurred, so they treat them very seriously. Don't bother trying to figure out why Canadians with multiple DUIs are still allowed to drive (never mind being put in jail), while foreigners are basically treated like terrorists for having a DUI several years ago.

* The policy (at least) used to be: If you have a DUI, you must go thru an expensive (and perhaps lengthy) "rehabilitation process" in order to enter Canada. If it's been 10 years since you completed your sentence (or if no sentence, since you were convicted or your case was otherwise finalized), then you are considered automatically rehabilitated. However, I wouldn't assume that (although they likely have all the info right in front of them on a screen) they won't want to see some sort of documentation which proves it's been 10 years since your conviction/sentence.

* The border guards can be real dicks if they wish. As an example of how difficult it can be: It had been over 10 years since my conviction (no sentence) and I had been to Canada since that 10 years expired without too much trouble (just secondary interrogation, as always). I was flying to SE Asia from a large Canadian airport near the US border. They brought me into secondary interrogation (as expected), but then grilled me about everything under the sun. They wanted to know how much money I was bringing, how much I had in the bank, etc. and that was with a same day ticket in hand. I probably would have missed my flight, but there were some shenanigans going on in Korea, so they apparently had to delay the flight to figure out another flight path that wouldn't cross Korea (and get clearance... the connecting flight was in China). Several months later, I flew from Europe to this same Canadian airport. Even though I had a reservation with a shuttle to take me the short distance back to the US that same day, the Canadian customs threatened to deny me entry to Canada.

Since then, it is such a hassle and they can be such dicks for no real reason, that I have stopped even trying to go to Canada.

My advice:

* Be as bland and boring as possible, don't stick out: Short hair, basic clothes, cover tattoos, no weapons or drugs ldo, car registered in your name with local plates and local DL.

* Have your documentation in order: Paperwork for the car, proof of income, proof of substantial savings, paperwork related to any recent/significant crimes, etc. Get a passport too.

* Have your story straight: I'm not telling you to lie. OTOH, I'm not telling you not to lie. In any case, have a believable, concise story that can be verified somewhat if necessary (e.g. if you say you will be staying with friends/family in Canada, you should have at least one name/number handy... if you say you are flying back in a few weeks, you probably should have a return ticket printed out, etc.). Anything that makes them even consider you could be a deadbeat, criminal, etc. and you will be denied for sure IMO.

See my previous post, but basically I would:

* Be clean cut as possible and not look like like a hobo at all.

* Have documents showing that you have more than enough $ to support yourself for however long you say you will be there. Proof of health insurance probably wouldn't hurt either.

* Have a concise, believable story that gives them reasons to want to let you in and no reason to want to deny you. An extended vacation sounds good, just make sure you have some sights and activities memorized, other than "ummm... play poker... and stuff." Having the receipt for your accomodations with a name/number they could check (although they probably won't either way) might help.

Damn, maybe just smarter not to get a DUI.

For sure, problem is that thought usually doesn't go through your mind when you're under the influence.

Thanks. Yes, I'm going to go the Temporary Resident Permit route, as the only other option is to wait until 10 years have passed when I will be admissible again.

Thanks. Yes, the big one is being able to show you have a bunch of money (I doubt a screen shot of your poker bankroll counts though, like has to be in a bank account). The longer you plan to stay in Canada the more money you'll need, if you're going for a couple months you should have at least $8000 I'd say. Health insurance is a great one too, and if you're young is really cheap. One last thing I just remembered the officer telling me is to have "proof of ties" to back home. Examples would be an apartment lease or mortgage, it's basically something to show them you're not trying to move to Canada permanently for work.

Lol all this seems like extreme paranoia to me. I literally would cross back and forth from u.s. to canada sometimes 3 or 4 times a week. Never any question about health insurance, bank accounts, or whatever blah blah just a simple routine questions. Citizenship, where you going, how long, etc. And all this was me crossing with a Las Vegas, NV license in Michigan which mustve raised a bit more suspicion but I was never turned away. Only time i thought i might get turned away was when i didnt realize they started requiring you to have a passport to enter, i had one but i just didnt have it with me at the time. This was right when they started making it a requirement but they still let me through anyway but after a bit more questioning. It pulls up on their computer how often you come so im assuming them seeiing that i was frequently in Canada they didnt see me as a risk.

Did you have a DUI within the past 10 years or anything else on your record?

Did you read the title of the thread?

Going for a couple/few days is also different than going for a couple/few months.

I'm thinking/hoping that flying in Banff for a photo trip is about the least likely way to get hassled.