Entering Canada with a DWI
Common Convictions:
- DWI, DUI, DWAI, DUAI, OWI
- Assault and/or Battery
- Weapons Charges
- Drug Charges
- Fraud
Evaluating Factors:
- Charge
- Disposition of the case (the outcome)
- Number of convictions
- Time that has elapsed since completion of probation, payment of fines, classes, jail time, etc.
Relief Options:
- ARC – You were caught at the border and officially deported
- TRP – You are inadmissible and have good reason to enter Canada
- REHAB – 5 years has passed since the end of your sentence and you are rehabilitated
- DEEMED REHAB – You have only one non-serious conviction and ten years has passed since the end of your sentence
Valid Reasons for Request for Entry for ARC, TRP or Rehabilitation
- Family
- Business
- Investment
- Sales
- Work
Filing Options:
Each individual case requires careful analysis. Every case is different. There are cases where the case disposition does not render the client inadmissible. Under certain circumstances, for instance, a conditional discharge could mean that you are still admissible to Canada. It is your responsibility to prove that you are admissible.
Why Should I Consult with a Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant?
Finding out that you are inadmissible to Canada can be embarrassing, scary and costly. The best way to approach this is to be proactive. If you have ever been arrested, you should contact an experienced consultant in order to evaluate your inadmissibility. If you wait and try to enter, and then are formally denied, you will be required to complete an additional step to gain admissibility to Canada. You will need to first be approved for an Authorization to Return (ARC) before you can apply for any other form of relief from your underlying inadmissibility grounds (see below).
Those clients who come to us before they are formally deported or refused have the best chances for a quicker and simpler application to overcome admissibility. There are different options depending on the purpose of your travel to Canada and the amount of time that has passed since the end of your sentence or when the incident occurred.
