Where can you travel with a Canadian criminal record?

hogtownposted 7 years ago

Hey fellow canucks. I've got 3 criminal offences dating back over the last 20 years. Just applied for my first US entry waiver at Pearson airport and I know it can take many months or so for a decision (based on what I've read here). The US is obviously off limits for me this summer. So where else can you travel with a Canadian criminal record? Do the European countries have the ability to do a Canadian police check? What about Asia? Or the Caribbean countries? I've haven't been out of Canada in at least 12 years and really looking forward to seeing some place different this summer. Also thinking about applying for a record suspension with Pardons Canada so I'm also interested in opinions on that.

Replies (recent first):

Australia will require you to apply for ETA though, so most likely you would have to declare your criminal conviction during the (online) application process.

Ironically, Canadian citizens have the easiest (non-immigrant) access to visiting the US (no visa required, and not even ESTA), though it is also true that no foreign country with as much access to our crime database as the US as well.

WaiveMeIn replied 5 years ago   #16

@Jazzsax1 I wasn't going to answer until you told me if you indeed played Sax.

If you google US Immigration forums you will find no shortage of ones out there. This seems to be the best one for Waivers specifically. I watch many and make corrections when I see someone post but only if its a glaring mistake. Most of these forums are not as informative and casual as this one.

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/

https://www.trackitt.com/usa-discussion-forums/usa-family-based

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/

https://www.immigrationboards.com/us-immigration/

https://www.immihelp.com/forum/forumdisplay.php/6-Immigration-USA

John Rogers replied 5 years ago   #15

@John Rogers you pulled a HatsBootsHats and ignored the question.

She asked what other forums you monitored... assuming they are related to waivers...

Inquiring minds are curious. Wouldn't want us calling you HatsBootsHats and then causing a fight, at which point BramptonGuy comes on 5 minutes later and attacks.... (LOL!)

jazzsax1 replied 5 years ago   #14

@Adelaide

Yes absolutely I can help you. I have many clients who are too far away to come to the office, and I even have quite a few BC clients, its the province with the second most clients because I used to advertise there years ago.

If your passing through we can always have you come by to complete the application in person, or start it, depending on your timing.

Fingerprints are fingerprints, regardless of where they are done.

Generally the only provinces I tend to not have clients are Saskatchewan (I refer clients there to Michelle) and Quebec ( I refer clients there to my colleague Manni)

John Rogers replied 5 years ago   #13

@JohnRogers - yes, all of them.

jazzsax1 replied 5 years ago   #12

John Rogers,

Would you care to share the links to those other forums you watch?

Just out of curiosity... I don't necessarily have to live in Ontario to be able to use your services as I'm guessing you could work on my documents remotely? Am I correct in this assumption?

I will probably be filing my waiver later this year (late summer) and actually may be in Toronto around then. My case is a simple (if such a thing is a thing) overstay but apparently there exists the possibility they could slap a misrepresentation charge on me (obviously not going to go into that here) but if you could shepherd me through that so that that possibility is lessened then that would be great.

Adelaide replied 5 years ago   #11

@HatsBootsHatsBoots

Jazzsax asked a question, so I answered it. Then YOU gave almost the same answer, a day later, but with inaccuracies. So I corrected you.

You have lost a lot of customers because you conduct yourself in this way". How would you know? You have no way to contact anyone in here, and they have no way to contact you. You have never left a phone number or email. Where are you getting this information?

"Anyways, a lot of people have left this forum because of you

Again, there is no way you could know this or prove this. You have no means of contact. The ones who did leave the forum, usually pulled a big verbal fit first, and then left.

The forum is quieter without Ken posting yes, but the volume of questions was never extremely high. I watch a couple of other forums, and participation in those is a bit higher, but waiver before the government shutdown were pretty smooth. Once people have the answer to their questions, unless your having a political discussion like Jazzsax1 and I were having, there isn't that much to talk about.

You complained when Ken and I would fight, you complain when I correct you.

@Jaxxsax1 Do you play the sax? My daughter plays the alto sax.

John Rogers replied 5 years ago   #10

@John Rogers

You just repeat or re-phrase my comments over and over. I used simple terminology this time but with your latest statements you sound as if you are an experienced lawyer. It is far from the truth. You are not a lawyer and you know nothing about US/Can law. Then you claim you correct me. It is you often that tries to pass himself as an old uncle sitting around a BBQ claiming to be an expert after having 10 beers. You claim to be a nice guy, then you insult people who have different views but you have the same ideas as you. You look for confrontation and people are wise not to deal with you. Then you cry for wolf as if people are harsh with you.

Again, it's a very low move. I have repeatedly said that this is in no way the right conduct to shut others down. Frankly, I feel you are probably an ex con macho guy or something doing waivers now for a living. You remind me of a good salesman who will sell people sort by cunning them. Continue doing waivers and helping people but stop the insults and intimidating tactics. You have lost a lot of customers because you conduct yourself in this way.

Anyways, a lot of people have left this forum because of you. I keep saying this but you have to much of an ego to realize that. Maybe 4 or 5 people including me continue to post here. But, I think its time I give it a rest because you have taken over the forum looking for customers while trying to discredit other posters. Again, keep making yourself look bad.

Just to let you know, I am studying in law and I'm not some kid or some old fart you claim I am. My girlfriend happened to get into a minor brush with the law with a discharge given to her when she was beginning adulthood. Back in 2016, I was looking for advice to help with her waiver application as she was denied entry to the US before. I got interested into learning more about the subject and now have begun the process to becoming an immigration consultant and hopefully an immigration lawyer.

I have nothing more to say either than she got a waiver finally that allows her to visit the states. I also find the system is completely ridiculous and people don't get fair chances. A society should give second chances to people and not punish them for a lifetime. A criminal record or arrest hunts you down for the rest of your life because the left and right are equally bad at handling social problems. But, police just love keeping records on people for no apparent reason.

If you ask me the whole process is just a cash grab for lawyers, waiver companies, politicians and governments to make more money out of people. Then you guys claim we have a fair system when our own government abandons its own citizens and forces them into crime. I shouldn't be saying this as I am probably going to make a new living out of this but I do hope that I can make a difference and make a better and fairer system in the future.

Have a good Sunday John and stay out of trouble.

HatsBootsHatsBoots replied 5 years ago   #9

@Jazzsax1 as you can see, you have HatsBootsHatsBoots blessing, but of course he had to include a bunch on inaccurate items as well.

@HatsBootsHatsBoots

Let me put to rest the "are you on Interpol" debate.

This is what Interpol does:

INTERPOL enables police in our 194 member countries to work together to fight international crime. We provide a range of policing expertise and capabilities, supporting three main crime programmes: Counter-terrorism, Cybercrime, and Organized and emerging crime.

On Drug Trafficking specifically;

The Organization's primary drug-control role is to identify new drug trafficking trends and criminal organizations operating at the international level and to assist all national and international law enforcement bodies concerned with countering the illicit production, trafficking and abuse of drugs by:

Collecting and analysing data obtained from member countries for strategic and tactical intelligence reports and disseminating these reports to the concerned countries;
Responding to and supporting international drug investigations;
Helping to coordinate drug investigations involving at least two member countries;
Organizing operational working meetings between member countries where INTERPOL has identified common links in cases being investigated in these countries;
Organizing regional or global conferences on specific drug topics: the aims of which are to assess the extent of the drug problem, exchange information on the latest investigative techniques and strengthen cooperation within the law enforcement community.

HatBootsHatsBoots you have posted about people appearing on Interpol before.
No one in this forum is close to being on a database kept by Interpol.

Saying "your name probably appears on Interpol" is like saying "Your name appears on Toronto Police." Interpol is a police organization, not a database.

Also, you said "drug traffickers, gang members, child abusers and people involved in organized crime or other types of trafficking"

Being in a gang in Canada does not get you on Interpol's radar. Neither does being a "child abuser". A child abuser is actually in Canada more likely someone who leaves a too young child at home alone while they go to a dance club. Drug Traffickers in Canada are most likely low level drug dealers, including the person who sells you the bad marijuana you are on when you right most of your posts.

International Drug traffickers in a Cartel are probably on Interpols radar. International Human trafficking rings get on their radar. But Sex trafficking in Canada is generally low level "pimps" with 3 or 4 young girls they "control". Not something Interpol cares about.

You speculate about topics like someones loudmouthed uncle at a BBQ who has had about 10 beers. People in this forum are NOT even close to being on the radar of Interpol. You claim to help people with "several waivers" but its clear you have seen very few criminal records from the terminology you use and the way you reference crimes.

Child abuse" is not an offence.

" Offences related to neglect within the family such as:

failure to provide necessaries of life (s. 215 )
abandoning child (ss. 218)
criminal negligence (including negligence causing bodily harm and death) (ss. 219-221)

While there is no specific offence of family violence in the Criminal Code, most acts of family violence are crimes in Canada. Relevant criminal offences could include:

Offences related to the use of physical and sexual violence such as:

assault (causing bodily harm, with a weapon and aggravated assault) (ss. 265-268)
kidnapping & forcible confinement (s. 279)
trafficking in persons (ss. 279.01)
abduction of a young person (ss. 280-283)
homicide - murder, attempted murder, infanticide and manslaughter (ss. 229-231 and 235)
sexual assault (causing bodily harm, with a weapon and aggravated sexual assault) (ss. 271-273)
sexual offences against children and youth (ss. 151, 152, 153, 155 and 170-172)
child pornography (s. 163.1)

Most of these are rare. If you beat your child its "assault", or with a belt its "assault with a weapon".

I hope I have clarified this for you. Again some research would go a long way.

John Rogers replied 5 years ago   #8

For the record, the only place you can't travel with a canadian criminal record is the US. They unfortunately have access to CPIC, other countries don't but they can request a check on you for immigration purposes. Even then, a DUI or simple assault doesn't make someone inadmissible to the US.

A canadian pardon erases the criminal record, so nobody can see it unless they get permission from the canadian government but nobody will go to such hassles anyways.

Countries are actually starting to implement eVisas and they ask tourists if they have a criminal record or have ever been arrested on the application. Australia is one of these countries and soon the EU is expected to do the same to enter the Schengen area. The US and Canada already have eVisas or ETA/ESTAs.

Also, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada are part of the 5 eyes, so they probably know everything about everyone anyways. The UK rarely refuses entry to Canadians even with criminal records anyway. You can basically lie on the eVisa application and get away with it but I discourage anyone to do so.

That being said, all countries share info about career or serious criminals such as drug traffickers, gang members, child abusers and people involved in organized crime or other types of trafficking. So, if any one of you committed major crimes, your name probably appears on Interpol and even a canadian pardon won't do much about that. These crimes are serious enough to stop someone from travelling to other countries. Most Canadians do not fall into this category, so they have nothing to worry about unless they visit the US.

HatsBootsHatsBoots replied 5 years ago   #7

If people were getting denied entry into any of those countries, I would know. They do not have easy access to CPIC.

From a profit point of view, even telling people "you can't travel to New Zealand" would be a great incentive for everyone to get a Pardon. Not to mention there would be some sort of "waiver" program. But there isn't.

With a criminal record, you can travel anywhere else BUT the United States.

Your fine.

John Rogers replied 5 years ago   #6

My understanding was NZ / Aus / UK can see our records when they scan our passports. Is that not the case?

No Visa for EU, just a tourist landing so we can hit a cruise.

Anyone else with a record who has crossed?

jazzsax1 replied 5 years ago   #5

@Jazzsax1

The EU is a socialist paradise, and therefore anyone Conservative is banned.

In all seriousness, you can travel anywhere in the world EXCEPT the United States. If people were getting denied anywhere else with a criminal record I would know.

If you are applying for a VISA to stay, that is different. As a visitor you will be fine.

Please go somewhere they get a mandatory 6 weeks vacation so you are forced to party with civil servants and come back to Canada calling people "comrade".

John Rogers replied 5 years ago   #4

Bumping this post...

Looking specifically for info on travel to the EU. I've talked to John and Ken, and we know the US is a no go without the waiver, and we know Canada is part of 5 eyes (sharing with UK, US, NZ, AUS)... so those are a no go.

Looking to fly to Europe via either Spain, Italy or France... will my record be visible in any way?

Tourist purposes, to jump on a cruise (so likely spain or Italy for landing).

Of course it's impossible to find anything guaranteed anywhere on the net, but if we have anyone with experiences recently who could share I would appreciate it!

jazzsax1 replied 5 years ago   #3

I went to Australia with a record. As long as you have no terrorist, weapons, murder/manslaughter or sexual assault charges, and have not spent more than 12 months total sentenced time in jail, you should be OK. I declared my criminal record on my entry for, and they just made me fill out a form and explain my offences. It was pretty uneventful, even though I was worried the whole time i'd get pulled aside and interviewed for hours.

Honestly, most countries seem to be pretty lenient with criminal records, unless it's something egregious. Only the US seems to have the really stringent requirements.

Tim replied 7 years ago   #2

Can go to all Caribbean islands and Europe

Nerak replied 7 years ago   #1

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