I think it depends if they happen to check your record as you cross the borde. you definetly cannot get a work or residence visa, but if you are just driving across as a tourist, not everyone is checked. However, it could happen that you are, then you would be turned away.
Just last weekend as I was entering the United States (I am from Canada) I asked the border guard if my friend from nyc could come visit me in canada with a criminal record. He said he couldn't if he had been in jail in the last10 years, or if he had a dui. the only way to enter Canada with that type of record is to receive a special form from the government.
I noticed alot of people said a DUI is a felony, okay well its not but it is a criminal charge. And you cannot enter Canada with a criminal charge that you have not been pardoned for.
BUT if it is over 5 years ago yes, you can enter. Within five years you cannot. When did you receive this charge?
I went through all of this as my boyfriend has a few things on his criminal record (one being careless driving). He was denied access and I was able to withdraw my request to cross.
If you look right on the Canada Customs website it will tell you all of this. =)
As long as you have a photo id (until January 1, 2008 - at which point you'll need a passport) you should be able to enter Canada via road no prob.
FYI...I have a dui on my record, it is NOT a felony. I crossed over into Canada a week and a half ago (and crossed back into the U.S. a day later). People really need to know what they're talking about before the respond in some cases - I went to the state department website (which is linked to the U.S. post office website) and a couple of other tourism sites to learn that a passport if traveling by land or sea into Canada is NOT required until January 1, 2008.
P.S. My dui hasn't quite been 5 years...four and one half, but not 5 years.
I have had 2 DUI's in the last 13 years, I also have a commercial drivers license. I go into Canada 4 times a month for days at a time. I have never had one problem coming or going. I am from the United states. And I have not filled out any special form from any government!!
Technically...the answer is yes. BUT....you are not supposed to be able to. A DUI falls under "criminal inadmissibility" and you should not be allowed through. As Canada (and the USA) becomes more and more strict at the borders, you will find more and more people being denied access.
If the DUI was less than five years ago...take your chances. You should be refused entry to Canada. There is no other option since techinically, again, you are not allowed in Canada legally. If the DUI was over 5 years, you can apply for a pardon showing you are rehabilitated. There is a fee for this, and it is not refundable if you are refused. (Link for applying for this below)
Persons Who Are Inadmissible to Canada
Persons who have been convicted of a CRIMINAL OFFENCE in ANY COUNTRY may be INADMISSIBLE TO CANADA as a result of their criminal record. Even persons who do not require a Visa to enter Canada may still be refused permission to enter Canada if they are MEMBERS OF AN INADMISSIBLE CLASS.
INADMISSIBLE CLASSES:
Members of Inadmissible Classes include those who have been convicted of MINOR OFFENCES (including shoplifting, theft, assault, dangerous driving, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of illegal substances, etc.), or of INDICTABLE CRIMINAL OFFENCES (including assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, etc.). As well, those who have been convicted of DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED (DWI) are considered Members of an Inadmissible Class. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is regarded as an extremely serious offence in Canada.
Those who have received TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS (including parking/speeding tickets, etc.) and other minor violations (i.e. littering, etc.) most likely will NOT be prohibited from entering Canada. Similarly, those who have JUVENILE CONVICTIONS (convictions for crimes committed while under age 18) most likely will NOT be prohibited from entering Canada unless they could have been tried as an adult for their offences.
You can be barred entry to Canada for a DUI. Not sure where sunidaze got her info but the message is quite clear on the Immigration Canada website. From their webpage:
"...If you have committed or been convicted of a criminal offence, you may not be allowed to enter Canada....Criminal offences include both minor and serious offences such as theft, assault, manslaughter, dangerous driving or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol...."
This does not mean that you will NOT be allowed in. It just means that they are ALLOWED to refuse you entry based on the DUI offence.
You can be considered rehabilitated, and be allowed in, or they may not happen to check the database on you at that moment, since it is supposed to be random checks that are occurring when you cross at the border.
Check the "Visting Canada" link at Immigration Canada for more info.
Oh and by the way, US Homeland Security has pushed back the need for a passport when crossing by LAND to allow a backlog of files to be processed. Now you will only need the passport by land as of June 2008. (You do already need the passport to arrive by AIR, as airlines will not let you on the plane without one or proof that you applied for one).
DUI is a felony in Canada and border staff have the right to refuse any one with a criminal record.............you may cross 50 times with no trouble then one day someone will check you out and deny you entry so risk it if you wish
I would say no, my friend also from Minnesota went through hours in immigration just for a roadside suspension 20 some years ago. He wasnt even charged !
They finally, reluctantly let him come into Canada, they even phoned me and questioned me about his history, his job, where he lived, how long he was staying etc.
You should not be allowed according to our government in Canada but we also have violent sports people convicted in the USA, or in Canada and they slide back and forth. Whats the difference?
Any one with DUI, criminal offence, or any other record can not enter Canada. Look Martha Stewart have to apply for an special permission, that sometimes take months in order to enter Canada, because of the criminal record. Also, now you need a valid passport to enter Canada, so you may have to check Citizen and Immigration Canada for all the applications for the special permit. Good luck
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
I think it depends if they happen to check your record as you cross the borde. you definetly cannot get a work or residence visa, but if you are just driving across as a tourist, not everyone is checked. However, it could happen that you are, then you would be turned away.
Just last weekend as I was entering the United States (I am from Canada) I asked the border guard if my friend from nyc could come visit me in canada with a criminal record. He said he couldn't if he had been in jail in the last10 years, or if he had a dui. the only way to enter Canada with that type of record is to receive a special form from the government.
I noticed alot of people said a DUI is a felony, okay well its not but it is a criminal charge. And you cannot enter Canada with a criminal charge that you have not been pardoned for.
BUT if it is over 5 years ago yes, you can enter. Within five years you cannot. When did you receive this charge?
I went through all of this as my boyfriend has a few things on his criminal record (one being careless driving). He was denied access and I was able to withdraw my request to cross.
If you look right on the Canada Customs website it will tell you all of this. =)
As long as you have a photo id (until January 1, 2008 - at which point you'll need a passport) you should be able to enter Canada via road no prob.
FYI...I have a dui on my record, it is NOT a felony. I crossed over into Canada a week and a half ago (and crossed back into the U.S. a day later). People really need to know what they're talking about before the respond in some cases - I went to the state department website (which is linked to the U.S. post office website) and a couple of other tourism sites to learn that a passport if traveling by land or sea into Canada is NOT required until January 1, 2008.
P.S. My dui hasn't quite been 5 years...four and one half, but not 5 years.
I have had 2 DUI's in the last 13 years, I also have a commercial drivers license. I go into Canada 4 times a month for days at a time. I have never had one problem coming or going. I am from the United states. And I have not filled out any special form from any government!!
Technically...the answer is yes. BUT....you are not supposed to be able to. A DUI falls under "criminal inadmissibility" and you should not be allowed through. As Canada (and the USA) becomes more and more strict at the borders, you will find more and more people being denied access.
If the DUI was less than five years ago...take your chances. You should be refused entry to Canada. There is no other option since techinically, again, you are not allowed in Canada legally. If the DUI was over 5 years, you can apply for a pardon showing you are rehabilitated. There is a fee for this, and it is not refundable if you are refused. (Link for applying for this below)
Persons Who Are Inadmissible to Canada
Persons who have been convicted of a CRIMINAL OFFENCE in ANY COUNTRY may be INADMISSIBLE TO CANADA as a result of their criminal record. Even persons who do not require a Visa to enter Canada may still be refused permission to enter Canada if they are MEMBERS OF AN INADMISSIBLE CLASS.
INADMISSIBLE CLASSES:
Members of Inadmissible Classes include those who have been convicted of MINOR OFFENCES (including shoplifting, theft, assault, dangerous driving, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of illegal substances, etc.), or of INDICTABLE CRIMINAL OFFENCES (including assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, etc.). As well, those who have been convicted of DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED (DWI) are considered Members of an Inadmissible Class. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is regarded as an extremely serious offence in Canada.
Those who have received TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS (including parking/speeding tickets, etc.) and other minor violations (i.e. littering, etc.) most likely will NOT be prohibited from entering Canada. Similarly, those who have JUVENILE CONVICTIONS (convictions for crimes committed while under age 18) most likely will NOT be prohibited from entering Canada unless they could have been tried as an adult for their offences.
You can be barred entry to Canada for a DUI. Not sure where sunidaze got her info but the message is quite clear on the Immigration Canada website. From their webpage:
"...If you have committed or been convicted of a criminal offence, you may not be allowed to enter Canada....Criminal offences include both minor and serious offences such as theft, assault, manslaughter, dangerous driving or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol...."
This does not mean that you will NOT be allowed in. It just means that they are ALLOWED to refuse you entry based on the DUI offence.
You can be considered rehabilitated, and be allowed in, or they may not happen to check the database on you at that moment, since it is supposed to be random checks that are occurring when you cross at the border.
Check the "Visting Canada" link at Immigration Canada for more info.
Oh and by the way, US Homeland Security has pushed back the need for a passport when crossing by LAND to allow a backlog of files to be processed. Now you will only need the passport by land as of June 2008. (You do already need the passport to arrive by AIR, as airlines will not let you on the plane without one or proof that you applied for one).
DUI is a felony in Canada and border staff have the right to refuse any one with a criminal record.............you may cross 50 times with no trouble then one day someone will check you out and deny you entry so risk it if you wish
I would say no, my friend also from Minnesota went through hours in immigration just for a roadside suspension 20 some years ago. He wasnt even charged !
They finally, reluctantly let him come into Canada, they even phoned me and questioned me about his history, his job, where he lived, how long he was staying etc.
You should not be allowed according to our government in Canada but we also have violent sports people convicted in the USA, or in Canada and they slide back and forth. Whats the difference?
Any one with DUI, criminal offence, or any other record can not enter Canada. Look Martha Stewart have to apply for an special permission, that sometimes take months in order to enter Canada, because of the criminal record. Also, now you need a valid passport to enter Canada, so you may have to check Citizen and Immigration Canada for all the applications for the special permit. Good luck