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Certain convictions will render visitors to Canada criminally inadmissible. Allowing visitors with criminality entry to Canada will depend on when the sentence was completed as well as the type of conviction. Many visitors travel back and forth to Canada without disclosing their criminal history and this is not recommended. Regardless of the level of criminality, all convictions should be disclosed to border officers. At any given point, a border official may ask you questions about your criminal background. The proper way to visit Canada while having a criminal history is to have the conviction assessed by an immigration lawyer to determine whether a Temporary Resident Permit is required. With the passing of time, some applicants may no longer be criminally inadmissible A Temporary Resident Permit overcomes the criminal inadmissibility and allows entry to Canada for short period of times. An immigration lawyer will prepare a Temporary Resident Permit application for applicants to submit at the Canadian border for same day issuance.
If individuals visit Canada very frequently, a Temporary Resident Permit application can also be submitted at the Canadian Embassy or Consulate abroad. The processing time for this application is longer, however when issued, this Permit will be valid for a longer period of time. This will avoid applying for Temporary Resident Permits each and every time crossing the border. It is recommended to apply for both a Temporary Resident Permit at the border and at the Embassy or Consulate abroad simultaneously as border officers prefer to see this.
Finally, visitors who qualify can also submit a Criminal Rehabilitation application to the Canadian Embassy or Consulate abroad. Once a visitor is rehabilitated, a Temporary Resident Permit is no longer required to enter Canada. Again, immigration officers prefer to see the criminal rehabilitation application pending when making a decision on a Temporary Resident Permit.