Immigration Blog about US & Canadian Immigration matters.

Denied Entry at Canadian Port of Entry

When travelling to Canada the immigration officer at the port entry has the right to refuse you entry based on the following grounds: past criminal convictions, health or financial problems, and security reasons. The immigration officer can simply deny you entry for a minor offence that was dated back over 30 years ago. These immigration officers are super cautious of who they will allow entry into Canada to ensure the safety of Canadian citizens.

So if you have major offence on record don’t even bother attempting at the port of entry without going in prepared or consulting with an immigration expert. For example, if you have a past assault or DUI charge and you have taken care of your inadmissibility in your country of citizenship but not in Canada then you will be refused entry as you have to take care of it on the Canadian side as well. Depending what is on your record, what you served for it and how long ago it was determines what type of application you need to apply for.

Can a Customs Officer deny an American entry to Canada?

If you are an American looking to enter Canada on a temporary basis, whether it be for a quick trip to Toronto to attend a sporting event, or a visit spanning several months; make sure your entry to Canada is a smooth one. Although the US is a visa exempt country (meaning not every American needs to apply for a Visa before entering Canada), the Customs Officer at the border may still decide to deny entry to an American trying to enter Canada.

Americans are not guaranteed entry to Canada, and in many ways your approval to enter is at the discretion of the Customs Officer reviewing your admissibility at the port of entry. Therefore, it is a good idea to know in advance what officers are looking for, in order to make sure you aren’t turned away.

Planned a Trip to Canada but got Denied Entry at the Port of Entry?

Have you planned your trip to Canada and have come to Canadian border and denied at the Port of Entry? Well if this is your situation you are not the only one!! We get dozens of calls every day about individuals being denied entry to Canada and are not exactly sure why they have been turned back at the port of entry. Well, there could be many reasons for being denied entry ranging from minor to major criminal offenses that you might have been convicted years ago. To name some reasons why you could be denied entry Canada are as follows:

• Possibly being a security risk to Canadian citizens

Authorization to Return to Canada

Being removed from Canada can be tough and embarrassing for many. However, you can still be let back into Canada despite your removal. You can do this by obtaining an authorization to return to Canada which will be discussed further below.

What is Authorization to Return to Canada?

The authorization to return to Canada is a special authorization that allows you to return to Canada if you were removed from Canada. You can receive an authorization to return to Canada if you are looking for permanent residency, are looking to visit Canada once or multiple entries to enter Canada in a stated time period.

Barriers to Being Denied Entry to Canada

A common barrier to entry into Canada is prior criminal convictions that may seem insignificant to you as a traveler. One of the most recurring convictions among these is what is commonly referred to as driving under the influence (DUI), and can deal a significant blow to your travel arrangements, regardless of the duration or reason for your trip. Other ways such a charge might appear on your driving record are as follows:

• Driving While Impaired (DWI)

A mistaken assumption that United States citizens often make is assuming that Canadian laws are uniform to American laws. Often times, United States citizens will come to Canada and be denied entry because of what they presume to be a “minor” conviction in the past. It is important to note that, any criminal conviction may be held against someone wanting to enter Canada.

In addition to this, what many United States citizens do not know is that, in Canada, driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious crime. If you are in the position of wanting to enter Canada with a DUI offence, chances are, you will be denied entry to Canada. This being said, it is still possible to enter Canada depending on your circumstances.