Immigration Blog about US & Canadian Immigration matters.

Immigration Officers are vigilant when it comes to accessing foreign national’s admissibility to Canada in order to ensure the safety and security of Canada, it’s citizens and permanent residents. Your spouse may be denied entry into Canada if they have a criminal record. There are options available to overcome the inadmissibility though. Continue reading below to learn how to sponsor your spouse to come to Canada even if they have a criminal record

Overcoming criminal inadmissibility

The most important step in sponsoring a spouse with a criminal record is to be it resolved. Whether that be having the record expunged, obtaining Criminal Rehabilitation or being deemed rehabilitated. Criminal Rehabilitation means that you have proved without doubt that criminal activity is in your past, you are very unlikely to reoffend and will not be a threat to Canada, it’s citizens or permanent residents.

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.