If you had previously been convicted of DUI in the United States and were 18 years of age or older at the time, your chances of entering Canada were slim to none as you were considered criminally inadmissible under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Under the new guidelines, which started March 1, 2012, this has changed. The new policy allows the grant of a one-time fee exemption (normally $200) for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), which covers DUI convictions. A TRP may be issued at a port of entry or a visa office abroad if the following criteria are met:
- Your criminal inadmissibility is solely based on your DUI conviction
- You did not serve any imprisonment as part of that DUI conviction
- You have not committed other acts that would render you inadmissible
The fee waiver is a one-time deal, but this does not mean that you can only visit Canada once. You may be considered for a TRP again; however, you will have to pay the $200 fee.
Have a DUI/DWI/OUI related question? Stephen L. Jones is available 24-hours a day. Please call (617) 851-7153 or visit http://www.dwilawoffice.com.
