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Please share your experience about Criminal Rehabilitation application in 2017

S

snippysnaps

Newbie
Mar 13, 2024
2
0
homebuoy said:
I've been reading the posts in this forum to see what others have been experiencing as far as the process of Criminal Rehabilitation, as I've been impatiently awaiting a decision on my application.

I thought I would share my experience, hoping that it may help others, or at least provide some guidance and hope.
I'm in the US and sent in my imm1444e application packet in April 2023. It was sent to the Consulate General of Canada in NY City. I received my approval letter via email today, so 18 months total. My inadmissibility was based on three DUI/DWAI offenses between 1985 and 1991.
I initially had a free consultation with an attorney who specialized in these cases, but decided to undertake the process myself.
Click to expand...
I'm so happy to hear this! I too had an initial free consultation but felt equipped enough to do this myself. I just submitted last week, so am prepared to wait at least a year to hear back.

I wish I had seen this sooner, just because I kept going back and forth about how to package everything so that it was easy to navigate physically. I ended up using tab cover sheets for each section that required supplementary paperwork and binder-clipping it all together.

Also curious what you included in your rehabilitation and "events and circumstances" statement, and whether you included any character references (and if so, from whom)?

Thanks for any insight!
 
H

homebuoy

Newbie
Oct 9, 2024
4
2
snippysnaps said:
I'm so happy to hear this! I too had an initial free consultation but felt equipped enough to do this myself. I just submitted last week, so am prepared to wait at least a year to hear back.

I wish I had seen this sooner, just because I kept going back and forth about how to package everything so that it was easy to navigate physically. I ended up using tab cover sheets for each section that required supplementary paperwork and binder-clipping it all together.

Also curious what you included in your rehabilitation and "events and circumstances" statement, and whether you included any character references (and if so, from whom)?

Thanks for any insight!
Click to expand...
It was quite an undertaking putting the package together. Because I have lived in three states since the offenses occurred in the '80s, I had to reach out to those states for verification statements that I had no history of offenses in their databases. I also provided an FBI Identity History Summary/Rap Sheet. I did not provide any references but did provide a written statement stating the following:

- I was young and stupid back then
- I have not had any run-in's with law enforcement in the roughly 35 years since
- I have a solid and stable marriage and family
- I have completed advanced degrees and have been with the same employer for over 20 years and hold a "C Suite" position
- I regret it and understand the seriousness (they really busted my balls about how Canada takes DUI more serious than the US)

It also may be helpful to know that I've been to Canada numerous times in those 35 years and it wasn't until 4 years ago when attempting to enter that they directed me inside for a secondary interview, and subsequently denied me entry. I used a NY State Real ID, rather than my passport. I don't know if that made any difference in what flagged me. I believe it is more likely because they started having direct access to the US criminal history records.

Hope that's helpful and good luck to you.
 
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S

snippysnaps

Newbie
Mar 13, 2024
2
0
homebuoy said:
It was quite an undertaking putting the package together. Because I have lived in three states since the offenses occurred in the '80s, I had to reach out to those states for verification statements that I had no history of offenses in their databases. I also provided an FBI Identity History Summary/Rap Sheet. I did not provide any references but did provide a written statement stating the following:

- I was young and stupid back then
- I have not had any run-in's with law enforcement in the roughly 35 years since
- I have a solid and stable marriage and family
- I have completed advanced degrees and have been with the same employer for over 20 years and hold a "C Suite" position
- I regret it and understand the seriousness (they really busted my balls about how Canada takes DUI more serious than the US)

It also may be helpful to know that I've been to Canada numerous times in those 35 years and it wasn't until 4 years ago when attempting to enter that they directed me inside for a secondary interview, and subsequently denied me entry. I used a NY State Real ID, rather than my passport. I don't know if that made any difference in what flagged me. I believe it is more likely because they started having direct access to the US criminal history records.

Hope that's helpful and good luck to you.
Click to expand...
I also had to gather the records from multiple states! I did 3 different fingerprinting services for each state because I read on an attorney blog somewhere to get the "most thorough" criminal records check...not sure if that was necessary now haha.

I also included copies of the court records and all the supplemental documentation that my sentence was complete such as probation completion paperwork, evidence of mandated community service, certificate of attendance of a MADD victim panel....all of it! I'm wondering if I included TOO much!

Thanks for this info, it's helped ease my mind a bit. Here's hoping I'll get approved...one day! lol
 
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