Am I Inadmissible?

[angrias]

I am planning a visit to Vancouver for a conference in August, I will only be there a week and in researching what to expect I found that Canada has policies that do not allow people with criminal history to enter the country. However, what I have read regarding traffic / speeding violations is vague.

When I was 19 (slightly less than 5 years ago) I received a speeding ticket, was summoned to court to plead no contest and pay a hefty fine. I now have a moving violation misdemeanor on my record from the state of California, but it is the only infraction outside of one, fully paid, parking ticket that I have ever received. I am worried that I may not be allowed to visit because of this.

1.) Because this is considered a 'traffic violation' is it minor enough that I will still be allowed entry?

2.) Do I need to provide my court documents?

3.) What can I do if I am inadmissible / how do I show that I am 'rehabilitated'?

Frankly, after the fine I may never speed, ever again. But I'd still like to be able to enter the country. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[PMM]

Hi

I am planning a visit to Vancouver for a conference in August, I will only be there a week and in researching what to expect I found that Canada has policies that do not allow people with criminal history to enter the country. However, what I have read regarding traffic / speeding violations is vague.

When I was 19 (slightly less than 5 years ago) I received a speeding ticket, was summoned to court to plead no contest and pay a hefty fine. I now have a moving violation misdemeanor on my record from the state of California, but it is the only infraction outside of one, fully paid, parking ticket that I have ever received. I am worried that I may not be allowed to visit because of this.

1.) Because this is considered a 'traffic violation' is it minor enough that I will still be allowed entry?

2.) Do I need to provide my court documents?

3.) What can I do if I am inadmissible / how do I show that I am 'rehabilitated'?

Frankly, after the fine I may never speed, ever again. But I'd still like to be able to enter the country. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Traffic offences/parking offences are not criminal code offences, so you would not be inadmissible, unless your speeding ticket was for dangerous driving, which is a criminal code offence.

 

[angrias]

What is considered Dangerous Driving?

For instance, I was sited for 22348(b) of Division 11, Chapter 7, Article 1 of the California State Vehicle Code - Speeding at or above 100 miles per hour on an interstate. I don't know what the equivalent would be in Canada or if it is even comparable.

 

[lemony_20]

I found this:

What is a “sentence,” and how do I calculate the “rehabilitation date?”

The sentence is the penalty imposed by a Court for your offence and can take the form of a monetary fine, a period of licence disqualification,or jail term.You are eligible to apply for Criminal Rehabilitation when 5 years has elapsed from the completion of the sentence (like when the fine was paid in full or the period of disqualification ended). You will have to provide documentary evidence of the full payment of all fines imposed.

I hope it helps, maybe you can find more answers here:
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/australia-australie/visas/rehabilitation-readaptation.aspx?lang=eng&view=d

I think you can apply for rehabilitation once it has been 5 years and since it was not a repeated offense.