Canada PR here looking to apply for Citizenship. My citizenship days are met, all my taxes filed and I was pretty set on starting the citizenship application. But, life had other plans.. In my case, it was my stupidity that I did not check my bag for cannabis while crossing into US, and my tiny little marijuana baggie (less than 1 gram perhaps) was seized at the border by CBP during secondary inspection. They did not arrest or deport me but my B1/B2 visa was canceled with a stamp in my passport reading "Application for Admission Withdrawn". I was also made to pay a US$500 customs fine. So as it stands, I am inadmissible in US but I was told I can reapply for US Visa with a "waiver" which is available for cannabis offenses less than 30 grams. This incidence happened a few months ago, and there has never been a problem exiting or entering Canada after this event. I currently I reside in Canada.
I'm currently researching on how this may impact my Canada citizenship application, given that minor possession is not an indictable offense in Canada, and would love to hear from someone who has had this experience before (I'm sure there are very very few people who would be in this situation, but hoping there's someone who could guide me as to what to do. I will be getting legal opinion letter anyways from an attorney to explain it is not an inadmissible offense. In the citizenship application I did not find any question that would relate apply me to with this situation except one from "Prohibitions" section, point 8, bullet point 2:
In the 4 years immediately before the date of your citizenship application, have you
been convicted of an offence outside Canada, regardless of whether you were pardoned or otherwise granted amnesty for the offence?
The only confusion I have is whether this question refers to "indictable offense", as do other questions from the citizenship questionnaire or all offenses whether indictable in Canada or not. Is someone in a position to say whether in my context the answer to this question be a "Yes" or a "No". I do not wish to withhold or misrepresent any material facts in my application so I am inclined towards selecting "Yes" and providing explanation as LOE. Of course, I will also be talking to a lawyer about this but it will be great if someone has a similar experience to share. Will deeply appreciate inputs. Thanks a ton!
I'm currently researching on how this may impact my Canada citizenship application, given that minor possession is not an indictable offense in Canada, and would love to hear from someone who has had this experience before (I'm sure there are very very few people who would be in this situation, but hoping there's someone who could guide me as to what to do. I will be getting legal opinion letter anyways from an attorney to explain it is not an inadmissible offense. In the citizenship application I did not find any question that would relate apply me to with this situation except one from "Prohibitions" section, point 8, bullet point 2:
In the 4 years immediately before the date of your citizenship application, have you
been convicted of an offence outside Canada, regardless of whether you were pardoned or otherwise granted amnesty for the offence?
The only confusion I have is whether this question refers to "indictable offense", as do other questions from the citizenship questionnaire or all offenses whether indictable in Canada or not. Is someone in a position to say whether in my context the answer to this question be a "Yes" or a "No". I do not wish to withhold or misrepresent any material facts in my application so I am inclined towards selecting "Yes" and providing explanation as LOE. Of course, I will also be talking to a lawyer about this but it will be great if someone has a similar experience to share. Will deeply appreciate inputs. Thanks a ton!
