Does a TV licence offence in the UK mean that we can't get a visa

[jules_nq]

Hi,
My partner and I are wanting to move to Canada under the IEC (Working Holiday Visa). My partner is british and has recently (this year) been found not to have a UK TV licence. We had just moved into a new place and just forgotten to buy the licence. This is apparently a criminal offence in the UK and apparently goes on your police record if found guilty. However as far as I understand, this is not considered a crime in Canada as there is no such thing as a TV licence there.

Can anyone tell me if this will cause a problem when trying to get a working holiday visa? I've looked at the CIC website (Citizen and Immigration Canada) describing what would deem someone inadmissable from a criminal perspective.

It reads:

In general, temporary residents and applicants applying for permanent residence are considered to be criminally inadmissible if the person:

- was convicted of an offence in Canada;
- was convicted of an offence outside of Canada that is considered a crime in Canada; and/or
- committed an act outside of Canada that is considered a crime under the laws of the country where it occurred and would be punishable under Canadian law

I'm wondering if anyone has had experience in this situation, or could confirm if we will have any problems applying for the visa.
Your help would be really appreciated.
Thanks
Julie

 

[Canooknic]

Did your partner go to court? Were they arrested or were they just fined??

 

[jules_nq]

We're not yet sure if he has to go to court, although we think it's possible. As far as I read, if you are found without a TV licence they are likely to take you to court and fine you also.

 

[PMM]

Hi

We're not yet sure if he has to go to court, although we think it's possible. As far as I read, if you are found without a TV licence they are likely to take you to court and fine you also.

Stop worrying. There is no equivalent offense in the Criminal Code of Canada, so it would not be applicable if he was convicted.

 

[jules_nq]

Thanks for the reply. You've put my mind at ease. We are just so keen to go to Canada and would hate for anything to prevent that from happening.

 

[Canooknic]

Sorry I didn't get a chance to answer you straight back, I got called away unexpectedly....thanks PMM for jumping in xx