What are the chances of getting an AUTHORIZATION TO RETURN TO CANADA (ARC)?

[FAR_CF]

I am not sure if this is the appropriate forum for my query so please forgive me if I am at fault.

In 1999 I was charged with assault in Canada. I was just over 18 years old then. I had entered Canada as a refugee in 1995 but in 1997 the Immigration Court of Canada dismissed my application as unfounded and therefore found me ineligible for the granting of protection afforded to Convention refugees.

After the criminal proceedings, I ended up with a conditional discharge. After the rendering of the sentence in court which was a number of probation hours, I approached Immigration Canada and subsequently, I was deported to the Netherlands. Since then (this is not to boast in anyway but only to inform you on my progress as an individual since my deportation from Canada), I have graduated from law school and worked for the UN as a legal officer. In addition, recently I have started a PhD fellowship in law at a Belgian university. This recent development in my professional life requires me to travel to Canada.

Given these details, what are my chances of getting an ARC in order to return to Canada? In support of my application, I can get recommendation letters from successful Canadians in the military and the judiciary, European lawyers, as well as Professors and lecturers. In your opinion, would a professional reason such as mine coupled with a strong motivation/application be adequate for the ARC or is there a high legal threshold like that of "manifest humanitarian grounds" that ought to be satisfied?

I look forward to your advice!

With kindest regards,
CF

 

[santamantal]

Hi FAR_CF
I have a same problem like you, and I'm looking for the answer.
I'm international student with study permit in Canada, and I got conditional discharge recently,
is it possible they deport me to my country?
can i get re-entry visa?
please let me know the answer,I'm scared....
thanks for your help in advanced

Santamantal

 

[beth_ma]

First, I have absolutely no knowledge of how the ARC works, so this is purely an opinion, take with a grain of salt.

For reference, I am American.

I know that in the United States, there's a fairly high "character" threshold you must meet in order to be admitted to practice law. (Insert lawyer joke here, but it's true.) I assume this is also true in the Netherlands. I also assume that there must be some sort of background check in order to obtain a job such as yours at the UN.

Given that your assault charge was 13 years ago and you have since accomplished a lot and have many who can vouch for you, I would think that you could be allowed to return to Canada. If not, that's kind of crazy.

(Then again, I suppose there are some violent people with "double lives" who appear professionally-accomplished but who are in secret very aggressive. But more often than not I think someone in your situation would appear to have turned his life around.)