Travel to and from Alaska
Due to its unique geographical location in relation to the rest of the United States, the state of Alaska is often at the centre of many Canadian inadmissibility issues. The inability to enter Canada legally due to criminality can pose unexpected problems for inadmissible Americans travelling to or from Alaska.
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Challenges to enter Canada due to a criminal record usually occurs most often in one of two contexts:
Driving to/from Alaska through Canada
For those looking to travel by car from Alaska to the “lower 48”, or vice versa, a drive through Canada is a necessary leg of the journey. Because of this, an individual who is inadmissible to Canada and who has not taken the appropriate steps to resolve his inadmissibility will most likely have difficulty completing the trip. Many Americans believe that because they are merely passing through Canada, any past criminal charges will not be an issue at it concerns entering the country. This is unfortunately not the case and the regular rules of criminal inadmissibility apply.
Alaskan Cruises
Due to Alaska’s awe-inspiring natural beauty, Alaskan cruises are a popular alternative to the more traditional vacation destinations. Because Alaska is a part of the United States, it is unexpected that inadmissibility issues would come into play. This often results in an unpleasant surprise for those looking to embark on an Alaskan cruise.
The reason why Canadian criminal inadmissibility can pose a problem in this context is because most cruise companies with an Alaskan route include a stop in Canada. Vancouver and Victoria in province of British Columbia are the most common stops, and the duration of a stay usually ranges from a few hours to overnight, sometimes longer.
It is important to note that no matter how long an individual is in Canada as part of an Alaskan cruise, even if they don’t get off the boat, they can be determined to be criminally inadmissible. If this is found to be the case, then very often the individual is escorted off the ship and sent back to the U.S. Not only will this prevent him or her from witnessing Alaska’s majestic scenery, but it can result in uncomfortable and embarrassing situations if travel partners are unaware of any previous criminal convictions.
The Canadian Government Does Offer Potential Short- and Long-term Solutions to Criminal Inadmissibility
A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) is a solution that can grant temporary access to someone who is currently inadmissible to Canada. A TRP application should only be submitted for significant travel and can be granted from the duration of a stay up to three years, depending on the reasons for entry.
A criminal rehabilitation application approved by the Canadian government is a permanent solution that allows indefinite travel to Canada If you have been denied entry to Canada, a Canadian immigration officer may suggest criminal rehabilitation as a method to eliminate future denials. Once an applicant is approved , they no longer require a TRP for entry to the country.
A legal opinion letter can be drafted by an experienced Canadian immigration lawyer on your behalf. While the letter will not override your inadmissibility, it will spell out the relevant facts of your situation and explain to Canadian authorities why they should allow you into Canada.
About Cohen Immigration Law
Cohen Immigration Law is one of Canada's leading immigration law firms. We have over 45 years of experience and feature a team of over 60 Canadian immigration attorneys, paralegals, and other dedicated professionals.
Cohen Immigration Law uses its expertise to help clients overcome inadmissibility issues. Our team of inadmissibility lawyers and professionals will work to understand your situation and then submit the strongest possible application to Canadian immigration authorities.
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