crossing into US with criminal record

[weezy26nm]

I know someone with a criminal record, who has gone to the US in the past (pre-passport requirement) with no problems. If they were to cross now with the passport would it cause them to be held up or would it still be hassle free. Has anyone with a criminal record gone to the US with no problems?

 

[canadianjovigirl]

It really is a hit and miss - a friend of our families (fellow in his early 60's) owns property in the US and has travelled back and forth for years and years and for the first time last year he was refused entry due to a criminal charge he had from when he was not quite 30....needless to say his wife was at their home in the US, he had came home to do a few days of business, and nope he could not enter. He had to spend money and it took almost 2 years for him to get a pardon to avoid that happening again.

 

[CdnDisneyLover]

When we went to the States last Friday night, the officer actually asked if anyone in the car has a criminal record or has been even finger printed. I thought that was weird as we have never been asked that before and we go all the time cause we live in a boarder city. I think they are getting tougher.

 

[1tricky1]

i heard they are getting tougher.
a friend was a stupid reckless 20yr old has a record from 25 yrs ago.
before sep 11 he got into the states no problem.
now i have heard you must get a pardon first in canada then apply for one in the usa
hes been working on it for well over a year, the pardon place charges about 500.00 just for the canadian portion.
ok i can understand murders or pedofiles not being able to travel, but stupid adolescent men who drink and drive and get into bar fights hmmm they do grow up you know lol and it should be cleared after 20 years. imo.

good luck
vicky

 

[treehugnmama]

My Dh has the same name as a known criminal in quebec.......everytime we cross he gets flagged and the car gets searched untill they clear him. This other guy has a tatto and my husband does not they actually have asked him to remove his shirt. I think that now that they require a passport it is much harder to get through with a criminal record.

 

[SerinaEmily]

We crossed the border last March with our birth certificates going to Disney with my kids and my fiance has a record for uttering threats (from his ex-wife trying to get him in trouble cause he wouldn't give her back a freezer so she told the cops he threatened her and he got arrested.)

In any case last March the lady looked at our birth certificates, did something on the computer and told us to have a great day .. I was really worried up until then that he would have issues at the border but that time it went smoothly.

We are planning on going to Disney in August with all 6 of our kids this year and I am HOPING that even with the new passport stuff that his record won't be a 'threat' enough to cause us any problems going across or else even if we have to explain the situation that we won't seriously be turned away at the border with 6 hyped up children!

 

[1tricky1]

good luck
i think a record is a record,
ive been told, if you try to enter without a pardon they can stop you and the whole family for entering.
if you drive they can take your car.

my friends record was for mischeif and a bar fight when he was young.
hope you have no problems
vicky
lots of infor on the net
we looked under canadian pardons and it has fequent question etc which was where i first started looking
vicky

 

[squirrel]

My Dh has the same name as a known criminal in quebec.......everytime we cross he gets flagged and the car gets searched untill they clear him. This other guy has a tatto and my husband does not they actually have asked him to remove his shirt. I think that now that they require a passport it is much harder to get through with a criminal record.

My BIL has the same problem, there is another man with the same name and every time he crosses the boarder (mostly for work) he has to go inside.

 

[Cynsational]

When we went to the States last Friday night, the officer actually asked if anyone in the car has a criminal record or has been even finger printed. I thought that was weird as we have never been asked that before and we go all the time cause we live in a boarder city. I think they are getting tougher.

I'm kind of miffed that they ask about finger printing. Both my husband and I have been fingerprinted for work. I've been fingerprinted so I can do volunteer work. Being fingerprinted is irrelevant unless you've been CONVICTED of a crime.

 

[irisesareblue]

i the pardon place charges about 500.00 just for the canadian portion.


good luck
vicky

Vicky, if your friend is being charged $500.00 for his pardon he should realize that he does not have to use any Pardon Service to get a pardon - one can directly apply to Correctional Services Canada for a pardon - it should only cost him for the criminal records cheque, the finger printing and the pardon itself is something like $75.00 (I think - it's been a long time!) There is a government form online for people to complete - those Pardon Services places make you think you have to use them, but it's mainly a way to help people navigate the red tape involved, which in reality is little more than completing a form and sending in the required documents. If you want the link to the form, let me know and I will post it (will have to do some research but I know it's there because a friend's husband just used it not long ago!)

I am in and out of jails across Canada on an ongoing basis so I try to keep up with all this jazz....and no, they don't keep me there...I do a lot of volunteer work and speaking engagements...lol...

 

[Madamx]

There are only certain crimes which the U.S. will deny you entry for if you have a criminal record, most of which are violent or drug related. If it's a simple assault charge or uttering threats there shouldn't be any hassel provided you tell them the truth about any questions they ask. Don't try to lie because they can look it up in the computer and will know you're lying (I think that's part of how they can tell you are who you say you are). Keep in mind though, that border guards can deny anyone for any reason, you don't have to have a criminal record, so it's best to keep your opinions on their line of questioning to yourself. Just be calm, be polite, answer their questions (but don't give them any extra info, just answer their question as simply as possible and leave it at that. If they want more info they'll ask)

I can't stress enough about telling them the truth if they ask about a criminal record or being arrested or fingerprinted. They WILL know and if you lie they can confiscate your vehicle, belongings and even have you charged with fraud.

 

[drag n' fly]

Time for the tag fairy

"I am in and out of jails across Canada on an ongoing basis so I try to keep up with all this jazz".

No need to clarify wwith the rest of that sentence lol