Inadmissibility to Canada due to old DUI's
#31
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 306
Yes, my mistake OSSYULYYZ, I was thinking outside of USA and the OP is from the USA.
Nevertheless, the requirement remains the same, no criminal convictions. The OP would have to deny having any convictions when going through Canadian Immigration in the airport. In other words, lie. Whether asked specifically or not doesn't matter. You are required to disclose convicitons, they are not required to specifically ask. There is no way around that. Did you know even George W. Bush had to get a waiver to enter Canada because he had a DUI in Maine in 1976!
With a single offense many years ago, the OP might have had a chance of being allowed to enter or get a waiver on the spot but with 2 offenses, there is a pattern of behaviour and no chance of being allowed to enter. No matter how people try to twist things around, that isn't going to change. The answer is to apply for a waiver but if there is not sufficient time to go through that process, then that's that. The OP has to deal with what is, not what she might wish was.
Sell the bookings recoup some costs, move on.
Nevertheless, the requirement remains the same, no criminal convictions. The OP would have to deny having any convictions when going through Canadian Immigration in the airport. In other words, lie. Whether asked specifically or not doesn't matter. You are required to disclose convicitons, they are not required to specifically ask. There is no way around that. Did you know even George W. Bush had to get a waiver to enter Canada because he had a DUI in Maine in 1976!
With a single offense many years ago, the OP might have had a chance of being allowed to enter or get a waiver on the spot but with 2 offenses, there is a pattern of behaviour and no chance of being allowed to enter. No matter how people try to twist things around, that isn't going to change. The answer is to apply for a waiver but if there is not sufficient time to go through that process, then that's that. The OP has to deal with what is, not what she might wish was.
Sell the bookings recoup some costs, move on.
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,908
Just curious, considering volume of travel and probably fairly significant % of dui in us, how often canada turns ppl away. I ve never seen any scenes in many many crossings but perhaps i want looking...
It doesnt seem reasonable that 15-17 yo offence (non violent kind) should provide grounds for inadmissibility but it probably can...
i would definitely try especially if driving - nothing to lose given non refundable travel already paid for...
It doesnt seem reasonable that 15-17 yo offence (non violent kind) should provide grounds for inadmissibility but it probably can...
i would definitely try especially if driving - nothing to lose given non refundable travel already paid for...
#33
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 306
Just curious, considering volume of travel and probably fairly significant % of dui in us, how often canada turns ppl away. I ve never seen any scenes in many many crossings but perhaps i want looking...
It doesnt seem reasonable that 15-17 yo offence (non violent kind) should provide grounds for inadmissibility but it probably can...
i would definitely try especially if driving - nothing to lose given non refundable travel already paid for...
It doesnt seem reasonable that 15-17 yo offence (non violent kind) should provide grounds for inadmissibility but it probably can...
i would definitely try especially if driving - nothing to lose given non refundable travel already paid for...
Again, convictions are assessed based on equivalency with Canadian law. A DUI in Canada is essentially classified as the equivalent of a felony, hence why it is taken seriously.
#34
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Peterborough, UK
Programs: BA Silver; IHG Spire; Avis P+; Global Entry
Posts: 1,505
Well considering you could have killed one of my family members or friends by drinking and driving, I’m glad your not allowed in my wife’s country. Frankly I don’t think you should even be given the Privilege of a license to drive a car. So count yourself lucky.
A friend of ours was killed by a drunk driver... who made a ‘mistake’
#35
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,271
Just curious, considering volume of travel and probably fairly significant % of dui in us, how often canada turns ppl away. I ve never seen any scenes in many many crossings but perhaps i want looking...
It doesnt seem reasonable that 15-17 yo offence (non violent kind) should provide grounds for inadmissibility but it probably can...
i would definitely try especially if driving - nothing to lose given non refundable travel already paid for...
It doesnt seem reasonable that 15-17 yo offence (non violent kind) should provide grounds for inadmissibility but it probably can...
i would definitely try especially if driving - nothing to lose given non refundable travel already paid for...
Canada turns away visitors from the USA (and everywhere else), every day for all kinds of reasons. DUI convictions is actually one of the most common reasons. Note the comment here re 40 year old DUI. There's no time limit.
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/...ents-show.html
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,908
Well considering you could have killed one of my family members or friends by drinking and driving, I’m glad your not allowed in my wife’s country. Frankly I don’t think you should even be given the Privilege of a license to drive a car. So count yourself lucky.
A friend of ours was killed by a drunk driver... who made a ‘mistake’
It appears that despite such draconian rules canada still leads all nations in drunk driving deaths
Canada?s drunk-driving death rate worst among wealthy countries, U.S. study finds | National Post
#37
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,820
this gets into omni territory but i believe our justice system is based on the idea of rehabilitation as forcing lifetime punishments is not a particularly productive way and it absolutely does not work in crime prevention
It appears that despite such draconian rules canada still leads all nations in drunk driving deaths
Canada?s drunk-driving death rate worst among wealthy countries, U.S. study finds National Post
It appears that despite such draconian rules canada still leads all nations in drunk driving deaths
Canada?s drunk-driving death rate worst among wealthy countries, U.S. study finds National Post
And since that is the fact, do you figure we in Canada should "lighten up" on the penalties and then let more formerly convicted drunk drivers enter our country for a little sightseeing?
#38
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
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Posts: 14,428
this gets into omni territory but i believe our justice system is based on the idea of rehabilitation as forcing lifetime punishments is not a particularly productive way and it absolutely does not work in crime prevention
It appears that despite such draconian rules canada still leads all nations in drunk driving deaths
Canada?s drunk-driving death rate worst among wealthy countries, U.S. study finds National Post
Literally (not figurativelly) first sentence after headline:
Originally Posted by nationalpost.com
The CDC study found that while fewer people were dying from motor vehicle crashes in Canada, the proportion of deaths linked to alcohol impairment was 34%
Given how many people are killed by drunk drivers in southern US where laws are very lax, I find it hard to believe this, unless there are just a lot of car crash related deaths in US.
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,908
I am pretty certain that someone with 15 yo offence is not any more dangerous than some random visitor. This rule does not make canada any safer imho.
#40
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,271
Someone who has been caught drinking and driving has proven they are willing to do that. Someone who has been caught twice has proven they did not learn their lesson the first time. How long ago it was since they were last caught, does not prove they have stopped the behaviour. It just proves they haven't been caught doing it lately. Time is irrelevant in terms of trying to predict their behaviour tomorrow.
The person may not be 'any more dangerous than some random visitor' as you say. However, while we have no evidence regarding the random visitor, we do have evidence regarding the person with a past offense. The random visitor may be a serial killer, but the operative word is may. There is no 'may' regarding the person with the 15 yo offense. That person is an offender.
Therefore, there is no basis on which to deny the 'random visitor' entry but there is definitely a basis on which to deny the proven offender.
#42
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
I'm curious: mechanically, how does this work? How does DWI (which the US considers a non-criminal offence) get associated with the passport? Do DWIs wind up in the FBI database? Are driving records tied to whatever gets pulled up from the passport somehow?
#44
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
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Posts: 5,950
Right, but isn’t the issue that DUI is criminal in Canada but not the US? In that case, would there be an arrest or criminal conviction? And if not, how would it enter a database that CBSA could access by scanning the passport?
Having never driven drunk, let alone been ticketed or convicted of DWI, I’m blissfully ignorant of the process....
#45
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Right, but isn’t the issue that DUI is criminal in Canada but not the US? In that case, would there be an arrest or criminal conviction? And if not, how would it enter a database that CBSA could access by scanning the passport?
Having never driven drunk, let alone been ticketed or convicted of DWI, I’m blissfully ignorant of the process....