Study Permit (from US) question

[Tpow]

Hello helpful people!

I've just been accepted into a PhD program at a university in BC.  The potential trouble is that I have a DUI on my criminal history, which happened in January 2004.  I understand that the official stance is that any criminal history can result in a rejection of my permit application.  I also understand the seriousness of a DUI conviction to the Canadian government.  Can anyone tell me if my application is actually going to be rejected because of a 6 yr old DUI? It is remarkably difficult to find helpful advice regarding this topic.

Thank you very much.

[PMM]

Hi

Hello helpful people!

I've just been accepted into a PhD program at a university in BC.  The potential trouble is that I have a DUI on my criminal history, which happened in January 2004.  I understand that the official stance is that any criminal history can result in a rejection of my permit application.  I also understand the seriousness of a DUI conviction to the Canadian government.  Can anyone tell me if my application is actually going to be rejected because of a 6 yr old DUI? It is remarkably difficult to find helpful advice regarding this topic.

Thank you very much.

You are going to have to apply for rehabilitation as well as for a study permit.  See: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/buffalo/imm/inadmissible-interdiction.aspx?lang=eng&menu_id=63&menu=L

PMM

[Tpow]

My most sincere thank you.

[Tpow]

Another question:

I understand that the approval of rehabilitation can take a long time to process.  Also, I need to attain several documents before I can apply.  I begin school in September.  In the interest of speeding up the process, do you think I should apply for my study permit at the same time as my approval of rehabilitation?  Also, do you think I'll have enough time to get all this done? 

Thanks again, this forum is extremely useful.

[NUMAF]

Hi Tpow, were you able to resolve your situation in time to attend your PhD program?  If so, how long did the process take? 

I have the same problem.  I was accepted to a graduate program at UBC, and I have a DUI conviction from 2003.  I came across information about how a DUI deems you criminally inadmissible to enter Canada as I was preparing my study permit application a couple of weeks ago.  This made me nervous, but I decided to go ahead and submit my application.  I guess I was hoping that the immigration office would evaluate applications on a case-by-case basis.  And with my DUI being 7 years old, and the fact that I'm stable enough to get accepted into the program, I thought I'd be able to get my permit.  Boy was I wrong. 

I'm now in the process of applying for criminal rehabilitation, which apparently can take over a year to process.  To make matters worse, I spent a year teaching English in China, and one of the requirements is to have a criminal background check from every state or country where you lived for more than 6 months.  I have no idea how to go about obtaining the background check from China.  I've contacted the Chinese Embassy in DC and the US Embassy in Beijing.  Neither was able to provide me with any guidance. 

My dream of studying at UBC has been shattered.   

[PMM]

Hi

Hi Tpow, were you able to resolve your situation in time to attend your PhD program?  If so, how long did the process take? 

I have the same problem.  I was accepted to a graduate program at UBC, and I have a DUI conviction from 2003.  I came across information about how a DUI deems you criminally inadmissible to enter Canada as I was preparing my study permit application a couple of weeks ago.  This made me nervous, but I decided to go ahead and submit my application.  I guess I was hoping that the immigration office would evaluate applications on a case-by-case basis.  And with my DUI being 7 years old, and the fact that I'm stable enough to get accepted into the program, I thought I'd be able to get my permit.  Boy was I wrong. 

I'm now in the process of applying for criminal rehabilitation, which apparently can take over a year to process.  To make matters worse, I spent a year teaching English in China, and one of the requirements is to have a criminal background check from every state or country where you lived for more than 6 months.  I have no idea how to go about obtaining the background check from China.  I've contacted the Chinese Embassy in DC and the US Embassy in Beijing.  Neither was able to provide me with any guidance. 

My dream of studying at UBC has been shattered.   

See: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/asia-pacific/china.asp