Okay, where to start… I have quite a complicated situation, so please stay with me. I will try to be as detailed as possible.
Overview of Facts:
I am a woman in my early 30s. I live in the United States with a minor child (under 8 years of age). I am almost legally divorced, but separated for over 3 years (divorce should be final in about a month). I am presently unemployed and seeking employment, surviving on Unemployment Insurance. I have worked professional business positions for almost 15 years. I do not have a 4-year degree. I do have 2 years of college. Over a year ago a man in Canada and I met on the internet and fell in love. We have maintained a long distance relationship via telephone and video conferencing on a daily basis. We would like to merge our families into one. I am inadmissible to Canada for 4 more years due to Serious Criminality (from my past). He has a Criminality issue as well, but not “Serious Criminality”. He is ineligible for a Canadian Pardon or a US Criminal Exemption for another 1.5 years. We are both personally, criminally and spiritually rehabilitated people, law-abiding citizens and Christians.
My Criminality Details:
Over 10 years ago I was convicted of about 5 counts of Grand Theft – Embezzlement (one count for each check cashed), Forgery, Petty Theft (which was dropped) and False Impersonation. I, originally, received local jail time and probation, with the promise (from the court) that if I neglected to fulfill any of my responsibilities (probation terms and restitution) I would receive a 3-year state prison term. At the time I committed the crimes I was 18 years old (1998). At the time of arrest I was 19 years old (later 1998). At the time of sentencing I was 20 years old (1999). I was in the local jail from Fall 1999 to about Spring 2000. In Late Spring of 2000 I violated my probation. In the beginning of 2001 (22 years old) I was arrested for this violation and was re-charged with my crimes, (which is what happens when you violate probation). I spend from the beginning of 2001 to Spring 2002 in the local jail fighting the violation of probation (for which the courts intended to give me a 3 year prison term). I spent spring 2002 to Early Summer 2003 in the state prison to finish the last 2 months of a 2-year state prison term received. I was on State Parole from Early Summer 2002 to Early Summer 2003, when I was released early (by 2 years) because the State Parole Department did not believe that I was any longer a risk to society. I have been a law-abiding citizen since that few year period of time. I have recently applied for a pardon in the state of my convictions; the pardon will only be recognized in the United States.
Occurrence of Events (attempting to enter Canada for visiting and interviews for work):
April 2009 - Arrive at the Canadian border and am told I require secondary processing in the immigration office. Immigration officer asks a few regular questions, I answer truthfully. The office then asks if I have ever been arrested, I tell the truth. The officer says he has to look up the details in the computer, confirms that I am truthful, denies entry based on not enough time having been passed to be “Deemed Rehabilitated” (10 years from the end of probation/parole – 6 years for me at this point). Gives me a page to sign that states I am voluntarily withdrawing my entry to Canada and will u-turn to the U.S. immediately, and will not attempt to enter Canada again unless I meet the qualifications to do so. The officer is pleasant to deal with; the resulting experience is extremely undesirable.
My desire / abilities:
To be able to enter Canada, with the ability to work, without waiting over a year for a “Certificate of Rehabilitaion” (which I have to pay $850 USD for) that does not guarantee admission. If I have to wait a year, I would rather apply for permanent residency. The goal is to merge families with the man I am in a relationship with. It is almost impossible to get a job offer from outside Canada. I can get a job offer letter from a company in Canada that will serve as a means to get a temporary work permit, then once there I can easily find employment and transfer the work permit to the new company. I find it very confusing as to the BEST route to go with this to obtain the end goal in the least amount of time. Once inside Canada, we can marry and apply for our citizenship through the family class. It is getting to Canada that appears to be the difficult part. I have all my police certificates and court paperwork in regards to my charges from my past. I have passports for me and my child. I have personal and professional letters of reference, including for my ongoing volunteer work over the last few years. I have the $850 USD to pay for the fee for Serious Criminality, if needed)
My Question:
What is the BEST route to take (as far as paperwork goes) to get to Canada (from the United States – a lateral lifestyle move)? I was born in the United States. I am Caucasian (not sure if that matters to Canadian immigration).
I look forward to serious and experienced replies only. I did not post this for criticism of my past, just on advice on how to overcome the hurdle that prevents me from having a happy family life in Canada.
Thank you.
Overview of Facts:
I am a woman in my early 30s. I live in the United States with a minor child (under 8 years of age). I am almost legally divorced, but separated for over 3 years (divorce should be final in about a month). I am presently unemployed and seeking employment, surviving on Unemployment Insurance. I have worked professional business positions for almost 15 years. I do not have a 4-year degree. I do have 2 years of college. Over a year ago a man in Canada and I met on the internet and fell in love. We have maintained a long distance relationship via telephone and video conferencing on a daily basis. We would like to merge our families into one. I am inadmissible to Canada for 4 more years due to Serious Criminality (from my past). He has a Criminality issue as well, but not “Serious Criminality”. He is ineligible for a Canadian Pardon or a US Criminal Exemption for another 1.5 years. We are both personally, criminally and spiritually rehabilitated people, law-abiding citizens and Christians.
My Criminality Details:
Over 10 years ago I was convicted of about 5 counts of Grand Theft – Embezzlement (one count for each check cashed), Forgery, Petty Theft (which was dropped) and False Impersonation. I, originally, received local jail time and probation, with the promise (from the court) that if I neglected to fulfill any of my responsibilities (probation terms and restitution) I would receive a 3-year state prison term. At the time I committed the crimes I was 18 years old (1998). At the time of arrest I was 19 years old (later 1998). At the time of sentencing I was 20 years old (1999). I was in the local jail from Fall 1999 to about Spring 2000. In Late Spring of 2000 I violated my probation. In the beginning of 2001 (22 years old) I was arrested for this violation and was re-charged with my crimes, (which is what happens when you violate probation). I spend from the beginning of 2001 to Spring 2002 in the local jail fighting the violation of probation (for which the courts intended to give me a 3 year prison term). I spent spring 2002 to Early Summer 2003 in the state prison to finish the last 2 months of a 2-year state prison term received. I was on State Parole from Early Summer 2002 to Early Summer 2003, when I was released early (by 2 years) because the State Parole Department did not believe that I was any longer a risk to society. I have been a law-abiding citizen since that few year period of time. I have recently applied for a pardon in the state of my convictions; the pardon will only be recognized in the United States.
Occurrence of Events (attempting to enter Canada for visiting and interviews for work):
April 2009 - Arrive at the Canadian border and am told I require secondary processing in the immigration office. Immigration officer asks a few regular questions, I answer truthfully. The office then asks if I have ever been arrested, I tell the truth. The officer says he has to look up the details in the computer, confirms that I am truthful, denies entry based on not enough time having been passed to be “Deemed Rehabilitated” (10 years from the end of probation/parole – 6 years for me at this point). Gives me a page to sign that states I am voluntarily withdrawing my entry to Canada and will u-turn to the U.S. immediately, and will not attempt to enter Canada again unless I meet the qualifications to do so. The officer is pleasant to deal with; the resulting experience is extremely undesirable.
My desire / abilities:
To be able to enter Canada, with the ability to work, without waiting over a year for a “Certificate of Rehabilitaion” (which I have to pay $850 USD for) that does not guarantee admission. If I have to wait a year, I would rather apply for permanent residency. The goal is to merge families with the man I am in a relationship with. It is almost impossible to get a job offer from outside Canada. I can get a job offer letter from a company in Canada that will serve as a means to get a temporary work permit, then once there I can easily find employment and transfer the work permit to the new company. I find it very confusing as to the BEST route to go with this to obtain the end goal in the least amount of time. Once inside Canada, we can marry and apply for our citizenship through the family class. It is getting to Canada that appears to be the difficult part. I have all my police certificates and court paperwork in regards to my charges from my past. I have passports for me and my child. I have personal and professional letters of reference, including for my ongoing volunteer work over the last few years. I have the $850 USD to pay for the fee for Serious Criminality, if needed)
My Question:
What is the BEST route to take (as far as paperwork goes) to get to Canada (from the United States – a lateral lifestyle move)? I was born in the United States. I am Caucasian (not sure if that matters to Canadian immigration).
I look forward to serious and experienced replies only. I did not post this for criticism of my past, just on advice on how to overcome the hurdle that prevents me from having a happy family life in Canada.
Thank you.
