Hi all,
I thought it was worth posting my experience with criminal rehabilitation because when I was going through the process, I found little to no information from people who had successfully come through the process - most people post at the start of the process but then no follow up is given. So I hope this helps someone.
My situation:
I live in Australia. Approx 6 years ago I was caught drink driving, very stupid, I am very ashamed and have not ever done that since. I had some confusion around the charge, as at the time I was given a fine and licence suspension in line with an 0.05-0.079% reading, whereas I have since found out I was over 0.08%. Last year, before the 5 year mark, I travelled to Canada on a visitor visa for 3 months. On my ETA, which was applied for in a panic the night before I left due to some bad advice from a fellow backpacker, I said I had no criminal conviction (which I thought was the truth). In gathering documents for a potential work permit I had since found out that I did in fact have a criminal conviction listed on my police certificate.
Thinking it was going to take up to a year to process, and knowing that I have a job starting in Canada in a few months, I decided to apply for criminal rehabilitation. It has been longer than 5 years since I paid the fine, so I was eligible, but I thought I'd be in trouble for travelling to Canada whilst I was inadmissible. I wrote all this in the letter to immigration, I was honest and upfront about the whole thing.
The documents I included:
- a cover letter explaining my situation, my ties to the community, my family ties in australia, my job offer in canada
- the application form, completed in full
- three character reference letters from a) a sub-lieutenant in the Australian Navy, known for 7 years, b) an academic professor, known for 3 years, c) a senior academic professor, known for 6 years, all stating it was a once off, that I have never been known to do that since
- photocopy of my info page of my passport
- my police certificate showing the excess 0.08% as the only charge
- a print out from the fines enforcement registry stating the fine was paid in full
- a copy of the Western Australian law I broke (also stating the penalties)
- a copy of the corresponding Canadian law
- receipt for the $200CAD fee
This was sent via express post to the Sydney immigration office. It arrived on the 2nd December 2016.
I emailed the office the next week asking for my application ID (for future reference if needed), got a response within 2 days.
I received an email on the 28th December 2016 with my approval letter. So it took approximately 20 business days.
There is hope, all.
Thanks for reading. I hope this helps someone in the future.
