Next steps - Declined ETA with UK spent criminal record

[originalsauce]

Hi all,

after some advice on the next steps as im worried i will not get a visa in time. i have a criminal record from 2010 for common assault in the UK which i received 100 hours community service and £150 compensation.

i booked some Canada flights 4 months ago and knew there might be a slight risk with my record and getting a visa but alot of sites were advising you should be ok for a charge like this and with it being over 5 years..

issue is i sent them my police certificate and had no response for over 3 months for my ETA until i contacted them directly regarding it and they declined me for: Section 36(2)(b): Having been convicted outside Canada of an offence that, if committed in Canada, would

constitute an indictable offence under an Act of Parliament, or of two offences not arising out of a single occurrence that, if committed in Canada, would constitute offences under an Act of Parliament;

now im under the impression that the burgeon case should have some relevance here? the maximum for common assault in Canada sentence wise is Maximum 6 months jail or $5,000 fine too.

i have been reading up and have applied "for information" to the Canadian embassy in the UK on the rehabilitation form but im not sure what the turnaround on this is.
can i apply for a visa in the mean time or should i wait? my flights are in 3 months and really want to have the trip of a lifetime!

any help would be much appreciated.
thank you.
im just really worried on what i should do next.

 

[scylla]

If you were denied an ETA then a visa will be denied as well. You need to apply for rehabilitation.

 

[originalsauce]

this is a long process right?

i have applied "for information" only, and if that takes a month or two there will not be any leeway to get another ETA or visa in time..

should i just book another holiday and lose the money i paid for flights pretty much?

 

[scylla]

I've seen some rehabilitation applications processed within a few weeks - however they typically seem to take a few months.

 

[carobbermuda]

My husband got a criminal rehabilitation certificate years ago and has since been to college and worked there. Now he is still waiting almost two months for an answer on the ETA even though he included the number of his Criminal rehabilitation certificate. Should be as simple as them looking it up and approving his ETA.