TRP for felon from USA

[wasowaso]

So my friend and I just booked a trip to BC at the end of Feb and I was very lucky to find someone who advised me that felons will be refused entry. I have a 10 year visa to China and have travelled all over the world so it never occurred to me.

Anyhow, the gc.ca website makes it seem like I should apply for a visa however I go through the questionnaire and it does not let me apply. The questions are all generic, so it doesn't seem like it's my criminal record that is preventing me.

Does anyone know the correct process for this? It is very non-intuitive. I see there are various 3rd party services but I feel like they must be money-grabs. Unfortunately it has not been 5 years since I got off probation so I am not eligible for rehabilitation, but I'm sure I can make a convincing argument that I am an upstanding citizen, as my record has been spotless since the offense.

 

[rish888]

What was the offense?

 

[scylla]

So my friend and I just booked a trip to BC at the end of Feb and I was very lucky to find someone who advised me that felons will be refused entry. I have a 10 year visa to China and have travelled all over the world so it never occurred to me.

Anyhow, the gc.ca website makes it seem like I should apply for a visa however I go through the questionnaire and it does not let me apply. The questions are all generic, so it doesn't seem like it's my criminal record that is preventing me.

Does anyone know the correct process for this? It is very non-intuitive. I see there are various 3rd party services but I feel like they must be money-grabs. Unfortunately it has not been 5 years since I got off probation so I am not eligible for rehabilitation, but I'm sure I can make a convincing argument that I am an upstanding citizen, as my record has been spotless since the offense.

You need a TRP to enter Canada since you are currently inadmissible. There are two ways you can apply - either online or at the border since you are American. If you live near the border, I would try going there to see if they will grant you a TRP. Either way (whether you apply online or at the border) - don't wait. Do it as soon as you can. Approval is never guaranteed.

 

[rish888]

You need a TRP to enter Canada since you are currently inadmissible. There are two ways you can apply - either online or at the border since you are American. If you live near the border, I would try going there to see if they will grant you a TRP. Either way (whether you apply online or at the border) - don't wait. Do it as soon as you can. Approval is never guaranteed.

Agreed. If the offense(s) is/are considered "indictable" in Canada then not only are you inadmissible for entry, you are also ineligible for rehabilitation until 5 years have passed since the last offense.

If you live next to a border I'd go in person over applying online. TRP's are generally granted only in exceptional circumstances and I'd never undervalue the effect a human appeal can have.

Also, what was the offense? The nature of the offense can significantly influence the outcome of a TRP request.

 

[wasowaso]

You need a TRP to enter Canada since you are currently inadmissible. There are two ways you can apply - either online or at the border since you are American. If you live near the border, I would try going there to see if they will grant you a TRP. Either way (whether you apply online or at the border) - don't wait. Do it as soon as you can. Approval is never guaranteed.

As I said in the original post, I can not find a way to apply online. There is a way to apply for a visitors visa, but after answering generic questions it says I'm ineligible. I'm closer to a consulate than a border, can I apply there?

 

[wasowaso]

Agreed. If the offense(s) is/are considered "indictable" in Canada then not only are you inadmissible for entry, you are also ineligible for rehabilitation until 5 years have passed since the last offense.

If you live next to a border I'd go in person over applying online. TRP's are generally granted only in exceptional circumstances and I'd never undervalue the effect a human appeal can have.

Also, what was the offense? The nature of the offense can significantly influence the outcome of a TRP request.

Transportation for sale of a controlled substance. Can I apply at the consulate? If I go to the border do I need an appointment? Do I need forms/printouts, etc?

 

[scylla]

Transportation for sale of a controlled substance. Can I apply at the consulate? If I go to the border do I need an appointment? Do I need forms/printouts, etc?

You cannot apply at a consulate. You can only apply in person at the border. No - you don't need an appointment to the best of my knowledge.

You should try searching this forum for information about how others have done it. I believe you need to bring a filled out TRV application - and also all of the paperwork related to your crime, sentence, etc.

 

[wasowaso]

You cannot apply at a consulate. You can only apply in person at the border. No - you don't need an appointment to the best of my knowledge.

You should try searching this forum for information about how others have done it. I believe you need to bring a filled out TRV application - and also all of the paperwork related to your crime, sentence, etc.

Maybe I'm blind, but I can't find a way to search this forum. I did try searching google specific to this site, and most of what I found is about permanent residency.

Do you know if I could just fly up to canada with a same day return trip to apply for a TRP for an entry a few weeks later?

 

[scylla]

Maybe I'm blind, but I can't find a way to search this forum. I did try searching google specific to this site, and most of what I found is about permanent residency.

Do you know if I could just fly up to canada with a same day return trip to apply for a TRP for an entry a few weeks later?

There's a magnifying glass icon at the top right hand corner of the page. Click on that to search.

No - you cannot fly up to Canada with a same day return ticket. You're inadmissible to Canada - this means you cannot enter for any reason. You need an approved TRP to step foot in the country.

 

[rish888]

Forms Related to TRP:

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm5507e.pdf

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm1444e.pdf

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm5939e.pdf

Guide Related to TRP:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...ble-canada-past-criminal-activity.html#5312E5

Your options:

1) Your can apply for a TRP (You use the regular rehabilitation application process, but check the box titled "for information only" and submit you application for a TRP to the nearest Canadian visa office. All the info is in the guide.)

I don't recommend option 1 given that it can take over a year to process.

2) Try to get a TRP at a POE.


@scylla If the OP can show up at a land Canadian POE (which technically involves stepping foot into Canada) and request a TRP, why can't he do so at a POE at an airport? I don't think getting onto a plane will be an issue given he's a US citizen.

In the interest of full disclosure, you could always try to enter Canada like a regular tourist and take your chances. (i.e. not show up and say "Hey, I've got felony convictions!") If your conviction is discovered, you will need to go to secondary processing where the officer will either allow you to withdraw your application to enter Canada ( a fancy way of saying you'll be sent back home) or grant you a TRP. The TRP will be for a fixed duration and costs something like CA$200.

If you go for the above option, do note that:

1) It's a gamble. If you're denied entry you'll loose whatever you've paid for the trip.

2) If you fly to Canada and the officer doesn't want to grant you a TRP, you'll be held until they can place you on a flight to the US. If it's a land border, they'll simply walk you back.


Also, I recommend calling up a land POE and asking if you can go there now to get a TRP for your trip. My understanding, and I may be mistaken here, is that a TRP is a fixed validity thing linked to your plans in Canada, so you may not be able to go now to get a TRP for later. Simply ringing up a POE and asking them is your best bet at getting accurate info.

 

[scylla]

It's a good question. To the best of my knowledge, you can only apply for a TRP at a land border. I don't recall ever seeing anyone do so once landing in Canada.

 

[rish888]

As I said in the original post, I can not find a way to apply online.

You're right. If you choose applying in the US over applying at a border, you need to complete the application on paper and submit it at your nearest consulate/visa application center.

Was your conviction state or federal and what type/quantity of narcotics was involved? If it was a bit of weed across county lines you may have a decent chance at a TRP, but if it was a multiple bricks of coke across state lines then a TRP is unlikely even if you've had a spotless record since.

Given your conviction, (even if it was state) applying at a consulate is bound to take a long, long time. Sorting everything out at a POE is the way to go in my opinion.

If you want to know if you can make a TRP application at an airport, your best bet is to call up the CBSA office there and ask directly.

 

[scylla]

If you don't want to apply at the border, you would have to mail in the TRP application:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...n-inadmissible-persons-criminal-activity.html

You're right - it's not something you can apply for online.

If your trip is in Feb, would personally apply at the border. You could easily wait months if you mail it in. If at all possible, drive to a land border ahead of your trip to apply for a TRP. Don't wait for the trip itself to find out what's going to happen.