Will rejection to US affect Canadian holiday visa?

[SoSporty]

Hi,

I was rejected entry into the US two years ago as I admitted to the border officer that I had smoked marijuana in the past (I am not a frequent user). They stamped my passport with a 'INA section 217' R06000 rejection stamp as the USA ESTA requires you to declare any illegal drug use (I stupidly ticked no, not thinking about having smoked marijuana before). I would like to visit Canada for a two-week holiday but I am afraid that I will be refused entry because of the stamp from the US. Any help or guidance on what to do would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Jets13]

Hi,

I was rejected entry into the US two years ago as I admitted to the border officer that I had smoked marijuana in the past (I am not a frequent user). They stamped my passport with a 'INA section 217' R06000 rejection stamp as the USA ESTA requires you to declare any illegal drug use (I stupidly ticked no, not thinking about having smoked marijuana before). I would like to visit Canada for a two-week holiday but I am afraid that I will be refused entry because of the stamp from the US. Any help or guidance on what to do would be greatly appreciated!

No one can tell you if you will be refused or not that would depend on your profile and the officer that day. What country are you a citizen of? Do you have good ties to your homeland?

The advice that I would give is to be 100% honest when they ask if you have ever been refused to ANY country before, because if you say no they will know you are lying and could ban for 5 years.

 

[SoSporty]

No one can tell you if you will be refused or not that would depend on your profile and the officer that day. What country are you a citizen of? Do you have good ties to your homeland?

The advice that I would give is to be 100% honest when they ask if you have ever been refused to ANY country before, because if you say no they will know you are lying and could ban for 5 years.

I am a citizen of Ireland, I am in full-time employment here and I have no criminal convictions. I was hoping there was some way I could get pre-clearance so that I don't run the risk of flying all the way over there and getting refused and having to fly home.

 

[Jets13]

I am a citizen of Ireland, I am in full-time employment here and I have no criminal convictions. I was hoping there was some way I could get pre-clearance so that I don't run the risk of flying all the way over there and getting refused and having to fly home.

So you do not need a visa if you are Irish, you will need what's called an ETA. Fill that out accurately and if it asks for visa refusals or entry refusals tell the truth. If your ETA is approved then you have a great chance of coming to Canada and should book your travel.

Everyone who is not a citizen or pr would have some risk, there is always a chance that even with a valid visa or eta one could be turned away. But in most cases the risks are minimal. I think you should be fine, marijuana is now legal in Canada, just make sure you are not bringing any into the country as that is illegal.

link to eta
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp