Crossing The Border to The United States

Crossing the border to the United States is not what it used to be. Increasingly, Canadian citizens and residents have been encountering more uncertainty crossing the border, and are being denied entry. There are several reasons for which you may be denied entry to the United States.
​


Examples of crimes that can deem you inadmissible to the United States.

1) Crimes of moral turpitude.
These are crimes that are considered morally depraved or vile by society.

• Assault
• Theft
• Prostitution
• Child abuse
• Bribery
• Bigamy 
• Extortion
• Deportation

2) Crimes involving controlled substances
3) Prostitution
4) Money Laundering If you were charged with, but were not convicted or were acquitted, this may still lead to denial of entry. Of great significance is the fact that the United States treats a Conditional Discharge as a conviction. Even an Absolute Discharge is cause for caution; a border agent may still consider the admission of guilt. Withdrawn charges remain in law enforcement records and may also create problems for you at the border.
If you do not have a criminal record, but for some other reason are mentioned in any criminal record (police reports are created in medical emergencies involving traffic accidents or suicide attempts) you may risk being detained or denied entry at the border.

It is clear that with today’s uncertain climate around immigration, crossing the border for Canadians can be a tricky process, especially with a criminal record. Factors such as increased criminal record sharing between Canada and the United States as well as the fact that border agents are not trained lawyers, and do not always interpret or apply the law correctly to a given situation, have made it harder for Canadians to enter the United States.

If you are aware that you are inadmissible and still wish to travel to the United States, you must obtain what is called a U.S. Entry Waiver. This can be a complex process, involves tedious paperwork, and will be very time consuming.

​If you think you need a criminal waiver, or you’d like more information on how the situation at the border may influence your travel plans and steps you can take to mitigate the chances of being denied at the border, contact Toronto Immigration Lawyer, Janice Warren.

---