Cruising to Canada with a DUI

[PurpleCow]

If you're entering Canada from a cruise ship solely for the purpose of immediately flying home you will be escorted from the ship, separate from the other passengers, and taken to the airport. I don't know about vice versa.

[scottbee]

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of cruising to Canada with a DUI. ie, has the person been denied going ashore if customs finds out about a DUI? I know that rehabilitation can be granted but given the process and fees involved getting this it seems senseless to get this as the cruise we want to do has only two days in Canada. Has anyone ever just "winged it" and got to go ashore?

Thanks much,

 

It depends a lot of the nature of the cruise; is it one way? Is it round trip?

 

I know there are reports of people in the same situation as you taking RT's out of Seattle to Alaska, and choosing not to disembark in Victoria (the only Canadian port) and everything went well. However there are also reports where the persons were prevented from entering, or even boarding vessels.

 

However, as other posters pointed out, yes Canada can and does (not necessarily always) refuse entry to a person with a DUI conviction. We (Canada) didn't use to have access to this data, but the USA wanted our data and we signed a reciprocal agreement.

 

Lastly, it is MUCH more difficult to enter the USA with a conviction than to enter Canada; so those people that think Canada is singling people out here should look in a mirror.

 

Please contact a Canadian Consulate and discuss your options. There are approximately 20 of them spread out across the USA

[boulders]

If you're entering Canada from a cruise ship solely for the purpose of immediately flying home you will be escorted from the ship, separate from the other passengers, and taken to the airport. I don't know about vice versa.

 

Ummm, no, this does not happen. You used to be able to participate in US Direct at Vancouver. That program is no longer in operation.

[BruceMuzz]

Oh boy, not what I want to hear. I hope someone out there may have more info on the subject. Perhaps the cruise line has more insight on this matter. Seems a bit unreasonable to me.

 

The Canadians do this because the USA first started doing it to Canadians trying to enter the USA. Seems very reasonable to me.

 

My ship calls at Canadian ports every week during the summer season.

 

Every week, on the day before we arrive in Canada, we receive a list of passengers who are to be interviewed by Canadian Immigration. It is normally between 4 and 12 passengers.

We are instructed to block these people at the gangway until the authorities have interviewed them. We are also forbidden to tell the pax what we are up to.

These passengers are usually quite surprised and sometimes upset that we will not let them go ashore - especially if they have booked shore tours.

The officials interview them one at a time, which can take quite a bit of time.

Some are interviewed in their cabins, sometimes accompanied by a cabin search.

Others are interviewed in a conference room.

 

Generally most of them are informed that they will not be allowed to leave the ship in Canada. Our security staff are told that the ship will get a large fine and the passengers will be arrested if they do manage to get ashore.

 

Very rarely a passenger who has been interviewed is then allowed to go ashore.

 

About once a month one of the interviewed passengers is taken off in handcuffs and does not return to the ship.

 

The Canadian officials are very nice, but also very secretive about the details. We rarely get any explanations as to what is really going on.

[Sea42]

I'd guess that the people taken off in handcuffs are those that are wanted by the Canadian government for crimes or warrants issued in Canada. That would explain the early post about people being taken away in handcuffs. That makes sense.

[jp&dpcruisers]

We will embark in NY and at this point I don't see them having a problem boarding the ship and they might just decide to not even attempt to get off the ship in Canada. Thanks for you input.

[6rugrats]

We will embark in NY and at this point I don't see them having a problem boarding the ship and they might just decide to not even attempt to get off the ship in Canada. Thanks for you input.

 

I don't know what will happen with them, but I don't think it matters where they embark. Please come back after the cruise and give an update.

Edited October 30, 2011 by 6rugrats

[PurpleCow]

Ummm, no, this does not happen. You used to be able to participate in US Direct at Vancouver. That program is no longer in operation.

Didn't know the policy had changed, Sorry. Haven't paid attention since it doesn't apply to me. My late husband had a DUI more than 30 years ago so I checked into it when we were scheduled to disembark in Canada from an Alaska cruise in 2008, even though we had traveled to Canada in the past with no problems.

[bob brown]

I don't see why this should even be an issue.....as long as you don't rent a car, why should this really matter?

[paul929207]

I don't see why this should even be an issue.....as long as you don't rent a car, why should this really matter?

Because the individual is a convicted felon. Many countries, including the US and Canada, are not big on allowing felons to enter.

[6rugrats]

I don't see why this should even be an issue.....as long as you don't rent a car, why should this really matter?

Did you read through this thread? This has nothing to do with renting a car, see below if you missed it the first time:

 

Canada, like the United States, has rules that prohibit entry for persons with specific ineligibilities. For example, anyone with a criminal record (including misdemeanors or Driving While Impaired (DWI)), no matter how long ago, may be barred from entering Canada and must obtain a special waiver well in advance of any planned travel. To determine whether you may be inadmissible and how to overcome this finding, please refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

 

It's about being allowed to enter Canada as a convicted felon.

[sapper1]

Oh boy, not what I want to hear. I hope someone out there may have more info on the subject. Perhaps the cruise line has more insight on this matter. Seems a bit unreasonable to me.

Impaired driving is a criminal offense in Canada, which leaves you with a criminal record. Canada will not admit anyone guilty of a criminal offense and for that matter, neither will the United States. It works both ways, unfortunately.

[grand isle joe]

Because the individual is a convicted felon. Many countries, including the US and Canada, are not big on allowing felons to enter.

 

 

 

.......yea....we in the U.S. already have enough felons in Washington D.C......;):D

[paul929207]

.......yea....we in the U.S. already have enough felons in Washington D.C......;):D

It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.

 

Mark Twain

[Kellie Poodle]

As a Canadian entering your country if I had a DWI or any other kind of record I would not be permitted to cross your border. So I'm not sure why you think this is only one sided. I agree it should be limited to how many years ago it happend etc, but your Politicians are the ones calling the shots, why not vent at them or take the steps to get it corrected in time. Fees may be steep but at least your buddy wouldn't have to worry in the future. They just slammed Canadians with a $5.50 entry fee everytime we go to the USA so we can bail your debt out.

 

Not true.

 

1) A DUI is not rated as the same type of "crime" in the US as it is in Canada. A Canadian with a DUI on their record has no problems entering the US.

 

2) If the American's DUI happened more than 10 years ago, it should not be a problem as that law applies to Canadian Nationals, but, the Canadians at the border seem to work on the fly.

 

After spending time every year for 15 years in Canada each summer and just after having spent a month in the Maritimes, then 3 weeks in Maine, we were detained and terrorized at the border in Quebec. There was no crime, just an arrest that had been in error and the case dismissed.

 

We have Texas license plates and Canadian border officials believe all Texans are concealing weapons. They went into my DH's NCIC file (FBI) to check for gun permits and found none so they invented a criminal offense to shake us down for an emergency ministers' permit for $200. This was back in 2002. They allowed us to enter because we had purchased tickets to a series of baseball games months before. Before we produced the tickets, they weren't going to allow the bad Americans into Canada. Having baseball tickets for the 3 game series in Toronto made us acceptable.:rolleyes:

 

After we finally were allowed in, we went to the American Consulate in Ottawa and the Vice Consul, himself spoke to us. He told us that it was the Texas license plates and that the border person was too lazy to search our RV and truck so he went to look for gun permits.

 

I had a correspondence with a minister in Ottawa that lasted several months and learned that their law says that if the crime happened more than 10 years ago, Canada can't make you be rehabilitated for it if you are not a Canadian citizen. However, this doesn't mean that that they won't hassle you.

 

If your party wants to be assured, contact the nearest Canadian embassy and ask for a ministers permit to enter Canada temporarily. It's cheaper than "rehabilitation"

 

We loved visiting Canada and have been in every province and the Yukon Territory. We have not been back since that incident. It's a shame because we enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the majority of Canadians are lovely, friendly people.

[lovesublime]

Because the individual is a convicted felon. Many countries, including the US and Canada, are not big on allowing felons to enter.

 

 

 

 

This is really not true. Not everyone convicted of a crime is a felon. In my state, not all DWI's are felonies. A first offense is a misdemeanor (under certain conditions). It's not fair to classify everyone who has broken the law as a felon.

Edited October 30, 2011 by lovesublime

[DizzyDallasDi]

The Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills are playing in Toronto as I type this. I will bet next year's paycheck that there are a number of people in each of those organizations with rap sheets. This should give y'all something to think about. Just saying....

[Sea42]

The Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills are playing in Toronto as I type this. I will bet next year's paycheck that there are a number of people in each of those organizations with rap sheets. This should give y'all something to think about. Just saying....

Perhaps they've all been rehabilitated? ;)

[Kellie Poodle]

The Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills are playing in Toronto as I type this. I will bet next year's paycheck that there are a number of people in each of those organizations with rap sheets. This should give y'all something to think about. Just saying....

 

The team legal eagles apply for ministers permits for those on the team who need them.

 

Take a truck driver who has a dui/dwi on his record from driving his car 10 years ago. His company know that he might have a problem at the border so they get him a minister's permit ahead of time.

 

Entry to Canada isn't barred if you have a DUI/DWI, it just costs for the permits.

Edited October 30, 2011 by Kellie Poodle

[g-didi]

OP - Seek advice from the Canadian Consulate and follow the rules laid out to allow the person with a DUI to enter Canada without risk or stress to the traveller and their party. Otherwise change your cruise. In the future you may want to return to Canada and to chance this may potentially ruin your future plans.

 

Each country makes its own rules. There are nightmare stories from both sides of the border. Respect the country's rules if you wish to visit whether you agree with them or not. If you dont agree - dont visit.

[LHT28]

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/402/~/entering-the-u.s.-and-canada-with-dui-offenses

[sail7seas]

OP - Seek advice from the Canadian Consulate and follow the rules laid out to allow the person with a DUI to enter Canada without risk or stress to the traveller and their party. Otherwise change your cruise. In the future you may want to return to Canada and to chance this may potentially ruin your future plans.

 

Each country makes its own rules. There are nightmare stories from both sides of the border. Respect the country's rules if you wish to visit whether you agree with them or not. If you dont agree - dont visit.

 

 

Yes. That is exactly the story.

[sapper1]

Not true.

 

1) A DUI is not rated as the same type of "crime" in the US as it is in Canada. A Canadian with a DUI on their record has no problems entering the US.

 

2) If the American's DUI happened more than 10 years ago, it should not be a problem as that law applies to Canadian Nationals, but, the Canadians at the border seem to work on the fly.

 

After spending time every year for 15 years in Canada each summer and just after having spent a month in the Maritimes, then 3 weeks in Maine, we were detained and terrorized at the border in Quebec. There was no crime, just an arrest that had been in error and the case dismissed.

 

We have Texas license plates and Canadian border officials believe all Texans are concealing weapons. They went into my DH's NCIC file (FBI) to check for gun permits and found none so they invented a criminal offense to shake us down for an emergency ministers' permit for $200. This was back in 2002. They allowed us to enter because we had purchased tickets to a series of baseball games months before. Before we produced the tickets, they weren't going to allow the bad Americans into Canada. Having baseball tickets for the 3 game series in Toronto made us acceptable.:rolleyes:

 

After we finally were allowed in, we went to the American Consulate in Ottawa and the Vice Consul, himself spoke to us. He told us that it was the Texas license plates and that the border person was too lazy to search our RV and truck so he went to look for gun permits.

 

I had a correspondence with a minister in Ottawa that lasted several months and learned that their law says that if the crime happened more than 10 years ago, Canada can't make you be rehabilitated for it if you are not a Canadian citizen. However, this doesn't mean that that they won't hassle you.

 

If your party wants to be assured, contact the nearest Canadian embassy and ask for a ministers permit to enter Canada temporarily. It's cheaper than "rehabilitation"

 

We loved visiting Canada and have been in every province and the Yukon Territory. We have not been back since that incident. It's a shame because we enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the majority of Canadians are lovely, friendly people.

I live about an hour from the St. Stephen/Calais, Maine border crossing. Our local paper always reports on American tourists arrested at the border for trying to get a gun past customs. Nine times out of ten, it is a car or RV from Texas. That is why the border officials pounce on cars from that state.

[sapper1]

This is really not true. Not everyone convicted of a crime is a felon. In my state, not all DWI's are felonies. A first offense is a misdemeanor (under certain conditions). It's not fair to classify everyone who has broken the law as a felon.

It is a criminal offense here on the first conviction and local judges are now imposing jail sentences for first offences, along with hefty fines and driving suspensions.

[bob brown]

Did you read through this thread? This has nothing to do with renting a car, see below if you missed it the first time:

 

Canada, like the United States, has rules that prohibit entry for persons with specific ineligibilities. For example, anyone with a criminal record (including misdemeanors or Driving While Impaired (DWI)), no matter how long ago, may be barred from entering Canada and must obtain a special waiver well in advance of any planned travel. To determine whether you may be inadmissible and how to overcome this finding, please refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

 

It's about being allowed to enter Canada as a convicted felon.

Okay, fair enough.

Just one thing, if I am interpreting some posts correctly, you may be given permission to enter anyway if you pay for some sort of waiver?

That brings the motivation creditability into question for me....