An interesting article about more folks getting turned away at the Canadian Boarder

[bepsf]

If you have anything on your record, the Canadians are turning people back to the U.S. left and right - you'll need to apply for "a Minister's Approval of Rehabilitation" to gain entry into Canada for your Alaskan cruise.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/23/MNGCAO9NSB1.DTL

[diboja]

It works both ways.....I am a Canadian and for many years now the identical procedure has been happening to Canadians attempting to gain entry into the US.

 

I personally know of one case (a Canadian) where the chap had a conviction for using "pot" when he was 20 years old...now that he is 49 years old he cannot gain entry into the US - he is denied entry by the US border staff.

 

Amazing - you would think that there should be a "statute of limitations" philosophy applied BUT no way!

[jtl513]

If you have anything on your record, the Canadians are turning people back to the U.S. left and right - you'll need to apply for "a Minister's Approval of Rehabilitation" to gain entry into Canada for your Alaskan cruise.

 

I don't have any kind of a record, but I'm curious about people who do, and book a cruise from Seward to Vancouver. Does HAL prevent boarding in Seward? If not, what happens when they get to Vancouver?

 

Funny that a DUI conviction in Maine for G.W. Bush didn't stop his entry, though! :D

[SanDiego Single]

My recent cruise to Alaska was almost ended by this. I was also put into a room with about 75 other people including Ice T a well known rapper and actor. I had no idea why I was in the room because no one would tell me. The border patrol had stopped me had me unzipper my bag and then dumped it on the floor and told me to pick each piece up and place it on another table while another person went thru it and then threw it back on to the floor and 45 minutes later they told me I could repack everthing. But not before being accused of having pot using pot and being addicted to pot and also having porn on my laptop. Neither of which I had. I was asked the same question about pot and porn over and over and over again. Once in the "waiting" room and after waiting almost 4 hours I got up to the officer and was asked about a charge from the state of Florida. I have never lived and only been to florida as a child with my parents while visiting grandparents. I told them this and they let me go on ahead with my vacation. I was very shocked and amazed at this whole process and will NOT be going back to Canada anytime soon.

[SanDiego Single]

I was arriving for my cruise leaving out of Vancouver. I had no trouble getting off the ship and returning home.

[bishop84]

It works both ways.....I am a Canadian and for many years now the identical procedure has been happening to Canadians attempting to gain entry into the US.

 

I personally know of one case (a Canadian) where the chap had a conviction for using "pot" when he was 20 years old...now that he is 49 years old he cannot gain entry into the US - he is denied entry by the US border staff.

 

Amazing - you would think that there should be a "statute of limitations" philosophy applied BUT no way!

 

I agree! I am regularly stopped and have a secondary inspection when going into the US and that's despite having the correct Visa and no criminal record. I think its just the Canadians doing to US citizens exactly what the US has been been doing to Canadians & other nationalities for the last few years.

[Juanita462]

This talk about customs reminds me of a true story about a man travelling on business. He was returning to the States from Scotland and when asked if he was bringing anything into the country he said "yes, a chocolate bar and an orange" they pulled him out of line, stripped him down to his socks and did a search and then made him sign a form that he was well treated. Worse than that, every single time he came through customs again they pulled him out of line and questioned him. their theory was that if he declared something so simple he must be hiding something else.

 

Our son had a simple driving offense from his teen years and couldn't cross the border into the U.S. - he finally applied for a pardon and now is allowed in 25 years later.

[tomc]

I gave the information to my TA; not a bad idea for all of us.

[sk8teacher]

If you have anything on your record, the Canadians are turning people back to the U.S. left and right - you'll need to apply for "a Minister's Approval of Rehabilitation" to gain entry into Canada for your Alaskan cruise.

 

 

I'm really surprised that this isn't getting more publicity. I took a look at the requirements for "rehabilitation", and not only is the paperwork a nightmare, but it costs at least $200 and could go up to $1000. And there is NO rebate if your paperwork is not approved!!:eek:

 

In addition, you must go to one of their US consolates, of which there are only 5 or 6 I believe.

 

Probably the biggest one that most will not be aware of is a DUI conviction. It doesn't matter how old it is, if they find out you will not be admitted to Canada.

 

Cheers,

[kakalina]

Remeber when you were a kid in school and they warned you about your "permanent record"? And we thought it was a joke.

[PRINSENDAM]

you'll need to apply for "a Minister's Approval of Rehabilitation"

 

 

 

Brian,

 

What do you think... perfect job for Reverend Greg... handing out Certificates of Rehabilitation at the Ocean Bar for entry into the next port of call. Those not having gobne through rehab will have to remain on board and sit at the bar all day!

 

Stephen

[dougnewmanatsea]

Please let's try not to make this thread into a discussion about which politicians we don't like. (Let's face it, we all have them ;) !)

 

As for needing to be "rehabilitated" to enter Canada, I imagine this is not at all unique to any particular country. The details differ, but if your background check shows up anything even slightly undesirable, you could run into trouble at just about any border crossing.

[tomc]

At the college where I part-time, we try (oh, how we try) to convince the students that being busted by the cops for underage drinking will ruin their chances for anything better than "want fries with that" jobs in the future.

 

Now I'm getting the word out that the best they can do for vacations is the old Dinah Shore, "See the USA in your Chevrolet," 'cause Canada ain't gonna let you in. Or, quite possibly, other countries in the future.

 

But for shoplifting when you were 18, fifty years ago? Or a bar fight one, and only one, bad night thirty or forty years ago? Do you really need proof that you have been rehabbed? I'm sure that even Sister Mary Esmeralda could have done something during her 95 years as a nun.

[seasideny]

I have been crossing the border for almost 20 years. You can easily be turned away by one agent and turn around an hour later and be allowed entry by another agent - on either side of the border - before and after 9/11.

 

I was turned away once for no apparent reason. The agent looked through my phonebook, my paystubs and then asked me to go home and get my tax return before I could enter. Unfortunately I missed my flight out of Buffalo because I had to drive back to Toronto. And I do not have any past indiscretions!!! Additionally, my car must have been searched at least 5 times with the dogs.

 

But in comparison - I crossed the border last week and we were not even asked to show our passports! We had two children in the backseat and the agent didn't even ask!! When we returned to the U.S. a week later they gave the passports a casual glance and let us in.

 

I can only assume I look really trustworthy now.:D

 

It really all depends on the agent you meet. I happen to know plenty of Canadians and a few Americans with relatively minor records that have never been turned away - although a couple were turned away once or twice. Our borders are really porous. I'm not sure how much I like that?

[tomc]

Ordinarily, this would be none of my business, but since you brought it up:

I was turned away once for no apparent reason. The agent looked through my phonebook, my paystubs and then asked me to go home and get my tax return before I could enter.

Whatever were you doing with a phonebook and paystubs in your car that an agent would (a) find them, (b) be interested in them and, © the big one: want to see your tax returns?

[realtreebar]

i was turned away in 2005 and paid my $200.00 rehabilatation and was still denied i was told i can not even step on canadian soil or i go to jail without the rehabilatation i asked what else i needed to submit they said if you would like to submit more info please submit another $200.00 dollars i have already givin them FBI reports,STATE POLICE reports,FINGER PRINTS,THREE LETTERS FROM UPSTANDING PEOPLE IN MY TOWN AS TO REHABILATATION,TREATMENT PAPERS, A LETTER FROM ME AS TO THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE, COPY OF THE OFFENSE WITH DATES AND TIMES,TWO PASSPORT PHOTOS,A COPY OF CURRENT DRIVERS LIC.,COPY OF CHECK STUBS AS PROOF OF EMPLOYMENT, after sending all this i was DENIED! the three letters were from the mayor of our town a police LT. AND A CLERGYMAN. i own my own bussiness so i sent a copy of my bussiness LIC. we live in a town of 18,000 people. i am no way whining just letting people know sometimes i does not matter how much you do it is still not enough.

[bigred12]

How about the people leaving out of Seattle and the ship stop in Canada fo three hours.

[island lady]

How about the people leaving out of Seattle and the ship stop in Canada fo three hours.

 

I would like to know about that one too....

Cheers! :)

[bepsf]

How about the people leaving out of Seattle and the ship stop in Canada fo three hours.

 

Canadian Immigration won't let you off the ship.

[jtl513]

About 5 years ago we booked a round trip on the Victoria Clipper high-speed catamaran from Seattle to Victoria B.C., and were warned we wouldn't be allowed to board if we had any convictions. No one checked or asked us, and I didn't notice anyone else being grilled either. :confused:

[Ephraim]

The information that the Canadian government has is coming from the US Government. It is part of the US government's war on terror.

 

It has always been illegal for anyone with a criminal record to enter Canada. That hasn't changed. Just now, they have access to all the records, courtesy of the US government. And (unfortunately) some of the guards aren't acting as politely as they should.

 

There is a procedure in place to be "deemed rehabilitated" and the cost for it is CAD$200 and a clean record for at least 5 years, 10 years for bigger offences and an extra CAD$800 if it needs ministerial approval. From what I understand, you can also try getting a US pardon or getting your American record erased.

 

Canadians have been subject to this from the US for decades. In fact, the US system doesn't allow for any arbitration, so if you are refused entry, there is no one to ask for a second opinion from. You can be blocked by any border guard for up to 10 years without any proof and no way to fight it. At least in Canada, you can always appeal to the minister.

 

If you are on a ship that stops in Canada and you have a record, you will not be allowed to leave the ship. But since the cruise line (as far as I know) doesn't have access to know about your criminal record, they won't stop you.

 

Good thing I have kept my record clean. And there are only two people in all of North America with my name.

[Nghthawke]

Canadians can apply for a pardon and a U.S. Entry Waiver. They've been running television commercials for years now:

 

http://www.canadianpardons.ca/

 

They also list the U.S. pardon services:

 

http://www.americanpardons.com/

[codyody]

If the authorities know before you get to the border (say, flying into Vancouver) that you are going to be denied entry, why don't they let you know before you board the plane?

[Jana]

It was your post about this that alerted Cruise Critic to the problem! A news article about it has been published now, and some of the questions are answered.

 

http://cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1954

 

Thanks so much for being on the ball (as usual!)

 

Jana

 

PS I'll contact you when my daughter and I do our long weekend in The City, hopefully later this spring... We're still on for coffee together, right?

[bepsf]

If the authorities know before you get to the border (say, flying into Vancouver) that you are going to be denied entry, why don't they let you know before you board the plane?

 

Because it's not up to US immigration (who you don't interact with on the way out of the country) to tell you what the authorities for any foreign country might or might not do when you arrive via train/ship/car/airplane...