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I had a DUI in U.S. from 2001 (almost 15 years ago). I have heard mixed stories about people NOT being allowed into the country because they had a DUI. Can anyone tell me what I should be expecting?
It can get complex and in many cases for an old offense can come down to a judgement call by the border guard you talk to,fortunately they have relaxed the DUI laws over the past few years.However you might want to call the actual border you plan on crossing at and speak with an agent. In the meantime you can research your options= https://www.google.ca/#safe=active&q...ada+with+a+Dui
From what i read you shouldnt have a problem with a 15 yr old DUI however some CBSA agents can be cantankerous .
In Canada, being convicted of driving while drunk is a Criminal Code offence, in all parts of the country.
We view it as a serious offence, not a minor one.
Be aware that the Canadian Border Services Agency has complete access to all US criminal databases, and finding your conviction will only take a few minutes of computer searching. The date of the conviction is not relevant, it is still on your record.
As was said previously, the CBSA officer that you deal with at the point of entry has personal discretion about the decision to admit you, or deny you entry to Canada. Bear in mind that only a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident has a "right to enter Canada " all others are subject to inspection and possible rejection for a wide range of reasons.
The Canadian customs/border agent will still scan your passport and perhaps ask you those questions of "have you ever been arrested" and what will your answer be with the guy perhaps looking at your DUI on his screen while waiting to see if you answer with veracity or obfuscation.
I had a DUI in U.S. from 2001 (almost 15 years ago). I have heard mixed stories about people NOT being allowed into the country because they had a DUI. Can anyone tell me what I should be expecting?
Where you convicted of the DUI? If not then they will not be able to find out about it.
It's doubtful that the questions will be any more than "Are you here for business or pleasure?" But if in the unlikely event that they bring you into the building and ask you if you have been arrested for any crime, say no!
If for some reason you are prevented from entering, you should just go try another entry point.
But if in the unlikely event that they bring you into the building and ask you if you have been arrested for any crime, say no!
If for some reason you are prevented from entering, you should just go try another entry point.
Sorry Josh but this is terrible advice. if you get caught lying to a CBSA officer you will be denied entry for sure, as for trying another point of entry? an alert will be given on the border guards computer that you have very recently been denied entry,they'll definitely want to question you vigorously as to why you are now making another attempt to cross the border.
Sorry Josh but this is terrible advice. if you get caught lying to a CBSA officer you will be denied entry for sure, as for trying another point of entry? an alert will be given on the border guards computer that you have very recently been denied entry,they'll definitely want to question you vigorously as to why you are now making another attempt to cross the border.
I did exactly what I described when a friend of mine was refused entry while we were trying to get to Montreal. We were stopped at the main port of entry on I-89 in Upstate New York, we were a bachelor party in a panel van so I guess we aroused suspicion. Anyway, we went into the inspections building and were questioned one by one and asked if we had ever been arrested, I said no but one of my friends admitted to a DUI that had occurred more than a decade prior (d'oh!). After a 4 hour ride from Boston, we were denied entry.
This is the kicker. The border inspector (a youngish attractive woman) who interrogated us told us to follow her outside so that she could direct us to the turnaround for us to head back south, as she was gesticulating with her arms of how to turn around, she told us to "try another border crossing". We went back to Alburg, VT and went through the border crossing booth with nary a sideways glance.
FYI to the OP, your passport will not have information such as past DUIs on it. As long as you are not currently wanted by American or international law enforcement you'll be fine.
See that line: "or an alcohol related driving offense" they put that in there so you can be told by someone to just ignore it and lie about it.
QUOTED: "That long forgotten youthful indiscretion, or an alcohol related driving offense, may very well bar entry into either country. Many a hunter or businessman has landed at a Canadian airport, only to be sent back out on the next flight because of a 10 year old drunk driving offense or a Vietnam era civil disobedience conviction. In 2010, Canada denied entry to 6,948 Americans because of prior criminal offenses."
How is it, do you suppose they get access to the database with that information made available to them.........why my goodness, it's by scanning their passports and having just one more keystroke to perform.
Last edited by BruSan; 12-11-2015 at 07:41 AM..
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