Australian Couple Denied Entry Into Canada Because OF DWI Fine In Australia.

[JayNY]

Australian couple denied entry into Vancouver Canada after 30 hours flight from Australia to Vancouver, Canada (total time including layover) because of a past DWI fine in Australia. They were immediately put back on another flight to Australia. The couple had to purchase new one way tickets $3000.00 from Vancouver-Australia. Oh wow, to refuse entry just for a DWI fine.

 

I only had to pay $120 ransom to a bus driver to take me back to NYC , after I was droped off at the US side Border. He refused to take my return ticket, I had to give him $120 cash. Not flying to Canada, I will drive on my next trip (just in case).

 

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/americas-canada/canada/refusal-of-entry-to-canada-who-pays

[marylander1940]

Australian couple denied entry into Vancouver Canada after 30 hours flight from Australia to Vancouver, Canada (total time including layover) because of a past DWI fine in Australia. They were immediately put back on another flight to Australia. The couple had to purchase new one way tickets $3000.00 from Vancouver-Australia. Oh wow, to refuse entry just for a DWI fine.

 

I only had to pay $120 ransom to a bus driver to take me back to NYC , after I was droped at the US side Border. He refused to take my return ticket, I had to give $120 cash. No airline, I will drive next time (just in case).

 

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/americas-canada/canada/refusal-of-entry-to-canada-who-pays

 

I know a now retired American escort who had the same issue and wasn't allowed into Canada. His dog caused 3k in damages at Georgia hotel room and he was sent back to Detroit, there was a warrant for him in GA, he had to stop flying Delta of course.

[+ azdr0710]

my little story:

 

arriving at YUL (Montreal) last winter from the US for my first visit to eastern Canada, I was confronted with rows and rows of these "self-serve" automatic customs machines/passport checkers (or whatever they're called)....though I'm sure many here are utterly familiar with them, I'd never seen these self-serve gadgets and I screwed it up (didn't know what part of the passport to scan and I think it turns out I was trying to scan my passport with its clear plastic cover covering the row of numbers)...got frustrated and stormed up to the first row of windows and said I can't figure this out.....ended up being given the full treatment while everybody else streamed directly out.....open my bags, computer check while I stood nervously by for several minutes, answer questions......I asked why I was diverted and he said "random check" ....did ask for and receive a souvenir stamp, though!

 

at least I passed and I guess I'll be ok next time I try to enter.....whew!......

 

upon returning to the US, all US customs and immigration was done right there at the MONTREAL airport!!.....nothing to do at the US arrival airport at all....nice!!

[+ ArVaGuy]

Canadian Customs officials are assholes. That's the nicest thing I can say about them.

[+ azdr0710]

however, I did have a very friendly Canadian customs/immigration dude in Carway, Alberta, while visiting Glacier National Park a couple summers ago.....needed to go to a library to check email (didn't have a smartphone yet) in nearby Cardston (nearest library was across the line!) and he told me how to get there and that it was across from the Subway (which happily accepted US dough).....

[JayNY]

my little story:

 

arriving at YUL (Montreal) last winter from the US for my first visit to eastern Canada, I was confronted with rows and rows of these "self-serve" automatic customs machines/passport checkers (or whatever they're called)....though I'm sure many here are utterly familiar with them, I'd never seen these self-serve gadgets and I screwed it up (didn't know what part of the passport to scan and I think it turns out I was trying to scan my passport with its clear plastic cover covering the row of numbers)...got frustrated and stormed up to the first row of windows and said I can't figure this out.....ended up being given the full treatment while everybody else streamed directly out.....open my bags, computer check while I stood nervously by for several minutes, answer questions......I asked why I was diverted and he said "random check" ....did ask for and receive a souvenir stamp, though!

 

at least I passed and I guess I'll be ok next time I try to enter.....whew!......

 

upon returning to the US, all US customs and immigration was done right there at the MONTREAL airport!!.....nothing to do at the US arrival airport at all....nice!!

 

 

Too bad Canadian Custom is not done at US Airport, when traveling to Canada from US. That way you can find out, if they will let you in. You don't have to worry about buying new ticket at the Airport, if you're denied entry.

[bigvalboy]

Australian couple denied entry into Vancouver Canada after 30 hours flight from Australia to Vancouver, Canada (total time including layover) because of a past DWI fine in Australia. They were immediately put back on another flight to Australia. The couple had to purchase new one way tickets $3000.00 from Vancouver-Australia. Oh wow, to refuse entry just for a DWI fine.

 

I only had to pay $120 ransom to a bus driver to take me back to NYC , after I was droped off at the US side Border. He refused to take my return ticket, I had to give him $120 cash. Not flying to Canada, I will drive on my next trip (just in case).

 

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/americas-canada/canada/refusal-of-entry-to-canada-who-pays

 

Same thing happened to a friend of mine. Flying Air Canada, LA to Montreal, he was stopped by customs and asked to step into a private room. There they went through all the usual interrogations, including being asked numerous times if he had ever been convicted of a DUI. He had one on record from several years prior. He was refused entry, and 20 minutes later he was put on a Delta flight back to LA.

 

I too was stopped, and pulled aside into a room. Their one and only real question was if I had ever been convicted of a DUI in LA. It was so bizarre.

[+ bashful]

Canada has been denying entry because of DUI for years now.

[BigK]

I've been to Canada twice in the past year and going through Canadian Customs was unnecessarily unpleasant. I was questioned like I was an axe murderer. Our Neighbors???!!!

[Guest]

I've never had a conviction, but I find the immigration process in Canada to be possibly the worst in the world. It tends to dissuade me from going there. It would be interesting for someone to do a study to find out how much money Canada loses because of this obnoxious behavior.

[+ ArVaGuy]

I've never had a conviction, but I find the immigration process in Canada to be possibly the worst in the world. It tends to dissuade me from going there. It would be interesting for someone to do a study to find out how much money Canada loses because of this obnoxious behavior.

 

I'm in the conference management business and have deliberately taken Canada off my list of first tier options. We held a meeting in Vancouver in 2008 and I got sick of dealing with these passive aggressive assholes. Our Latin American contingent had such trouble getting visas our numbers dropped from this region.

 

One time a Canadian immigration officer gave me flack for not declaring my laptop on the customs form. She claimed I could be subject to a duty. I pushed back and said that I was bringing a conference of 1,000 plus delegates to Canada worth several million dollars to the economy and she waived me through with a scowl.

 

I think this issue has gotten worse in the last few years from the comments here and anecdotal evidence from other sources. The next time Canadian Tourism hits me up to solicit our conference business I'm going to mention the rude behavior of the customs officers as a reason why I'm reluctant to book business.

[Frequentflier]

I know this is about Canadian immigration/customs but as I've heard from friends that live in other countries, entering the US with just about anything on your record is extremely difficult. Maybe Canadian officials feel peer pressure from the US or are tough because the US is so unforgiving. I've been told that DUI convictions in Canada are considered serious, very different than in the US. I saw on the news this morning that in one area of the US, the DA referenced people with 6 or more DUI convictions and yet no jail time. I guess there are too many state legislatures and judges unaware that driving drunk results in a lot of injuries and deaths.

[+ ArVaGuy]

I know this is about Canadian immigration/customs but as I've heard from friends that live in other countries, entering the US with just about anything on your record is extremely difficult. Maybe Canadian officials feel peer pressure from the US or are tough because the US is so unforgiving. I've been told that DUI convictions in Canada are considered serious, very different than in the US. I saw on the news this morning that in one area of the US, the DA referenced people with 6 or more DUI convictions and yet no jail time. I guess there are too many state legislatures and judges unaware that driving drunk results in a lot of injuries and deaths.

 

 

Canada has a much more serious drinking issue versus the U.S. Canadians tend to abuse alcohol 50 percent above the global average. Hence the tighter restrictions on alcohol such as measured pouring in bars and tough DWI punishment.

 

http://m.huffpost.com/ca/entry/2806184

 

Reciprocity due to US requirements can't fully account for how rude the immigration officials behave at entry. I've traveled to some countries whose citizens are subject to strict US scrutiny. Brasil is notoriously touchy about the US treatment for its people. They have subjected US visitors to additional processing out of spite. However, in my travels there the immigration and customs officers have at least been pleasant and less abrupt than their Canadian counterpart.

[+ dutchmuch]

The aspect of Canadian Customs was just discussed here last month...

 

http://m4m-forum.org/threads/600-for-an-overnight-session-in-montreal-wow.116504/#post-1133513

[+ ArVaGuy]

The aspect of Canadian Customs was just discussed here last month...

 

http://m4m-forum.org/threads/600-for-an-overnight-session-in-montreal-wow.116504/#post-1133513

 

Yeah. And they are STILL assholes.

[Guest]

One time a Canadian immigration officer gave me flack for not declaring my laptop on the customs form. She claimed I could be subject to a duty. I pushed back and said that I was bringing a conference of 1,000 plus delegates to Canada worth several million dollars to the economy and she waived me through with a scowl.

 

I'm not sure I got this straight. You're a US citizen who brought in his laptop with the intention of taking it back to the US, and you were supposed to declare that? I've been all over the world, and I almost always take my laptop with me. I never considered declaring that anywhere. Are you saying that you were supposed to declare that and pay a duty, even though you bought it abroad and were leaving with it?

[+ ArVaGuy]

I'm not sure I got this straight. You're a US citizen who brought in his laptop with the intention of taking it back to the US, and you were supposed to declare that? I've been all over the world, and I almost always take my laptop with me. I never considered declaring that anywhere. Are you saying that you were supposed to declare that and pay a duty, even though you bought it abroad and were leaving with it?

 

Yes, that is exactly the case. I've traveled the world with a laptop, and even a small printer, never had such a circumstance occur before or since. I'm not making this up, The customs agent said the laptop should have been declared and was downright rude. Perhaps it was a screening question to provoke a response. In any event, it solidified to me that Canadian Customs Officers are passive aggressive assholes.

[down_to_business]

Reasons for inadmissibility

Note: This is only a guide. A Canadian immigration officer will decide if you can enter Canada when you apply for a visa, an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), or when you arrive at a port of entry.

 

A person may be denied a visa, or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), refused entry to, or removed from Canada on any of these grounds:

 

• security reasons, including
  
  • espionage
    
  • subversion (attempts to overthrow a government, etc.)
    
  • violence or terrorism, or
    
  • membership in an organization involved in any of these
    

  [*]human or international rights violations, including

  • war crimes
    
  • crimes against humanity
    
  • being a senior official in a government engaged in gross human rights violations or subject to international sanctions
    

  [*]committing a serious crime that would be punishable by a maximum prison term of at least 10 years in CanadaFootnote 1

  [*]having been convicted of a crime, including driving while under the influence of drugs or alcoholFootnote 1

  [*]organized crime, including membership in an organization that takes part in organized criminal activity, people smuggling or money laundering

  [*]health grounds – if their condition is likely to:

  • endanger public health or public safety, or
    
  • cause excessive demands on health or social services (some exceptions existFootnote 2Footnote 3)
    

  [*]financial reasons – if they are unable or unwilling to support themselves and their family members

  [*]misrepresentation, which includes providing false information or withholding information directly related to decisions made under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)

  [*]failure to comply with any provision of IRPAFootnote 4 or

  [*]having an inadmissible family member.

 

 

You can also apply in advance for permission of entry in advance (of sorts) in case you are a "criminal" per above. Many conditions must be met. I researched this when I was going to fly to Europe with an escort from the US who had a shall we say imperfect record and the airplane had a connecting flight in Canada. In the end, I cancelled our flights because I deemed it was not worth the risk- he was unlikely going to be allowed entry to make the connection in Toronto airport, even though we would never even be leaving the airport.

 

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/rehabil.asp

[+ nycman]

Ahhh...the Joys of Canadian Customs Officials.

 

I have several stories....but my favorite....

 

Headed out West to ski in beautiful Banff Canada for 3 weeks (waaaay too long....but I digress)

I was meeting several "fancy" friends so I shipped out my best ski/apres ski gear ahead of time.

There is nothing sexier than travelling with only a passport and a wallet! I fly in on a Friday

afternoon to Calgary and when I get to customs they inform me that my shipments have been

impounded....off-site....and I can only pick them up in person on Monday morning.

 

Ok...not the end of the world. I drive up to Banff. Buy "Canadian Chic" (read: ugly and boring)

ski gear and clothes to get me through the weekend. Monday comes and I drive 2 hours back to

Calgary to get my stuff. After waiting for another 2 hours, I meet a 20 year old Canadian Customs

ASSHOLE (not the good kind).

 

He proceeds to take the all the contents of my shipments and lay them out on the counter.

Piece by piece. Then we go down the line, piece by piece. I have to tell him WHERE

I bought each piece and WHEN I bought each piece and HOW MUCH I paid for each piece.

No joke...he separated the pairs of socks into different pieces and asked about each one.

 

With every answer I gave, he would remind me that if I was off...by even a few cents or days,

that I could be going to Canadian Jail immediately. It was almost comical. Does anyone REALLY

know all that information about their fucking socks???? I was dying to tell him I brought the

right sock in Japan from a Geisha named Baichō (Plum Blossom Butterfly) for 100,000 yen after

she served me Panda dung tea that was strained through it on a cold winter's night in the

middle of a Snowy January and the left one from an ripe smelling Arab in the Istanbul

Bazaar on a hot summer day in August for one Turkish Lira...but I resisted.

 

Needless to say...despite my being polite and earnestly trying to answer his ridiculous questions...

it wasn't going well. Then we got the ski outfits....He became visible shaken when I told him one

outfit was "around $3,000". By the time we reached the 8 ply cashmere Ralph Lauren Purple Label

sweater for "about $1,200"...he was nearly epileptic.

 

When he snapped "who the FUCK would pay that much for a god damned sweater????"

I simply respond "but....FEEL it....it's INCREDIBLE". He was not amused.

 

He became visibly angry that I had spent so much on clothes. Again...funny....until you

realize he's seriously thinking about to having you arrested...for having expensive tastes.

 

Luckly a supervisor saw him starting to lose it and wandered over. He politely asked my

profession. When I told him it became clear that we had a great deal of similar interests

and his "real job" was infact in my same field. We had a few laughs, shared a few war stories

from work, then he took my paperwork. Appologised and stamped it. I was free to go.

 

On the way out I asked my new best friend what started all of this.......

 

The Answer?....an unopened package of Calvin Klein underwear. No joke. The asshole kid

thought I was going to resell them and decided to give me the 3rd degree. When he heard

the prices of the other clothing I was bringing in...he was SURE he had nabbed a MAJOR

kingpin in a Canadian Clothes Smuggling Ring.

 

Oh course, being able to tell Calvin his fucking underwear almost got me hauled off to

Canadian Jail was almost worth it. I haven't worn Calvin Klein....or returned to Canada

since....true story!

[Guest]

By the time we reached the 8 ply cashmere Ralph Lauren Purple Label

sweater for "about $1,200"...he was nearly epileptic.

 

I'm sorry, but anyone who pays $1200 for a sweater deserves to be incarcerated. Ah, I remember the words of one of my financial advisers who said "I see, Mr. Unicorn, that you're a man who likes to spend his money on fancy vacations rather than on snazzy clothes and flashy cars..." . "You got that right," I told him. Although I could have added "And don't forget the hot studs who get me to shoot my big loads! "

[Guest]

• having been convicted of a crime, including driving while under the influence of drugs or alcoholFootnote 1
  

Well, at least that's a bit better than info from another string which said that even being arrested, with no conviction, could be cause for being denied entry. I have a friend--we're both in our mid 50s--who won't consider traveling to Canada because he has a 20 year-old conviction for reckless driving, and he doesn't want to risk being turned away by immigration. The "Application for Rehabilitation" process is so obnoxious as to be a complete joke. These applications can take over a year to process. Make sure you plan far enough in advance of your travel to Canada. Yeah, right!

To apply, you must:

 

• 
  
  
  • show that you meet the criteria,
    
  • have been rehabilitated and
    
  • be highly unlikely to take part in further crimes.
    

Also, at least five years must have passed since:

 

• 
  
  
  • the end of your criminal sentence (this includes probation) and
    
  • the day you committed the act that made you inadmissible.
    

Like anyone is going to do this?

You must submit the following items: √ A fully completed Application for Criminal Rehabilitation [iMM1444]. If you are applying for a Temporary Resident Permit, check the “For Information Only” box in Section A, Part 2 of the form and write “TRP” on the top of the first page. Two passport-sized photographs taken within the last six months. Federal police clearance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Find out more about how to apply for an FBI certificate.  All criminal background checks should be no more than six months old at the time it is received at our office. *If the FBI police certificate you previously submitted to our office was issued more than 24 months ago, you will need to obtain an updated version. State police certificates:  From all states in which you have resided for 6 months or more since age 18  From all states in which you have been charged with an offense  All police certificates should be no more than 6 months old at the time they are received at our office. *If the police certificate you previously submitted to our office was issued more than 24 months ago, you will need to obtain an updated version. All court documents and certificates of disposition for any changes or convictions. These documents must show the judgment imposed and all sentencing details. Documentary evidence showing if and when you completed all terms and conditions of your sentence(s). This includes information related to release from custody, discharge from probation, payment of any fines, costs or restitution, reinstatement of your driver’s license, etc. The documents must clearly demonstrate:  If all of the terms and conditions of your sentence have been completed  The date on which each term and condition of your sentence was completed IMM 5939 E 2 Documentary evidence supporting your statements regarding your rehabilitation. This can include:  Letters of reference from professionals (such as parole officers, doctors, counselors, educators etc.) who have participated in your rehabilitation process, or if these are not available, character references;  Evidence that you have obtained therapy or counseling;  Evidence that you have paid restitution to your victims  Documents demonstrating you have completed a rehabilitation or substance abuse program  Documents demonstrating you have participated in training for life-skills, or social/survival skills.  Certificates showing your completion of educational vocational training programs.  Letters of employment. These letters should provide information about your dates of employment, your position and your work responsibilities.  Evidence of any community involvement or volunteer activities.  Information about your family circumstances or responsibilities. This can include: o A marriage certificate o Divorce orders o Custody agreements or orders (for your children) o Birth certificates (for your children) o Adoption order (for any child you have adopted) o Power of attorney (for an elderly parent or relative) Detailed personal statement describing the circumstances leading to each arrest. Personal statement describing why you consider yourself rehabilitated. Personal statement describing the purpose of your trip to Canada.

[Frequentflier]

Well, at least that's a bit better than info from another string which said that even being arrested, with no conviction, could be cause for being denied entry. I have a friend--we're both in our mid 50s--who won't consider traveling to Canada because he has a 20 year-old conviction for reckless driving, and he doesn't want to risk being turned away by immigration. The "Application for Rehabilitation" process is so obnoxious as to be a complete joke. These applications can take over a year to process. Make sure you plan far enough in advance of your travel to Canada. Yeah, right!

To apply, you must:

 

• 
  
  
  • show that you meet the criteria,
    
  • have been rehabilitated and
    
  • be highly unlikely to take part in further crimes.
    

Also, at least five years must have passed since:

 

• 
  
  
  • the end of your criminal sentence (this includes probation) and
    
  • the day you committed the act that made you inadmissible.
    

Like anyone is going to do this?

You must submit the following items: √ A fully completed Application for Criminal Rehabilitation [iMM1444]. If you are applying for a Temporary Resident Permit, check the “For Information Only” box in Section A, Part 2 of the form and write “TRP” on the top of the first page. Two passport-sized photographs taken within the last six months. Federal police clearance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Find out more about how to apply for an FBI certificate.  All criminal background checks should be no more than six months old at the time it is received at our office. *If the FBI police certificate you previously submitted to our office was issued more than 24 months ago, you will need to obtain an updated version. State police certificates:  From all states in which you have resided for 6 months or more since age 18  From all states in which you have been charged with an offense  All police certificates should be no more than 6 months old at the time they are received at our office. *If the police certificate you previously submitted to our office was issued more than 24 months ago, you will need to obtain an updated version. All court documents and certificates of disposition for any changes or convictions. These documents must show the judgment imposed and all sentencing details. Documentary evidence showing if and when you completed all terms and conditions of your sentence(s). This includes information related to release from custody, discharge from probation, payment of any fines, costs or restitution, reinstatement of your driver’s license, etc. The documents must clearly demonstrate:  If all of the terms and conditions of your sentence have been completed  The date on which each term and condition of your sentence was completed IMM 5939 E 2 Documentary evidence supporting your statements regarding your rehabilitation. This can include:  Letters of reference from professionals (such as parole officers, doctors, counselors, educators etc.) who have participated in your rehabilitation process, or if these are not available, character references;  Evidence that you have obtained therapy or counseling;  Evidence that you have paid restitution to your victims  Documents demonstrating you have completed a rehabilitation or substance abuse program  Documents demonstrating you have participated in training for life-skills, or social/survival skills.  Certificates showing your completion of educational vocational training programs.  Letters of employment. These letters should provide information about your dates of employment, your position and your work responsibilities.  Evidence of any community involvement or volunteer activities.  Information about your family circumstances or responsibilities. This can include: o A marriage certificate o Divorce orders o Custody agreements or orders (for your children) o Birth certificates (for your children) o Adoption order (for any child you have adopted) o Power of attorney (for an elderly parent or relative) Detailed personal statement describing the circumstances leading to each arrest. Personal statement describing why you consider yourself rehabilitated. Personal statement describing the purpose of your trip to Canada.

 

And the US doesn't even offer this process.