Tips to Overcome your Criminal Record and Attend a Concert in Canada

This Summer, Canada is planning to host a myriad of music festivals and concerts. And, you may be able to attend if you have a criminal record but you need to plan your visit. Canada has finally re-opened its borders and its economy. Now the fully-vaccinated tourists can visit the country and enjoy the sights and sounds of Canada. One of the major reasons tourists visit the country during the summer season is to attend various concerts and music festivals.

Before you start planning your trip to Canada, one has to be mindful of the criminal record, even if it is a minor offense. The Canadian border officials turn away the visitors based on their criminal records. Luckily, Canadian law offers flexibility to foreign nationals with a criminal record to present compelling evidence that the traveler won’t cause any threat to the Canadian public. Here’s the list of three courses of action one can stand eligible for to visit Canada this summer.

Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs)

A temporary resident permit is a temporary option and is usually valid for the number of days of the applicant’s visit to the country. While submitting your TRP application, one needs to specify the reason for the visit. The Canadian consulate or border official thoroughly reviews the application and considers whether the benefits of your visit compensate for the potential risks to Canadian society. They will also consider the number and nature of offenses you have committed. U.S citizens or permanent residents can submit the TRP application at a Canadian port of entry. The application will be processed immediately and the Canadian border officer will decide whether to let you enter Canada or not for the duration of your trip.

Criminal Rehabilitation

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If it is in case, you have served a sentence and it has been more than 5 to 10 years then you could be eligible to apply for criminal rehabilitation.  If your application gets approved, you will have a clean slate to enter the country. One will not face challenges in the future to visit Canada again as long as they do not commit any other crime. If anyone is looking to visit Canada in the short run but is also required to apply for criminal rehabilitation, then they must apply for TRP too. Criminal rehabilitation application takes much longer to process and on the other hand, TRP is a quick process.

Legal Opinion Letter

The third option is to go for a Legal Opinion Letter from a Canadian attorney. In this, a lawyer will write a detailed letter explaining to the Canadian border officials why you should be allowed to enter Canada. This option works well for people who are facing a pending charge but have not been convicted.