Entering Canada with an Oklahoma DUI

Do you regularly travel or plan to travel to Canada for work or on vacation? You need to know that an arrest for DUI can cause you to be ineligible to enter that country for five years.

Canadian law classifies a DUI as a crime of violence, which is a serious matter in that country. And because Canadian border patrol has access to the FBI’s criminal database, there is no flying under the radar if you are trying to visit our neighbors to the north and have a DUI arrest, conviction or even a not guilty verdict on your record.

When Can You Travel Again?

In order to be eligible to enter Canada after a DUI conviction, you must wait five years from the time your sentencing was complete. So, if your sentence included jail time, you must wait five years from the day you left jail. If your sentence was only a fine, you must wait five years from the date the fine was paid.

In some instances, you may be able to qualify for a waiver that will forego this five-year waiting period. Known as a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), this will allow you to stay for a specific period of time for a specific and valid reason. However, this can be a lengthy process and not everyone who applies will qualify.

 Helping You Get Back on the Road

At the Edge Law Firm, we have experience in helping our clients regain entry to Canada through the use of a TRP. If you need our help, please give us a call today. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can work to find a resolution for you.

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