DUI and crossing borders in Canada and Ireland (from the U.S.)
Jul 17th, 2012, 12:20 PM
#21
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I have answers on both of these issues as I have a DUI, and had to research these issues for my travels. First off - Canada. Even if it was twenty years ago, Canada has a rehabilition form, it has to be five years since the sentance. You must fill this out and pay a fee to regain the ability to enter the country. If you do not do this it is not going to happen.
I am going to Ireland in March 2013 so I contacted the Irish Embassy in Washington. If you call them know they they will not tell you anything and will refer you to Ireland to speak to Immigration there. When I called Ireland to ask I was told, they do not consider this a major crime, and that I would be allowed admittance to the country providing I had all nessacary documents (passport bank statements etc). One last thing not all DUI's are felonies depending on your state. Some are a misdemeanor, which is a less serious charge, and if I were you I would determine which catagory your DUI falls into. It does make a difference. If you would like to call Irish Immigration yourself the number is 011-353-16664968. The number to the Embassy in Washington is 202-462-3939
I am going to Ireland in March 2013 so I contacted the Irish Embassy in Washington. If you call them know they they will not tell you anything and will refer you to Ireland to speak to Immigration there. When I called Ireland to ask I was told, they do not consider this a major crime, and that I would be allowed admittance to the country providing I had all nessacary documents (passport bank statements etc). One last thing not all DUI's are felonies depending on your state. Some are a misdemeanor, which is a less serious charge, and if I were you I would determine which catagory your DUI falls into. It does make a difference. If you would like to call Irish Immigration yourself the number is 011-353-16664968. The number to the Embassy in Washington is 202-462-3939
Jul 17th, 2012, 01:58 PM
#22
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Canada seems to be getting a little strange with regard to visitors. Turning people away due to a past DUI conviction seems extreme. And for Americans visiting on business, they now require a letter of invitation from whoever you are visiting and a letter from your employer stating that you are employed by them, they will support you while in Canada, and they expect you back. This is a requirement even for people attending professional conferences in Canada.
I am not sure what the deal is, but Canada seems to really be tightening up.
I am not sure what the deal is, but Canada seems to really be tightening up.
Jul 17th, 2012, 04:00 PM
#24
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Well actually that gate swings both ways. My brother was caught with a joint in his vehicle back in the late '70s entering the U.S. and it took years of red tape, lawyers, etc before he was allowed back into the States at all and it was only in the last few years that he finally received an absolute clearance on that.
There are also lots of problems with people going to the U.S. from here for work purposes.
I think after 9/11 when the U.S. gov't beefed up the borders the Canadian gov't was pressured by the U.S. to follow suit. So really it all started on the U.S. side of the border.
I live ten minutes away from the U.S. border and when I cross over now (infrequently) it is a real to-do. The equipment they have installed is amazing, listening devices, cameras taking your picture as you wait in the line-up, the grilling and weird questions from the people in the booth, it makes for a very off-putting experience. Plus they have border guards roaming around with sniffer dogs, others standing around amongst the lined up cars in their dark glasses trying to intimidate everyone. You are not allowed to use your cell phone from inside the building if you have to go in there for some reason, or use it even in the parking lot. We had to go inside last summer with our Australian visitors for a one day visa for them and I got yelled at for answering my phone inside the building and then interrogated out by my car because I was attempting to return the call I couldn't take inside.
So if you want to talk about strange with regard to visitors you might want to take a look at your own border situation.
There are also lots of problems with people going to the U.S. from here for work purposes.
I think after 9/11 when the U.S. gov't beefed up the borders the Canadian gov't was pressured by the U.S. to follow suit. So really it all started on the U.S. side of the border.
I live ten minutes away from the U.S. border and when I cross over now (infrequently) it is a real to-do. The equipment they have installed is amazing, listening devices, cameras taking your picture as you wait in the line-up, the grilling and weird questions from the people in the booth, it makes for a very off-putting experience. Plus they have border guards roaming around with sniffer dogs, others standing around amongst the lined up cars in their dark glasses trying to intimidate everyone. You are not allowed to use your cell phone from inside the building if you have to go in there for some reason, or use it even in the parking lot. We had to go inside last summer with our Australian visitors for a one day visa for them and I got yelled at for answering my phone inside the building and then interrogated out by my car because I was attempting to return the call I couldn't take inside.
So if you want to talk about strange with regard to visitors you might want to take a look at your own border situation.
