How to immigrate to Canada?

How can I immigrate to Canada with an American criminal record?

• I would like to immigrate to Canada from the U.S., but unfortunately I have a criminal record in the U.S., oddly enough, this is enough reason for the Canadian immigration authorities to stop me at the border. My record is six pages long so I do not think I can just babbel my way around. But what exactly can I do? It seems to me unfair and inappropriate to deny me Canadian immigration based on what I have done abroad? I have not committed any offense in Canada? How is this possible? This has happened only since 2001, before that year I could easily cross the border. But since then, I was refused 4x (2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006). Canadian officials thought at the time that I was still on Probation, but that was already well past. One of them recommended to me contacting the U.S. courts to write a letter for me stating that I no longer have outstanding lawsuits. But I have had cases by at least 9 different courts across the country so that is not so easy to do. And besides I do not know if they will write such letters. I think not. So what should I do to still get in Canada? Anyone have any experience with this? At the least I would like to get in with a tourist visa, and from there on work on immigration. BTW, I can't get any work in the US for this same reason, I actually have no hope for a good life in the US. Hence the desire to immigrate.

• Answer:

  You can't. If the offense(s) are sufficient to for border services to prevent entry into Canada, any immigration application will be denied for the same grounds. As part of any immigration or visa application, they need to perform a background check in your home country. Canadian immigration officers have access to all Canadian criminal records, plus those in the United States, Japan, EU, Australia, etc. If these are relatively minor offenses, you may apply to the Canadian embassy for "rehabilitation". You send in an application, pay several hundred dollars, and if you then have a clean record for five years after the application, one of your minor offenses is marked as "rehabilitated". If you have nine offenses the process will take 45 years. Chances are any immigration official seeing the request (and the other eight offenses) would merely deny the request. In addition, in order to apply for permanent residency (baring marrying a Canadian, having $350k to invest in a company, or being a famous artist or athlete, etc.) or to obtain a work visa... you need a college degree and a job offer from a Canada company in a specific field before you can even apply. Canadian companies are not permitted to hire foreign workers except in professions where there is a shortage of Canadians workers. Even those with degrees in in-demand professions can wait years for a job offer. With a criminal record, it's pretty much impossible. And of course CIC will reject your application when they do the background check on you anyway. You also need medical exams, proof of financial statements, language testing, etc. You can certainly check border services web-site for criminal inadmissibility into Canada or CICs requirements for permanent residency, work permit, or travel visa applications. You can also hire an immigration lawyer to explain it to you if you don't like the cold, hard facts on their web-sites. Entering illegally is both criminal and highly unlikely to work. Unlike the United States, it is almost impossible to survive in Canada without proper paperwork. Employers don't hire for cash and you need a valid SIN or work visa number when hired. You can't get a driver's license, open a bank account, get a credit card, get health insurance, etc. without ID. Even renting an apartment will typically require ID and a credit check. "It seems to me unfair and inappropriate to deny me Canadian immigration based on what I have done abroad?" Fortunately, Canadians get to decide who the let into their country. Over 250,000 people legally immigrated to Canada last year and millions of others applied. All of them managed to not commit any crimes in their lives. "I can easily emigrate to Western Europe, they dont have such awe for the US." Unless you have an EU passport, I would recommend you read over their laws in criminal inadmissibility. The US forwards its criminal records to Interpol exactly the same way as it does to Canada. If they noticed your criminal record as the Canadian border, they'll notice it exactly the same way when you go through immigration in Germany, Britain, or Spain.