What is a Crime of Moral Turpitude?
If you have a criminal record, U.S. Customs will consult a List of Crimes of Moral Turpitude when deciding whether to permit you entry across the border. This list specifies convictions for which an person would be ineligible to enter the United States. It includes more serious convictions such as murder, rape and kidnapping, but also less serious crimes such as blackmail, fraud, or tax evasion. If you are convicted of a crime that is included on the List of Crimes of Moral Turpitude, you will not be given permission to enter the United States, and to do so without informing Customs officers of your convictions would be illegal. In order to enter the United States legally, you must obtain a U.S. Entry Waiver.
Can I cross the U.S. border if I have a pardon?
This is a complex question, and requires some background information. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) controls all federal criminal databases in Canada and shares this information with the United States government, as well as Interpol. If you have already been denied entry at the U.S. border because of your criminal conviction, a pardon will allow not guarantee you entry. This is because a pardon removes and seals all evidence of a criminal record from Canadian databases, but once this information is held by the U.S. government or Interpol, it will stay there permanently. Your legal entry into the United States will depend both on the type criminal conviction you have, as whether U.S. Customs has knowledge of it. For more information on this complicated situation, please call our consultants toll free at 1-800-298-5520 for an in depth analysis of your situation
How does U.S. Customs know about my criminal record?
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is in charge of all federal criminal databases within Canada. As part of an information exchange, the RCMP provides information on criminal activities and convictions to multiple government agencies throughout the U.S. and also the world. When U.S. Customs searches your personal information, they can see if you have a criminal record, and depending on the type of conviction, they may deny you entry. Once U.S. Customs knows about your criminal record, even a pardon will not erase it from their databases. In this situation it is advised to obtain both a pardon and a U.S. Entry Waiver. For more information on this situation and how to resolve it, please contact our consultant’s toll free at 1-800-298-5520.
What happens if I enter the U.S. with a criminal record?
Depending on your criminal conviction, you may be legally entitled to enter the United States. However, if you have a conviction for a Crime of Moral Turpitude and you neglect to inform U.S. Customs, you will be entering illegally. In this situation, it is best to get a U.S. Entry Waiver or pardon as soon as possible. You will need to speak with one of our experienced consultants immediately in order to decide the best course of action for you to take. Please call us at 1-800-298-5520.
What is a U.S. Entry Waiver?
A U.S. Entry Waiver is a government document granted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services. It will allow individuals with certain criminal convictions to legally enter the United States (whether on business or pleasure) for a specified time period.
I just need to make a connecting flight in the U.S. Do I still need a waiver?
A U.S. Entry Waiver is required for individuals with certain convictions to enter the U.S., whether it is for work, holiday, or even to make a connecting flight. If you are discovered to have a serious criminal conviction by U.S. Customs at any point during your travels on American land, water or air, you will be required to leave the United States immediately. If you have a connecting flight to make through the United States and you have a criminal record, it is extremely important that you have a U.S. Entry waiver to ensure your travels are not disrupted.
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