Immigration lawyer in Edmonton

Some people aren’t allowed to come to Canada. They’re “inadmissible” under Canada’s immigration law.

A Canadian immigration officer will decide if you can enter Canada when you:

• Apply for a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or
• When you arrive at a port of entry.
• Normally, if you’re inadmissible to Canada, you won’t be allowed to enter the country. If you have a valid reason to travel to Canada that is justified in the circumstances, we may issue you a temporary resident permit.
• If you’ve committed or been convicted of a crime, you have a few options to overcome your criminal inadmissibility.

You could be found inadmissible for a number of reasons, such as:

• Security reasons, including
  • Espionage
  • Subversion (attempts to overthrow a government, etc.)
  • Violence or terrorism
  • Membership in an organization involved in any of these
• Human or international rights violations, including
  • War crimes
  • Crimes against humanity
  • Being a senior official in a government engaged in gross human rights violations or subject to international sanctions
• Committing a crime, including driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Organized crime, including membership in an organization that takes part in organized criminal activity, people smuggling, or money laundering
• Medical reasons – this includes medical conditions that:
  • Endanger public health
  • Endanger public safety or
  • Causes excessive demand on health or social services (some applicants are exempt)
• Financial reasons – if you’re unable or unwilling to support yourself and your family members
• Misrepresentation, which includes providing false information or withholding information directly related to decisions made under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
• Failure to comply with any provision of IRPA or
• Having an inadmissible family member.

Overcome criminal convictions

Depending on the crime, how long ago it was, and how you have behaved since, you may still be allowed to come to Canada, if you:

• Convince an immigration officer that you meet the legal terms to be deemed rehabilitated, or
• applied for rehabilitation and were approved, or
• Were granted a record suspension or
• Have a temporary resident permit.