DUI and crossing the Canadian border

[elmuchoprez]

What is the name of your state?
Michigan

I recently heard that having a DUI or OWI on your record automatically disqualifies you from being able to legally enter Canada. I'm talking about just normal citizen border crossing (as I'm sure some special arrangement could be made under the right circumstances... I mean, the president somehow does it, right?).

Is anyone familiar with this? Does a DUI result essentially in a ban from Canada for life?

 

[seniorjudge]

What is the name of your state?
Michigan

I recently heard that having a DUI or OWI on your record automatically disqualifies you from being able to legally enter Canada. I'm talking about just normal citizen border crossing (as I'm sure some special arrangement could be made under the right circumstances... I mean, the president somehow does it, right?).

Is anyone familiar with this? Does a DUI result essentially in a ban from Canada for life?

Do you think Canada has a computer with every drunk driving conviction in the world sitting at every immigration station?

 

[Ohiogal]

It only disqualifies you if you are convicted of a DUI in El Salvador (and I thought there was a few other countries but I cannot find backup on that information) -- so if you are convicted in El Salvador you won't be going to Canada legally.

 

[seniorjudge]

It only disqualifies you if you are convicted of a DUI in El Salvador (and I thought there was a few other countries but I cannot find backup on that information) -- so if you are convicted in El Salvador you won't be going to Canada legally.

That is true. I had forgotten about that El Salvador thingie.

Also, if you endanger an iguana while drunk driving in El Salvador, it is a felony.

 

[Ohiogal]

That is true. I had forgotten about that El Salvador thingie.

Also, if you endanger an iguana while drunk driving in El Salvador, it is a felony.

How do they further punish though for the iguana? I mean really. There is no going back if you are convicted of DUI in El Salvador. Does Iggy the Iguana get to participate in the punishment somehow?

 

[seniorjudge]

...

Does Iggy the Iguana get to participate in the punishment somehow?

....

Only under the famous (or maybe I should say infamous) Padré Pío Exception, which you, of course, are quite familiar with.

 

[BigMistakeFl]

BigMistakeFl

You can, however, kill all the Gila Monsters you care to.

 

[Ohiogal]

Only under the famous (or maybe I should say infamous) Padré Pío Exception, which you, of course, are quite familiar with.

But of course I am familiar with it.
Wonder if OP understands why El Salvador matters.

 

[zigfeld]

That is true. I had forgotten about that El Salvador thingie.

Also, if you endanger an iguana while drunk driving in El Salvador, it is a felony.

It's also a federal offense, felony, if you hit a Coconut Crab with your vehicle, whether you are drunk or not, in Palmyra and Mauritius. Not that is has anything to do with iguanas, drinking/driving, or this thread!

 

[seniorjudge]

But of course I am familiar with it.
Wonder if OP understands why El Salvador matters.

I give up.

Why does El Salvador matter?

 

[lookingforhelp1]

Here is information about DUI and entering Canada

http://www.cowanlawfirm.com/canada.htm

http://www.1800duilaws.com/article/travel_to_canada.asp

Good luck

 

[Ohiogal]

I give up.

Why does El Salvador matter?

The punishment for conviction of drunk driving in El Salvador is execution by firing squad. So if you have a DUI conviction from there, you are dead and cannot be legally traveling anywhere. As such if you are trying to enter Canada with that type of background you are probably considered a wanted person and Canada most probably will not let you in because of it. Hence DUI conviction in El Salvador sharply limits your travel choices.

 

[SillyPuddy]

At least as it pertains to flying in to Canada, Customs will send you to immigration. There, they will ask you if you've ever been arrested and what state it was in. Then they'll run a background check. Depending on how recent the DUI is, you can get sent back home.

Assuming the laws have not changed in the past 3 years:

5 years after your conviction, you can apply with Canadian Consulate for reinstatement which, if approved, will allow you to enter Canada without a VISA. If you need to go Canada before 5 years, you'll most likely have to get temporary VISA such as a company work VISA, which only lasts for the amount of time you're there for business. You may or may not get it.

 

[ceara19]

It only disqualifies you if you are convicted of a DUI in El Salvador (and I thought there was a few other countries but I cannot find backup on that information) -- so if you are convicted in El Salvador you won't be going to Canada legally.

Bulgaria executes drivers convicted for a SECOND offense. Japan punishes the PASSENGER if they are riding with someone they believe to be drunk. In Malaysia, where apparently only men are allowed to drive, driving drunk not only lands the offender in jail, but if they are married their wife is thrown in with him! And, my personal favorite, Texas, where TABC officers arrest people for DUI while they are still inside the bar and no where near a car. However, I believe TABC has recently abandoned this program. I guess the fact that they were completely disregarding the constitution finally caught up with them.

 

[Ohiogal]

Bulgaria executes drivers convicted for a SECOND offense. Japan punishes the PASSENGER if they are riding with someone they believe to be drunk. In Malaysia, where apparently only men are allowed to drive, driving drunk not only lands the offender in jail, but if they are married their wife is thrown in with him! And, my personal favorite, Texas, where TABC officers arrest people for DUI while they are still inside the bar and no where near a car. However, I believe TABC has recently abandoned this program. I guess the fact that they were completely disregarding the constitution finally caught up with them.

Thanks C! I knew that info existed but since I couldn't find it again I didn't want to post it.