Application Checklist for Criminal Rehabilitation
Criminal Rehabilitation is a means of permanently clearing a criminal record, and is available if a minimum of five years have elapsed since the completion of the offender’s sentence(s).
1 – Meeting the criteria
Before committing to putting together an application, it is essential that the applicant ensures that they meet all of the criteria. The offense or offenses must have been committed outside of Canada, however, the level of their severity is only relevant and evaluated under Canadian law. Furthermore, at least five years must have passed since the completion of all sentencing; this includes payment of fines, completion of community service and probation, etc. A detail such as an unpaid fine, no matter how small, will hinder the success of your application; it is thus crucial to ensure that all sentences have been fully finalized.
2 – Filling out the required paperwork
An important part of the application for CR is including proof of the processing fee of $200 CAD, the Use of a Representative form, two passport-size photos, and either a passport photocopy, birth certificate, or driver’s license.
3 – Information regarding the offenses
In applying for Criminal Rehabilitation, the applicant must obtain and consequently provide all pertinent information about their offense(s) for the assessment of the immigration agent or officer. This includes court documentation, incident police reports, and criminal history records. A conversion of the US or international statutes to the Canadian Criminal Code are additionally useful.
4 – Personal statement and letters of reference
It is essential that the applicant provides a superb personal statement that explains to what extent they have changed since the time of their offense, and convincing proof of why there is no chance of them re-offending. Similarly, the applicant must provide three letters of reference from non-family members that highlight their character, personal and professional ties, and community involvement.
5 – Obtaining copies of police reports
Before completing the application, the applicant must include their FBI criminal history background check, as well as the one from their state of residence.
Each month, FWCanada helps individuals with a number of different immigration concerns, including those who are criminally inadmissible and seeking to apply for Criminal Rehabilitation. For more information on our services and areas of expertise, contact us here!
FWCanada is a Montreal-based immigration law firm that provides professional legal services on Canadian immigration. For more tips and updates on Canadian immigration follow FWCanada on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.
