If foreign cannabis convictions are comparable to Canadian cannabis offenses, it’s crucial to assess their impact. Cannabis possession should not pose a problem, even if you have been convicted of an action that is no longer a crime in Canada. Overcoming foreign cannabis convictions is possible with the help of these options.
Possession of cannabis-related charges or convictions abroad may lead to an individual’s inadmissibility to Canada. The majority of them are:
- Possessing more than 30 grams of dried cannabis (or equivalents).
- Underage drinking and driving (DUI) associated with cannabis.
- It can result in up to ten years in prison if marijuana is distributed or sold illicitly (a serious crime).
Overcoming foreign cannabis convictions – Available options
If you intend to visit Canada, you can do one of three things to overcome your criminal inadmissibility:
- Application for Temporary Resident Permit
- The Criminal Rehabilitation Letter must be submitted
- Opinion letter from a lawyer
Temporary Resident Permit
People who are criminally ineligible can apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), which allows them to enter Canada temporarily. TRPs may only be used by visitors with a legitimate reason to enter Canada, such as for business or in an emergency. Their accession must have more advantages than disadvantages for Canadian society.
For TRP applications, the duration can vary based on the reasons for entrance. The application for a TRP does not require the completion of a felony sentence. Depending on the TRP, an individual may be able to enter Canada a single time or re-enter Canada multiple times. An individual having a TRP may submit an application to extend the permit once they are in Canada.
Criminal Rehabilitation Application
You can submit a criminal rehabilitation application to the Canadian government as part of your immigration process, which will erase your prior criminal record completely. Contrary to TRPs, criminal rehabilitation is a one-time solution that doesn’t need to be renewed every year. Furthermore, it can remove an individual’s inadmissibility status and they don’t need a TRP to enter Canada if their application is approved.
Criminal rehabilitation is only available to those who meet the following requirements:
- The act must be equivalent to an offense under the Criminal Code of Canada committed outside of Canada.
- The deed has to be done, either intentionally or by acceptance.
- Five years must be run out before the punishment is judged finished. This includes jail time, fines, community service, and probation.
Legal Opinion Letter
Legal opinion letters will be developed by Canadian immigration lawyers, which include information about marijuana convictions and charges, as well as the lawyer’s legal analysis of the situation. Also, Canadian law would be specified and substitute offenses that would not prevent entry to the country would be offered in the letter.