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Traveling to Canada?

I really think it depends on the agent you get at the border and what kind of a day they are having.

There are some strict rules on all kinds of things and they can and will enforce them if they want, but at times they dont make much of an issue with things.

I had a coworker that went and was turned away because of a DWI so I know they will do it. But I have heard of others having no problems too.

I have never had any problem getting in or out of Canada, But others have had different experiences. Its been a few years since I went now but hope to go up there this summer.
 
I don't know anything about OWI but I went through a lot of trouble to drive into Canada near Vancouver last summer with my dogs regarding getting proof of their vaccination status and they never even checked anything for my dogs.

I don't know what the current rule is for covid status but last summer it would have been a foolish thing to attempt to travel to Canada without covid vaccine proof. Could be totally different now.

It was also pretty much mandatory to have the ArriveCan app set up in advance for coming and going by car.
 
charlie_B said:
That changed in 2018. link from above: https://www.canadaduientrylaw.com/
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It's still possible but it's questionable:

"If an offense occurred before December 18th, 2018 (when the law changed) and it has been more than ten years, it may be possible to claim "grandfathered" Deemed Rehabilitation but it is imperative to consult with a Canadian immigration lawyer to determine your eligibility."

It wasn't worth it to us to hire a Canadian immigration lawyer.
 
HFCS said:
I don't know anything about OWI but I went through a lot of trouble to drive into Canada near Vancouver last summer with my dogs regarding getting proof of their vaccination status and they never even checked anything for my dogs.

I don't know what the current rule is for covid status but last summer it would have been a foolish thing to attempt to travel to Canada without vaccine proof. Could be totally different now.

It was also pretty much mandatory to have the ArriveCan app set up in advance for coming and going by car.
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Agreed, vaccination status is a big deal for human and pets. ArriveCan is a great app.
 
How would Canada even know? Plenty of US jurisdictions can't figure this out.

I do remember getting hassled at the border going to a farm show, for work, in Canada back in the 90's . They picked our minivan to search and became very concerned about the value of the promo items (caps, pamphlets, etc.) that we didn't declare. They separated us, by sex, and I was waiting to be violated in a strip search. They were probably just bored. We zoomed through customs the other way, though, loaded up with "hemp candy".
 
clone4lyfe said:
My wife is planning a trip to Vancouver this summer. She ran across some information online or in a podcast somewhere that said you have to apply for some sort of clearance to get into Canada if you have had an OWI before. I was young and stupid once and received an OWI about 15 years ago. She said from what she's found there's no real time limit on how long they require you to apply from time you received one. Does anybody have experience with this that can give me some information? She mentioned possibly needing a lawyer to help me apply, so names of any lawyers in Central Iowa that handle this sort of thing would be much appreciated. Feel free to just PM me if you don't want the crowd to know you have had to deal with this before.
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Your going to have to pay the "stupidity tax"
We went back in 2009 and one of the uncles had assault charges from the 70s. He had to pay $1000 to cross the border.
 
HFCS said:
I don't know anything about OWI but I went through a lot of trouble to drive into Canada near Vancouver last summer with my dogs regarding getting proof of their vaccination status and they never even checked anything for my dogs.

I don't know what the current rule is for covid status but last summer it would have been a foolish thing to attempt to travel to Canada without covid vaccine proof. Could be totally different now.

It was also pretty much mandatory to have the ArriveCan app set up in advance for coming and going by car.
Click to expand...

I drove across the border in December to catch a flight from Vancouver to Toronto for a 2 day meeting and they weren't asking for anything vaccine related then.

Maybe it was because I went across at 5 AM on a Monday and I was the only car on the road, but I spent all of 90 seconds talking to the agent at the border. Basically asked where I was going, how long I was going to be there, if I had anything to declare, any weapons in the car, and for me to roll down the back windows in my truck.
 
Sousaclone said:
I drove across the border in December to catch a flight from Vancouver to Toronto for a 2 day meeting and they weren't asking for anything vaccine related then.

Maybe it was because I went across at 5 AM on a Monday and I was the only car on the road, but I spent all of 90 seconds talking to the agent at the border. Basically asked where I was going, how long I was going to be there, if I had anything to declare, any weapons in the car, and for me to roll down the back windows in my truck.
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I was there back in August so not surprised if it’s understandably more relaxed now…not trying to cave the thing but I’d still think it’s worth getting some vaccine history just in case, what a pain it would be to get rejected.

The Americans were the biggest hassle for me bringing some apples back in my camping gear even though I bought the apples in Washington and they had Washington stickers on them even.
 
I deal with this at work all the time. We absolutely don’t send people with OWI’s to Canada, even if they are from 10 years ago. You might slip through the cracks one time but they are just as likely to turn you away the next.

If you want to be safe find a Canadian immigration attorney. They will help you through the process to prove that you’ve been “rehabilitated” and are safe to enter. It’s not a fast or easy process though.
 
Vaccine requirements have been dropped, I went to Toronto in December and didn'thave to show anything. Enter with an owi at your own risk. I traveled with a coworker and they sent him back the 3rd time we went, no problems the first two times.

Australia though, they pulled a ticket I got in 2001 or 2002 for being on "closed property ". This was in 2018! Hell, US customs didn't even find that when I got Global Entry. I forgot about it until the Australian customs guy started asking about a court appearance in Omaha.
 
This is only from personal experience. I do not know the letter of the law. I had an OWI 30 years ago. My company's home office is in Vancouver and pre-covid traveled there dozens of times (office is 80% remote now). I never got questioned once.
 
No OWI but every time I go to Canada, I get grilled. Ferry, Car, Plane or anything. I am on some **** list or something.

They took the wheels off the car we drove into from Seattle to Vancouver.

In Montreal I was taken into another room and questioned by the Canadian State Police.

Toronto was the same way and they were mad about my 12 hour layover and me deciding to go into the city.

The ferry across Lake Erie also got stopped and all my bags were searched.

I'll keep going to Canada but they certainly make it odd for a seemingly random US citizen to come on in.
 
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ISUCyclones2015 said:
No OWI but every time I go to Canada, I get grilled. Ferry, Car, Plane or anything. I am on some **** list or something.

They took the wheels off the car we drove into from Seattle to Vancouver.

In Montreal I was taken into another room and questioned by the Canadian State Police.

Toronto was the same way and they were mad about my 12 hour layover and me deciding to go into the city.

The ferry across Lake Erie also got stopped and all my bags were searched.

I'll keep going to Canada but they certainly make it odd for a seemingly random US citizen to come on in.
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It does sound like you're on a list somewhere. When they take the wheels off do they put them back on or do you have to do that yourself?
 
FallOf81 said:
Do you know why Canadians prefer sex dog style?
So they can both watch the hockey game.
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p18997_i_v9_aa.jpg
 
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ISUCyclones2015 said:
No OWI but every time I go to Canada, I get grilled. Ferry, Car, Plane or anything. I am on some **** list or something.

They took the wheels off the car we drove into from Seattle to Vancouver.

In Montreal I was taken into another room and questioned by the Canadian State Police.

Toronto was the same way and they were mad about my 12 hour layover and me deciding to go into the city.

The ferry across Lake Erie also got stopped and all my bags were searched.

I'll keep going to Canada but they certainly make it odd for a seemingly random US citizen to come on in.
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It might be easier if you state that you are travelling for leisure than if you are travelling for business. Maybe these were leisure trips.
 
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