Yes, the general rule is that being convicted of impaired driving you will be found criminally inadmissible to Canada as Canada views impaired driving (DUI) as a crime and anyone convicted of an offence or act abroad that is deemed a crime in Canada will be criminally inadmissible to Canada. It is how the offence is viewed in Canada that matters even if the conviction for impaired driving is not viewed as crime in the country where it occurred. This rule will apply for visitors, workers, students or anyone coming to settle in Canada. However, an individual may have some solutions. One might qualify for deemed rehabilitation of your criminal matter or one could apply to Canadian immigration for criminal rehabilitation in the case of serious criminality and if that doesn’t work then one can also apply for a Temporary Resident Permit to enter Canada at the discretion of a visa officer on the basis that the applicant has compelling reasons to enter Canada.

Deemed Rehabilitation:

If it is minor crime and 10 years have past since the completion of the sentence then you maybe deemed rehabilitated by Canadian immigration.

Criminal Rehabilitation

If it is a serious criminal conviction and five years have past since the completion of the sentence one may apply to Canadian Immigration for a declaration that they have been rehabilitated and can enter Canada.

If 5 years has not passed since the completion of the sentence then an applicant can apply for a Temporary Resident Permit which can be issued at the discretion of an immigration officer. The permit is valid for up to three years. The fee for a Temporary Resident Permit is $200.00 Cdn.

Charge(s)

If you have an outstanding criminal charge(s) that are very serious and would be treated as serious crimes in Canada then this can also preclude you from visiting, studying or immigrating to Canada. If you have prior or pending charges and or criminal convictions in the past, you may contact my office here for an assessment of the impact of your criminal history may have on you being able to enter Canada to study, work, visit or emigrate.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced that effective July 1, 2011 they would only accept 700 Federal Investor Category Immigrants for the upcoming year and amazingly it has been reported that this quota has already been reached and within 1 hour.

If you have a high net worth and business experience there are still Provincial Immigration programs (Provincial Nominee Immigration to Canada) in effect that can lead to immigration to Canada as business person. Please click here and complete my free online business assessment form.

Effective July 1, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has announced changes to the Canadian Skilled Worker Immigration Program such that the 29 eligible occupations for filing a skilled worker application without a prior work permit in Canada will be reduced from a quota of 20,000 to a quota of 10,000 (500 per each of 29 eligible occupations) for the coming year. This cap rate will not apply for Applicants who have a validated job offer from a Canadian employer. It is advisable for applicants to file as soon as possible as the occupation quota may fill up very quickly resulting in a bar to making an application. Contact my office here if you wish for me to help you with your skilled worker application.

CIC has also stopped, effective July 1, 2011, the Federal Immigration Entrepreneur Program from accepting any applications at this time. The Investor Program will have a quota of of 700 investor applications for the proceeding 12 months.

If you wish to submit a business application there other options other than the Federal Immigration Program. Many Provinces in Canada offer their own Business Immigration Programs through Provincial Nominee Programs. Please complete my business assessment form here in order to determine whether you may qualify for a Provincial Business Immigration Program.

Effective immediately the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) will no longer be accepting new applications in the Family Stream and the US Visa Holder Category. The change is temporary until further notice.