Found article: Denied entry to the U.S.? Don’t panic

Tom Wilson of the Globe & Mail recently filed an article that resonates to what a lot of us on this blog have already gone through: being found inadmissible to the US at a point of entry because of a prior criminal conviction.

In the article he touches on the very real point: "Honest and forthright individuals can get extremely nervous in these situations, making them appear slippery and dishonest". The first reaction for most of us, of course, is denial, which is obviously incriminating.

What should you do if you are denied entry on the basis of a criminal conviction that might have happened decades ago in your wayward youth?

He goes on in the article to describe different situations, for example, the petty offense exception and an interview with a Vancouver based immigration lawyer. It's an interesting and relevant read. See the entire article: Denied entry to the U.S.? Don’t panic

Look for a special follow up on March 1st in the Globe & Mail: Admissibility and inadmissibility of Canadians to the United States under NAFTA (I'll post here if I find it).

The TSA and Privacy Rights

As a valid holder of an I-194 waiver the least of my worries when conducting US travel is whether, or not I want the low-tech fondling or high-tech pornography screening now available in most US airports. Either seems petty compared to the indignity of being shifted through secondary screening.

That said, the Oklahoma Daily has a well-written editorial about the current state of airport security. Read the article, A nude awakening – TSA and privacy.

The fundamentals of this column apply just as well in Canada (we have undertaken similar security screening measures) as they do in the US.

Update

It's been a while since my last update.

I've got less than a year on my current I-194 waiver (expires next November) and I'll be documenting my experience in obtaining a renewal. I plan to start the process again in late January (11 months should be more than enough time, right?).

Got Pardon? I don't. I'm still waiting on the pardon that I applied for through Pardons Canada back last March. I've not be on top of them to do so, but their lack of updates has not impressed me much. I can just hope that they are making good progress (note to self: follow up with Pardons Canada). The main reason why I chose to go with them in the first place was so that I could free myself from the paperwork, bureaucracy, etc. To have to chase after them for updates washes that reason away just a little.

Thanks to those who have been keeping the comments alive. I've seen some good discussions about wait times and other irregulaties. Don't forget you can always subscribe to the comments feed.

CBP Updates Site on I-192 Waivers of Inadmissibility

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has expanded on its explanations of the grounds of inadmissibility for which one might require a Form I-192 waiver.

Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Non-Immigrant and Inadmissible Canadian Information

In general, you might be denied entry:

• If you have a communicable disease,
• If you have a criminal record for crimes of moral turpitude,
• For possession of or trafficking in a controlled substance,
• If you have any involvement with terrorism or terrorist organizations (no waivers can be approved for this category),
• If you have trafficked in persons,
• If you have been involved in money laundering,
• If you might become a public charge because of limited financial resources,
• If you have been previously removed (deported) or have overstayed a previous period of admission to the United States

A comprehensive list of the legal descriptions can be found here: Legal Descriptions (opens a PDF document)

Reference: Immigration blogs that I follow

Here are a few Immigration Law blogs that I currently follow.

Border Immigration Lawyer Blog -Sarah E. Murphy, Esq.
Often posts about the waiver of inadmissibility process and her clients' experiences.

How do I get a Pardon? -Jared Church (expresspardons.com)
Although primarily focused as a pardon service, the blog does cover issues around US travel.

Matthew Kolken on Deportation And Removal -Matthew Kolken, Esq.
US Immigration advocate, covers a wide ranges of immigration related issues.

The Immigration News Blog -Matthew Kolken, Esq.
Another immigration blog by Matthew Kolken.

Pardons Blog -Pardons Canada (pardons.org)
Blog focuses on the pardon service but does cover issues around US travel.

Immigration Blog For US & Canada -Bomza Law Group, Toronto Immigration Law Firm
Not much about waivers of inadmissibility but US immigration in general from a Toronto Immigration Law Firm.

Pardon Services Canada blog -same (pardonservicescanada.com)
Another pardon service blog, covers issues around US travel.

Please comment if you have others to share.