After much hesitation, consideration and a little bit of research I have decided to apply for a pardon.
What's a pardon? A pardon allows people who were convicted of a criminal offence, but have completed their sentence and demonstrated they are law-abiding citizens, to have their criminal record kept separate and apart from other criminal records. Pardons are issued by the federal government of Canada. This means that any search of the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) will not show that you had a criminal record, or that you were issued a pardon.
CPIC is the information system which the US CBP (Customs and Boarder Protection) share and use to check if a Canadian individual entering the US has a criminal record. If you've never been stopped while crossing into the US and the CBP has never searched CPIC, then potentially you can apply for a pardon and have you record removed from this database.
In my situation, having a pardon does not help for US travel as I am already in the CBP (and probably now the FBI) system after being found to have a criminal record and being required to apply for an I-194 waiver. Initially I was concerned about having my records removed and the ability to access them for my next waiver renewal (my current waiver expires in November 2011). I've learned that although the record is removed from CPIC and/or other police databases, it is still accessible from the RCMP records office.
So why get the pardon? Job prospects, plan and simple. More and more companies in Canada are requiring criminal record checks for potential employees. To add, although the organization I work for already knows I have a criminal record, they have informed me that a pardon would help in my career advancement.
So recently I contacted Pardons Canada, a non-profit organization that assists individuals in removing a past criminal offence from public record. The first step was to acquire recent finger printing information and currently I am waiting for the RCMP validation. I will update you on this process. Comments appreciated.
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20 comments:
Ryan, Nice Blog.
I want to make sure you are being looked after as quick as possible.
Please email me directly your coordinates.
Andrew Tanenbaum
Program Director, Pardons Canada
Ryan, how much are they paying you for the 'Pardons Canada' advertising?
A Pardon and an Entry Waiver are both things most people can do for themselves without paying significant fees for paper pushing.
I'm surprised that you, Ryan, did not do it yourself. Perhaps it was the advertising revenue???
It will be interesting to see if you publish this! It will reflect on the integrity of your blog.
In reply to Anonymous: "Ryan, how much are they paying you for the 'Pardons Canada' advertising?"
This made me chuckle, as Oliver Stone stated: "Accident occurs alongside conspiracy."
Certainly I could have invested the time and effort to file for a pardon myself. For me, it was more a matter of timing. I have left it on the shelf for so long and procrastinated that I felt paying a professional to do it would finally bring closure. The spark I needed to just get it done.
If you notice from the post, I didn't in anyway endorse Pardons Canada. I have yet to see any results and will be happy to post about my experiences (good or bad).
As for the comment about advertising revenue: I am receiving nothing from Pardons Canada, or any other endorsement from posting on this blog. It's true, I do place ads on this site. Given the small amount of traffic that this blog generates, it does not sum up to much.
So why have ads at all? Although we are talking mere pennies a day, it does help to keep me motivated. Plus I actually enjoy some of the ads when they are in context.
It's nice to know that the blog is being read - I hadn't thought of the perception that this post could generate and I certainly wouldn't want to fuel any conspiracies.
Thanks for your comment, Ryan
Ryan,
Sorry if I got your 'knickers in a knot'.
Your 'Got Pardon?' article (with the red Pardons Canada logo(with appropriate maple leaf) as a heading combined with the cheesy posting from Andrew Tanenbaum of Pardons Canada wanting to know your co-ordinates (must be Toronto speak) were a bit much.
For you to suggest 'I didn't in anyway (sic) endorse Pardons Canada' was a bit disingenuous.
I have always felt your blog served a significant purpose for the thousands of Canadians caught up in the overwhelming world of Homeland Security. I have also felt that the blog took the position that most applications were not as daunting as they appeared at first blush.
Your promotion of Pardons Canada in priority to other providers of similar services or without stating that it is only a paper pushing exercise that most people could do for themselves reduced your blogs stature, from my perspective.
Hello Anonymous, thanks for your follow up. You certainly didn't get any 'knickers in a knot'.
I appreciate the clarity you brought to this conversation and agree that the 'Got Pardon' post gave the perception of the stated service 'in priority to other providers of similar services' just as you described. Going forward, I will attempt (where appropriate) to be more balanced.
I started this blog with the purpose of keeping a personal record of my waiver process so that 1 year, or 5 years on I would have this history to draw on at the time of renewal. The fact that it helps others, is merely a bonus.
The blog was never intended to sway readers away from seeking professional advice.
In my mind, it is akin to the 4 types of home repairs:
1. the kind that you can do yourself.
2. the kind that you're probably best to hire a professional.
3. the kind that you could do yourself (if you had the time), but right now, it makes more sense to pass it off to a professional.
4. you never do home repairs, period.
Although I agree for the majority for us, the waiver process is a paper pushing exercise, I can't assume that is the case for everyone. I've often said to my wife: 'The only difference between you and I is that you require 1 document to enter the USA where as I require 2.'
I certainly hope that if readers take away anything, it will be the understanding of which type of home repair they are looking at.
I am always amazed when I go to renew my waiver at Pearson at the amount of people that get completly screwed over by Pardons Canada for something you can do yourself.I used them for my first waiver and it only took 2 years to get.....they sent back my paperwork and said I had to go to the airport myself. I went myself and have never looked back and continue do so with no problems.I also applied for a Canadian Pardon which they nearly blew for me as a matter of fact I was denied but all I did was send a letter to the board and I now have a full pardon.
If you are completly brain dead by all means have Pardons Canada rape you otherwise do it yourself
Hey I am reading your blog to get direction for my waiver app. I have just done my Pardon on my own it was very easy and straight forward. If you havent paid Pardons Canada yet dont. Get the forms online and go, it took me 11 months from the day I got the blank forms to the day I got my Pardon. I did have to send mail to Prince Albert, Vancouver, Richmond, and Surrey as I had been going to school and moved a few times. I also included a letter about my offences where I was then and where I am now in life, guess it worked.
Bottom line you did the hard one first the pardon is the easy one, IMHO.
JJ
"Ryan, Nice Blog.
I want to make sure you are being looked after as quick as possible.
Please email me directly your coordinates.
Andrew Tanenbaum
Program Director, Pardons Canada"
Good to see you will have a unbiased opinion to write about.
It would have been interesting to see how it would have turned out for PC but now that they are going to fast track you . . . it wont be very factual on their performance.
That is unless they still suck after making a extra effort.
Read this after my prev post.
JJ
JJ - thanks for your comment. I am currently in process with PC. I will post updates on this progress soon.
As yet, I can't advocate using a pardon service over the do it yourself route, but hearing a lot of feedback that this is a pretty simple process that I could/should have filed myself. Live and learn!
food for thought perhaps it is not so easy for everyone.
Pardon Me?
There are many different reasons to use Canadian Pardon Services, and one of them is the amount of time and energy required to handle the massive amount of paper work.
Your Criminal Record must be obtained containing all of your convictions. If there is a discrepancy and your criminal record does not contain all of your convictions, you must request a Proof of Conviction form for each subsequent conviction and your finger prints need to be taken by your local police station.
Court Information Forms must be filled out (including the official seal/stamp) by the court/courts that you were convicted in. Proof that all sentencing has been carried out, and all fines have been paid is also required in the pardon application process.
Documents issued by the government which verify your identity containing your name, date of birth and signature must also be sent in with your pardon application forms.
Valid Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Documents may also be required. Depending on your immigrations status, this step may prove to be very difficult especially if your immigration status is dependent on your pardon application.
Local Police Record Checks are required to obtain your pardon. A record check for each city/town/country that you have lived in for the past 5 years has to be provided. Now it's time to fill out the Pardon Application Form. Here’s the catch though: the Criminal Record Checks and the Pardon Application Form are only valid for 6 months after they have been issued.
If you have been convicted of a sexual offence, a written letter stating your status as a model citizen and how a pardon would positively affect your lifestyle and integration into the community must be included with your pardon application.
Time management and extensive knowledge of the pardon process becomes very important. If there are any mistakes in your application form, or if there is any missing information, your application will be denied and your forms sent back you. Have it done the correct way the first time and avoid the aggravation.
It says a lot about the integrity of Pardons Canada when a supportive poster, presumably one with a vested interest in the organization, identifies themself as 'Anonymous'.
If I were seeking a Pardon and did not feel comfortable doing it myself, I would look to one of the other multitude of companies offering such services!
As an owner of another "pardon service" I am always interested in the competition. How is your pardon coming, what step is it at and were there extra fees added on the listed price?
I was searching for waiver information in light my my recent incident with US Customs and came across your site.
I saw this post with the Pardons Canada logo I was compelled to read it and the first post if from the Program Director saying he'll look at your case and make is as quick as possible.
Leaves a bad taste in my mouth as I paid to have my Pardon expedited and its been over 2 years and minimal lack of contact from my multiple requests by phone and email for a status update. All I got in the mail is a copy of my criminal record check that I could have applied for myself and not paid the money to have Pardons Canada to do it on my behalf.
I do wonder how many people life myself have just been left hanging and if Pardons Canada isn't much more of a polished scam to take advantage of us who are looking for some hope that an agency will help us out.
Thank you for explaining about the pardon. Most of the people Struggle to differentiate between pardon and Sorry.
It is a great thing to say you do it all on your own I agree but, in this case Pardon Canada has my business hands down 3rd waiver form went through them seemless everytime might cost a bit more but well worth it GREAT JOB GUYS. Can't wait till a pardon is recongnized and we no longer need the waiver the US is on a huge money grab on this one. I mean really some people do one thing never before bad and never after have a run in with the law and what we pay for life??
I received a pardon (not a waiver) and have since then been travelling into the US by land,air & sea no problem close to a dozen times, until about a week ago. I was denied boarding on a cruise ship, but not in person, I was given a phone call the day prior to be informed of this. I was not given a reason for me being denied, no matter how many agencies/depts I contacted. I have not attempted to cross into the US since this has happened last week, and would prefer to continue travelling to the US without having to get a waiver, yet am leary about directly questioning the USCBP directly face to face about this in fear i'll be asked if I have/had a criminal record or pardon and somehow get caught in a lie. This ALL centers around the million dollar question: I was to understand once you have a pardon, CPIC is wiped clean, or basically the USCBP/Dept. of Homeland Security cannot see your record, or pardon, SO why/how did this happen then??? Are you absolutely sure the US govt cannot see your record (or pardon) once you have a pardon??? I did have an arrest, but not a conviction, IN the US over 12 yrs ago, but was wrongly arrested and detained and was let go, yet I was finger printed/arrested etc. However again i've been into the US with no issues AFTER this, being it was over 12 yrs ago, i've only been going into the US for about a yr since getting my pardon and was never denied entry in the US prior to last week. WHAT SHOULD I DO? I'd like to assume they don't know about my record so i don't have to get a waiver if I don't have to, but now i'm not sure if I do have to get one regardless.
Just to keep things in perspective, I have been in the process of getting my pardon through this organization for over 2 years.
The first year of this process was filled with repeated letters from PC requesting more information and more forms to fill. This did not seem to unusual, as I am aware that the process can take some time.
This past year has been nothing but waiting. My last message from them stated that the final process can take some time... I believe they said to wait 8-10 months before I should expect an update. This had me a little suspicious, but I decided to wait it out.
It has now been over a year since I have heard anythng from them, and they have not yet replied to any of my email requests for a status update that I sent to them 2-3 weeks ago.
I wish their program director would spend less time on blogs, stating "...as quickly as possible.", and more time ensuring things are actually being done as quickly as possible.
I feel this may have been the biggest waste of time and money I have ever been a part of.
I would suggest that anyone in need of a pardon, just skip the extra costs and do it themselves. Even if you do it wrong the first time and have to start over, it may still be faster and cheaper.
Pardons Canada is not a satisfactory service. I recomend seeking a lawyer or a smaller organziation to look after you. They give not always accurate advice and its hard to get a hold of an agent. Plus they charge an arm and a leg for mailing forms. I say do it yourself
Pardons Canada is an absolute scam. I paid an exhuberant amount of money to have my case expedited almost 2 years ago. It has been with the national parole board for 16 months and still i have no answer. I was told by Mr. Tannenbaum himself that it would only be 3 months. This is distressing to someone, who yes committed a crime DID THEIR TIME, and is a contributing member of society. I want to get on with my life. Their staff have very bad customer service I found dealing with them emotionally distressing. I went to them in the first place because I didn't want the stress of dealing with the details of reliving my past. Find a more reputable group to deal with. Pardons Canada, these people don't even have a good reputation with the national parole board. As soon as you mention their name you get " oh, I'm so sorry. You know we get that a lot"
I committed an offence when I was 18 (1996), I received a pardon in 2008, did the whole process by myself and didn't find any issues or requests for more info, but I don't remember how long it took to get it. However, for the first time ever I would like to take my kids on a trip possible to Disney, I spoke to US border services (not giving my name or any personal info) and they told me I would never be allowed in the US without a waiver. I was under the impression that once I got a pardon my record was wiped clean she said nope!! When I got home I looked up the waivers... it's $585.00us!!! I've never been outside of Canada so I would never have crossed the border while I had a criminal record there seems to be mixed info every where I look! Some places say if you've never crossed with a criminal record they won't see it, others say they can. Some people seem to be able to go all the time and never have an issue and have never had a pardon. I"m soooo confused!! I want to do the right thing but that's a lot of money just to go there once.
Any advice???
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