"But his past came back to haunt him when his company attempted to transfer him to the United States for relocation. (he was previously living in Canada) His criminal record from 16 years ago popped up at the U.S Customs at the airport, and they wouldn't let him cross. He was very embarassed. This little stupid incident from 16 years ago came back to haunt him and ruined his promising career with a excellent company. He then spent several hundred dollars getting a Pardon for his Criminal Record. Unfortunately, Pardons don't erase Criminal Records - they only say you have been pardoned for your Criminal Offence. Think of a Pardon as a notation on your Record, because your Record still remains. Not only that, but the U.S Customs doesn't recognize Canadian Pardons, so if you want to cross into the U.S and you have a criminal record from doing something as innocent as smoking/selling some weed, be prepared to be turned around and head back home with your tail between your legs."
I think your making that up, Rudee (either that or your mate was stupid & filled in the form truthfully), as I've been to the US twice & I have quite a bit of a record from the 80's & early 90's (yes, I was a bit of a silly billy in those days), for such things as 'malicious wounding', 'Assault occasioning actually bodily harm' & indictable possesion of heroin. Yet, I never had any problems getting a US visa, & being Canadian your mate either wouldn't even have needed a visa or at the very least it would be a lot less hassle for him to get one than an Australian.
What your mate should have done was go to Windsor, Ontario, hired a car with local plates & just driven across the border into Detroit & back a few times in the morning & evening peak hours (amongst all the commuters going across to work), & built up a few US entry & exit stamps in his passport. Which means he'll be a lot less scrutinised when he flys in. Also (assuming law enforcement is a state responsability in Canada, like in Australia) he should of applied for his passport using the address of a relative that lives in a different province than himself. So if some cosular/customs/immigration authorities ask him to fill out a permision form so they can check his record - I had to fill a one out to get a US visa (the 1st time), which the US consulate then takes to the Police dept that shows that they have my permision to check to see if I have a police record. Consequently I applied for my passport via an address of a relative in Melbourne & applied for that visa in Melbourne to, so when the US consulate fax that form off, they faxed it to the Victorian Police Force (not the New South Wales Police Force), where I of that Melbourne address, has a clean record. Since then Australia & the US signed a treaty so Australians & Americans now automatically get visas at the airport on arrival at each others country.
In 6 months such problems won't exist for me, because official police records in NSW get wiped after 10 years of being clean(except for an internal record that's only avaliable to NSW police) - my last conviction (for fare evading on the train) was in the middle of 1991 . So in 6 months I could then go to say the local Russian consulate & apply for a visa, using my real address, & give them written permision to check my police record. They could then fax that through to the NSW police & then the Russian cosulate would be informed that I don't have a record, & then my visa would be OKed. Not that I have any plans of going to Russia in 6 months.
.
Facebook
Twitter