Demystifying Eligibility Criteria for Record Suspension
Looking for pardon services in Canada? For the average Canadian, living a good life is about keeping an eye out for good opportunities, making those opportunities happen, and, once they do, working hard to make most of those chances. It’s all about living in one of the most advanced countries in the world, with a reputation for tolerance, justice, diversity and a respect for all faiths, cultures and sexual orientations.
In other words, most Canadians focus on taking advantage of the chances afforded to them by living in one of the most respected and celebrated nations on Earth. But even with all that opportunity and potential, that doesn’t mean that all Canadians are perfect. Nor does it mean that the choices they make are always right. And when every choice has a consequence, sometimes the wrong ones can have a lifelong, negative impact. And that is why sometimes, Canadians need pardon services in Canada.
Pardon Services in Canada – Everyone Deserves A Second Chance
No one is expected to always do the right or expected thing 100% of the time. Mistakes happen. Some people may forget to set the alarm clock for an important early morning appointment and sleep in, arriving to that appointment late. Others may forget to study an important part of their course for a final exam and hurt their final mark.
And sometimes the mistakes are large, with far-ranging consequences. Doctors have made mistakes in important surgeries, and some people have committed mistakes that are actually criminal violations, whether that is shoplifting, drug use, drug trafficking, or even assault or fraud. These mistakes are so severe that the person that makes them must answer for the crime, usually involving a jail sentence or probation, and sometimes even financial payment.
But after that happens, what then? If a person has truly paid back their debt to society with years of their life, and even some of their finances taken away, is that enough? Some people may say yes, and some people say no, but according to the law, the real answer is “not quite.” There’s still a criminal record—and sometimes not even a complete one—that is on record, and this is something that a person has to live with, unless they get pardon services in Canada.
Erasing An Incomplete Error
In some cases, the mistake may not be on the part of the person charged with a crime, but with the legal process itself. Sometimes people go to trial and are found not guilty of the charges filed against them. Other times, a judge may decide that a court case should not proceed and dismisses the case. In some instances, a case may not even make it as far as being reviewed by a judge and the charges themselves may be withdrawn or discharged.
You’d think that in a case where there was only an arrest, but no actual conviction, that would be the end of it. But even here, pardon services in Canada are important. Those traces of an arrest are still present and accessible in the type of background check that is available to the public. So even if no criminal conviction is present, the arrest and original charges may be. Pardons Canada can, however, take care of this through a process known as a file destruction. This is essentially a “final clean up,” that restores a permanent record to a “clean” state with no remarks at all. However, it does require a certain amount of time, documentation and proper procedure to be observed, all of which Pardons Canada can help a person with.
Making Up For The Past
For people that are convicted of criminal offense who then go on to return to society and try to live honest, meaningful lives, with positive contributions to society, this is where pardon services in Canada really help. A criminal record is, under ordinary circumstances, permanent and publicly accessible. That means for anyone who is applying for a job, thinking of renting a new apartment, or even deciding to make a difference in someone’s life by adopting a child, these efforts can be impaired by a background check. Even travel can be hampered by a criminal record, as organizations such as the USA’s Customs & Border Patrol can turn people away at the border—or even at an airport—if a background check is run and a criminal record is found.
Any employer has the legal right to conduct a criminal background check on an applicant, provided they are willing to pay the processing fee required to conduct that check. In some cases, jobs in government positions, or working with “vulnerable sectors” such as the elderly or children legally require a background check with no convictions before employment can be offered. And for landlords, or children being considered for adoption, there’s a clear rationale for why a “clean” permanent record is preferable to one that is not.
In Canada, it is illegal to deny employment or other opportunities based on the culture, ethnic background, religious affiliation or sexual orientation of a person. It is not, however, illegal to make such decisions based on the presence or absence of a criminal record. All things being equal, a person who meets all the qualifications, but has a criminal record can legally be passed over for someone with similar qualifications who does not.
This is where a process known as a record suspension, formerly classified as a “pardon” can give people a second chance. Record suspensions are only available to people who have served out their punishment, paid any fines, and have not had any other arrests. It is a lengthy process with a lot of steps, documents and references that are required. Pardon services in Canada can be of huge help during this venture, ensuring that all requirements are met and processed as quickly as possible.
Once a record suspension has been approved, the entire criminal record, including arrest, conviction and sentence is purged from public record. As long as there are no new criminal violations, those records will remain suspended.
The Freedom To Move
The presence of a criminal record can severely hamper your travel opportunities. This is especially true with the current American political climate and an emphasis on border security. More and more travelers are being subjected to background checks. If the Customs & Border Patrol of the USA at the airport or border finds you have a criminal record, you can be permanently denied entry into the USA.
Unfortunately, even a record suspension may not help you cross the border if you’ve already been flagged by the CBP. If you have a criminal record, and the CBP conducts a check, they download that information into the CBP database, and it stays there permanently, so even if you get a record suspension at a later date, it won’t matter; your first background check information is the one they will use.
For people that need to travel to the USA prior to getting a record suspension, or because they’ve already been flagged by the CBP system, a US entry waiver is the solution. This is a document that requires both data-sharing and cross-agency cooperation between the American and Canadian governments. However, at the end of the application process, once you have secured your entry waiver, you can freely enter the USA and exit back to Canada on a legal basis.
This is a complex process, and it has a lot of requirements that need to be strictly observed in order to get approval. Pardons Canada can greatly accelerate this process, ensuring that all the documents are secured, forms filled out precisely, and the timeliness of submissions and references is met to ensure the best possible chance of approval.
We Can Help You
Pardons Canada provides pardon services in Canada, no matter where you live. While certain laws may differ based on provincial variations, we have years of experience in helping people to get the second chances they deserve whether they live in Victoria, BC, Halifax, Nova Scotia, or Toronto, Ontario. We understand that it can be a long, winding road before you get to the point where you truly feel like you’ve paid your debt to society, and sometimes it can feel discouraging to realize that there’s still a ways to go. But that’s why we want to help. We understand that the application process for a file destruction, US entry waiver or record suspension has a lot of demands, and a very strict timeline for applications, references and submission. We know what to do to make sure that you don’t miss any of these important requirements, and give your application the best possible chance at being reviewed and approved.
Don’t take any chances with something as important as your future prospects. If you want to make sure your record is clean, or just want the confidence to travel without any legal barriers, let us provide the pardon services in Canada that you need. Just reach out to us, explain your situation, and we’ll find the right path for you to take.
Pardons Canada undertakes all necessary steps and procedures for removing your criminal record, including: Pardons/Record Suspensions, Purges, Photograph & Fingerprint Destruction, and U.S. Entry Waivers.
