There is a lot of controversy whether you can travel to the US with a pardon or record suspension.
Its true that the Americans don’t recognize pardons, however this only matters if you have already been denied entry to the US and then try to get a pardon. It won’t matter at that point, because the Americans have already downloaded you into their system and you will need a US Waiver no matter what.
However, we believe that once your pardon or record suspension is granted, the Americans cannot see your criminal record on CPIC, which is the criminal database that they check. Therefore, you should be safe to travel once your pardon is granted as long as you’ve never been stopped in the past.
Many people who have been denied entry to the US with having a pardon is that they admitted to the Americans that they did have a criminal record and that it was pardoned. Once they know you have been pardoned, even if they can’t see the criminal offence, they can deny you entry.
This is exactly what happened to a couple from Calgary recently at the US border where they admitted they had a pardon and was subsequently refused entry at the border. Here is the most recent article on this situation:
Calgary man warning others after ‘humiliating’ experience at U.S. border crossing
