When travelling to a foreign country, it is always advisable to be informed of what legal rules will apply that can cause problems for travellers. One such situation is likely to occur if any Canadian who has ever been convicted of a criminal offence wishes to travel to the USA. As things stand, merely by attempting to cross the border, such a person breaks American law. The Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) shares information on criminal records in Canada with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This information can be expected to turn up during a background check at a border crossing point; unless the traveller has a valid US entry waiver, they can expect as a minimum to be turned back and banned from entering the US. Other consequences can include seizure of ones vehicle and even being arrested and charged with illegal entry.
What if in the past, a person has crossed the border and their conviction …
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