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Recent media headlines announced that actress Lori Loughlin is applying for a Canadian Temporary Resident Permit. The actress was convicted and served time in a California prison for bribing college officials in the Varsity Blues admission scandal. She is currently on two-year probation but has been offered the opportunity to work on a film project that is scheduled to film this Fall. Louglin has received permission from U.S. District courts to travel to Canada for a filming job but must receive permission from the Canadian government to enter Canada due to her criminal history.
Canada has very strict rules about allowing convicted felons to enter the country for work or holidays. In the past, the Canadian government has denied entry to celebrities with criminal records including Chris Brown and The Game. Loughlin has applied for a Canadian Temporary Resident Permit, which is a government-issued approval that will allow her to cross the border into Canada to work.
How to Apply for a Canadian Temporary Resident Permit
If you are cannot enter Canada because of a criminal charge, a health issue or a security concern, there may still be ways to enter Canada. A Canada Temporary Resident Permit allows someone who is ineligible to enter Canada to temporarily enter for a short time for work or personal reasons. To be eligible for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP),
- it must be less than 5 years since your court sentence was completed and your need to enter or stay in Canada must outweigh the health or safety risks to Canadian society, as determined by an immigration or a border services officer
- it has been over 5 years since you completed your sentence but you have not yet applied for a waiver of criminal inadmissibility
Someone may demonstrate they need a TRP if:
- they need to travel to Canada for work
- they need to visit a sick family member or attend an important family event
You can submit a Temporary Resident Permit to the Canadian government, or submit your Canada TRP at any Point of Entry (POE). If you are denied entry at the POE, you will be required to return home immediately. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Temporary Resident Permit requirements,
"Your need to enter or stay in Canada must outweigh the health or safety risks to Canadian society, as determined by an immigration or a border services officer. Even if the reason you are inadmissible seems minor, you must demonstrate that your visit is justified."
- Temporary Resident Permits are issued for a fixed period of time
- You must leave Canada by the expiry date on the TRP or get a new one before the original document expires
- An approved permit may be cancelled by an immigration officer at any time
- You must also submit an eTa or visitor visa application and all supporting documentation, dependent on your country of origin
- Once you leave Canada, the permit is no longer valid unless your permit specifically authorizes you to leave and re-enter
- All application fees must be paid in advance and are non-refundable, even if your request is denied
Do You Want to Apply For A Temporary Resident Permit?
If you need to enter Canada and are not eligible, Ackah Business Immigration Law can assist you with your application for a Temporary Resident Permit. An immigration lawyer will the best possible outcome for your immigration application.
Contact Ackah Law today at (403) 452-9515 Ext. 100 or 1-800-932-1190 or email us directly at contact@ackahlaw.com.
