Tourist outfitters in Northwestern Ontario go to great lengths to make sure their American clients have the hunting or fishing adventure of a lifetime when they visit here.
Every effort is made to show these clients what a wonderful area this is so they not only will come back, but tell their friends to come, too.
But all it takes is one bad experience and all that goodwill and potential income for the outfitters is out the window.
Ironically, the biggest obstacle to American tourists making that dream vacation happen is often the tourists themselves.
That’s where Lucy Perillo comes in.
Perillo owns and operates Canada Border Crossing Services in Winnipeg. For 10 years, she has been helping American citizens and others navigate the sometimes turbulent waters of Canada immigration.
So, when she spoke to the annual fall meeting of the North Western Ontario Tourism Association (NWOTA) in Emo last Thursday, she advised them to save themselves—and their clients—a lot of grief by planning ahead.
“The most important thing for you to do [for your clients] is to find out ahead of time if they have a problem,” she remarked.
By “problems,” Perillo was referring to past indiscretions—even those far enough in the past to be almost forgotten. But Canada Immigration never forgets.
Perillo said if you have been convicted in the United State of anything that would be considered a criminal offence in Canada (including impaired driving), you may be turned back at the border.
The list of offences that also could deny you entry includes, but is not restricted to, theft, assault, fraud, false pretenses, narcotics, robbery, mischief, possession of stolen goods, obstructing justice, weapons offences, and breach of probation.
The exception is youth offences, which usually are not considered in entry decisions.
Perillo said the only way to be sure of a smooth entry is to obtain the additional documents needed to circumvent the ban. That is where she comes in.
Her company has the means to expedite the processing of those documents much faster than an individual likely could do alone. For instance, people with past convictions can apply for and obtain a temporary resident permit.
This document can take up to six months to acquire and involves going through the FBI in Clarksburg, W. Va., where such records are kept.
It does not entitle one to take up residence in Canada as the name implies, but it does entitle you to enter Canada for the purposes of a vacation or business travel.
The temporary resident permit is good for one-two years.
Perillo said the temporary resident permit is good for multiple entries over its lifespan, but it must be renewed when it expires. In order to ensure permanent admissibility, a rehabilitation certificate is required.
This document never needs to be renewed and allows for multiple entries at any port. The length of stay is subject to approval by Canadian immigration officers, but the document takes longer to process and acquire.
In order to qualify for rehabilitation, you must prove that you have been crime-free and have lived a stable lifestyle for at least five years from the completion of your sentence.
The processing of this document requires considerable research and confirmation, and can take up to 12 months to complete.
That’s why Perillo recommended to the NWOTA members that they begin the process as soon as possible in order to make sure everything is ready by the time the tourist reaches the border.
Perillo said she realized it sometimes can be awkward for the outfitter to ask such blunt questions and risk offending a potential client, but she had several tips to break the ice in such situations.
“Just ask if they have any reason to believe they will have any problems at the border,” she remarked.
“That could also include medical issues,” Perillo added, noting that if a client is on medication, letters of explanation from his or her doctor also should be available to Immigration officials at the border.
That is another matter she and her company can take care of.
By planting the idea in a non-judgmental way, Perillo said it empowers the client to consider the implications without taking offence.
To further facilitate matters, she recommended the outfitters include her brochure with their own material when they mail it out or attend conventions south of the border.
That way, the client can be referred to her so the outfitter doesn’t have to deal with it. She already made that arrangement with the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association.
Perillo takes it from there. She interviews the client and verifies the offence through U.S. authorities, and then determines what documents are needed to acquire the temporary resident permit.
Because of her experience in the field, Perillo said she usually can get the matter resolved more quickly—and with fewer complications—than the client would on his own.
Canada Border Services can be reached toll-free from the U.S. at 1-800-438-7020 or by fax at 1-204-975-0394. It also can be reached online by visiting www.bordercrossing.ca
Fort Frances Times
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