Can an Old Criminal Record Get You Turned Away at the U.S. Border?

The short answer: Yes, it can. U.S. officers can see Canadian criminal record information in CPIC, the RCMP's national database, and a record may lead to refusal even if the offence was old or minor. There are two main routes. If you have never been denied entry, a Canadian pardon combined with a Canadian expungement may mean your record no longer shows in CPIC. If you have been denied before, or part of your record would still show after an expungement, a U.S. entry waiver (Form I-192) is the route that gives you permission on paper.

Updated October 21, 2026 · General information, not legal advice

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If you've seen the news about Canadians being sent to secondary inspection or turned back, and you have a conviction from years ago, it's normal to feel uneasy about your next trip. Here is what official sources say and the lawful steps you can look into.

Are more Canadians being turned away at the U.S. border in 2026?

News coverage, law firms and travellers report that more Canadians are being sent to secondary inspection or turned back this year. We could not find an official 2026 count from CBP or the Government of Canada, and we could not confirm a specific figure circulating in the news, so we don't repeat one here.

What is clear: the Government of Canada's travel advisory for the United States tells travellers to expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of phones and laptops.

Why it matters: You don't need a statistic to plan well. If you have a record, understand your own situation before you reach the booth.

How does an old conviction show up at the U.S. border?

Many people assume a conviction from 20 years ago has faded away. At the border, it often hasn't. U.S. officers can look up Canadian criminal record information in CPIC, the national database run by the RCMP. A record stays there until something removes it, which is why people who crossed for years without trouble are sometimes stopped on a later trip.

Device checks are another source of surprises. Canada's travel advice says U.S. officers may search phones, laptops and tablets.

Why it matters: Time alone doesn't take a record out of CPIC. Planning around that beats hoping it won't come up.

What happens in secondary inspection?

Secondary inspection is a longer interview, usually in a separate area. It doesn't automatically mean you'll be refused. Officers may ask about your trip, your past and any record that shows in their checks. Always answer truthfully, and bring documents that support your trip, such as a return ticket or a work letter. Canada's travel advice notes that a traveller who is refused could be detained while waiting to be removed.

Why it matters: For a trucker, a refusal can mean a missed load. For a snowbird, a cancelled season.

What are your two options if you have a record?

Most people with an old conviction have two routes to look at. Which one fits depends on your history at the border and what is on your record.

Option 1: a pardon plus a Canadian expungement

A Canadian pardon, now called a record suspension, is granted by the Parole Board of Canada. According to the Parole Board, it keeps your record separate from other criminal records, which takes it out of CPIC, the RCMP database U.S. officers can look up. A Canadian expungement then works to have remaining police records removed as well.

This route may suit you if you have never been denied entry to the U.S. If an officer looks you up in CPIC and the record isn't there, there may be nothing in their check to raise a question.

Keep in mind that the U.S. does not formally recognize Canadian pardons, and the Parole Board says a record suspension does not guarantee entry to another country. You must still answer every question at the border truthfully.

You can apply to the Parole Board yourself. The Parole Board says you do not need a lawyer or a representative. Some people choose help with the paperwork, and that is a personal choice.

Read more in our guide: does a pardon show up on a background check in Canada?

Option 2: a U.S. entry waiver

A pardon and expungement may not be enough in two situations:

• You have already been denied entry. U.S. border agencies keep their own records of past refusals, and a Canadian pardon does not remove those.
• Part of your record would still show in CPIC after an expungement, for example a lifetime prohibition order.

In these cases, a U.S. entry waiver is the route that gives you permission to enter on paper, rather than relying on what a database shows.

Two things many people don't realize before applying. First, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security can refuse a waiver. Second, an approved waiver doesn't last forever: you may need one for as long as you travel to the U.S., renewed for whatever period the U.S. sets each time. That's why, if you've never been denied, it's worth looking at a pardon and expungement first.

Why it matters: The right route depends on your history. Someone never stopped at the border may only need a pardon and expungement. Someone already turned back usually needs a waiver.

What is a U.S. entry waiver (Form I-192)?

If U.S. law treats you as inadmissible because of a past conviction, a U.S. entry waiver may allow you to visit temporarily. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) handles these through Form I-192, the Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant.

According to CBP's pages:

• Canadians who have been found inadmissible can file Form I-192, and CBP describes an online option called e-SAFE for some applicants.
• Canadian applicants are asked for an RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check, along with court documents.
• CBP decides each application. Approval is not automatic, and timing can vary.

Not every conviction makes someone inadmissible under U.S. law. Whether you need a waiver depends on the offence, the outcome and your circumstances. That's worth checking before you travel, not at the booth.

For a wider look at this year's rule changes, see pardons, U.S. waivers and expungements in 2026. For how long the pardon side takes, see how long does a pardon take in Canada?

Why it matters: Filing a waiver before you travel gives you a decision on paper, rather than leaving it to a single conversation at the border.

What can you do before your next U.S. trip?

If you have a past conviction and a trip coming up, these steps may help:

1. Get your facts. Write down what you were charged with, when, and how each case ended. Hold off on fingerprints for now: the type of check you need, and how it should be done and labelled, depends on which route fits you, so settle that first.
2. Collect court documents. Records showing the charge, the outcome and that any sentence was completed are useful for both a pardon and a waiver.
3. Check whether you may need a waiver. U.S. admissibility rules are complex. A U.S. immigration lawyer can advise on your specific case.
4. Look at a pardon and Canadian expungement. If you've never been denied entry and you're eligible, this may take your record out of CPIC. It also helps with jobs and volunteering at home.
5. Give yourself time. Neither process happens overnight, so start well before a planned trip.
6. Prepare your devices. Canada's travel advice includes device tips, such as switching your phone to airplane mode before you cross.

Commercial drivers have extra pressure, because a refusal can affect your job, not only your trip. Our trucking and transportation page covers what fleets and drivers often ask. If you're a Canadian planning a personal trip, our page for Canadians explains the pardon and U.S. waiver options.

Why it matters: Most border problems tied to old records come from surprise. Knowing where you stand turns a worry into a plan.

Quick FAQ

Can I be denied entry to the U.S. for a conviction from many years ago?

It may happen. The Government of Canada's travel advice says a criminal record can lead to refusal no matter how long ago the offence happened or how minor it was. Whether you are actually inadmissible depends on U.S. law and your circumstances.

Will a Canadian pardon let me cross the border?

It may help, especially combined with a Canadian expungement, because your record may no longer show in CPIC. If you've been denied entry before, or part of your record would still show, a U.S. entry waiver is usually the route to look at. The U.S. does not formally recognize Canadian pardons, so no pardon guarantees entry.

What is Form I-192?

It's the U.S. form an inadmissible Canadian may use to ask CBP for advance permission to visit temporarily, often called a U.S. entry waiver. CBP reviews each application and decides it.

Can U.S. border officers search my phone?

According to Canada's travel advice, yes. U.S. officers may search electronic devices, and a device may be seized if you refuse to provide a password.

Do I need to pay someone to apply for a pardon?

No. You can apply to the Parole Board of Canada yourself, and the Parole Board says you do not need a lawyer or representative. Some people choose help to save time on paperwork or to check their eligibility first.

Does Record Support Canada handle U.S. expungements?

No. Record Support Canada offers Canadian expungements only. For U.S. court matters, speak with a lawyer in the state involved.

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Disclaimer: Record Support Canada is an independent educational and referral resource. We are not affiliated with the Government of Canada, the Parole Board of Canada, U.S. Customs and Border Protection or any other government agency. This article is general information, not legal advice. No outcome, timeline, approval or border entry is guaranteed. You can apply to the Parole Board of Canada directly yourself.

Sources

• Government of Canada, Travel advice and advisories: United States
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Form I-192: Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Electronic Secured Adjudication Forms Environment (e-SAFE)
• Parole Board of Canada, Applying for a record suspension
• CTV News, Canadian travel to U.S. continues downward trend: StatCan