Hey guys,

Before I start, I want to respond to the individual (excon), from an earlier post, whom condemned me by stating that my remorse was insincere, and that I should save my apology BS for the psychiatrists couch. It's been 5 years since I was convicted and you should know I meant every word I said and how I wish that day had never happened. Also, I think you should read about "Fundamental attribution bias" before you accuse anyone else for lying.

Anyway, I was caught and convicted for shoplifting a few years back at H.B.C.. Because it was my first offense charges made against me were dropped, and soon after my finger prints on the police database were destroyed as per request.

Now, recently I traveled to the USA and out of honesty and stupidity, I told the immigration officer that I have been convicted before. It shouldn't be a surprise that immediately after he brought me to the immigration office -- aka interrogation room .

After I was brought in they ran a background check and of course they found nothing. However, the officer that I was dealing with wrote everything that I said (which was everything that happened) on a report which he later attached to my profile.

He ensured me that I would not and will not in the future be denied entry to the country. He did however recommended that I bring along a legal document to proof that charges were dropped on my next visit just in case if this comes up again.

Now, I do not want to bring a piece of paper every time I travel to the US. As a Canadian citizen, can I make a request to the US immigration officers at the US embassy to undo all this? Of course I will bring a legal document to prove that I am in fact not a criminal.

To save some time, bringing a legal document to proof my innocent every time I travel is out of the question. The thing is I almost never travel alone, at least to the US; I usually travel in a group with friends and families -- and yes, no body except me knows about this and I intend to keep it that way.

I just don't want any trouble when I travel to the US, which I frequently do. I may also do my Masters Degree and Ph.D in the State.

Any help would be appreciated!

Hey guys,

Before I start, I want to respond to the individual (excon), from an earlier post, whom condemned me by stating that my remorse was insincere, and that I should save my apology BS for the psychiatrists couch.

Now, I do not want to bring a piece of paper every time I travel to the US. As a Canadian citizen, can I make a request to the US immigration officers at the US embassy to undo all this? Of course I will bring a legal document to prove that I am in fact not a criminal. Any help would be appreciated!
Seeking the lawyer would really be the most ideal thing to do, since we as in anyone on this website are not fully informed with the law, at least that is the feeling I've been receiving when I seek help from here.Hello again, cool:

How have you been?? Glad you came back after all this time. But, if you don't think we're very well informed, why ARE you back?

Look. Seeing as how you carried my "condemnation" around with you for 5 years, I'm willing to believe that you were sincere back then.. I apologize for my remarks..

Now, to your present day problem... As I re-read your previous post, one fine gentlemen mentioned that you can get a "pardon" after 5 years, and THAT should do what you're requesting be done. Do I think you can do it without a lawyer?? I do, but I think you'll be much better served by hiring a lawyer to do this for you...

excon

Hey Excon,

Apology accepted. I am not afraid to say that I was too young and stupid back then to take responsibility for my actions.

Regarding to a Pardon, I've spoken to a paralegal, but as soon as they heard me saying "charges were dropped and finger prints were destroyed", they replied "you don't need a pardon since you were never convicted in the first place; file destruction is what you need and apparently you've done it already. Please don't waste our time" and hanged up.

As far as I know, my record is clean like a piece of blank paper, at least in Canada. The problem I have is with US. I explicitly told the US immigration officer that I was caught shoplifting but the charge was later dismissed. And now I am, or I believe I am, flagged.

I do not wish to be stopped and harassed by the US immigration officers every time I cross the border.

Thanks Excon



Hello again, cool:

How have you been??? Glad you came back after all this time. But, if you don't think we're very well informed, why ARE you back?

Look. Seeing as how you carried my "condemnation" around with you for 5 years, I'm willing to believe that you were sincere back then.. I apologize for my remarks..

Now, to your present day problem... As I re-read your previous post, one fine gentlemen mentioned that you can get a "pardon" after 5 years, and THAT should do what you're requesting be done. Do I think you can do it without a lawyer??? I do, but I think you'll be much better served by hiring a lawyer to do this for you...

excon

Hello again, cool:

Snitched on yourself, did you?? That's NEVER good. So, here's my assessment...

The immigration cop who "attached" his "report" to your "profile", PROBABLY did not digitize it and send it to ALL ports of entry. My guess, is that it will remain at THAT gate. So, try another..

Now, given that you're going to be crossing with OTHER people, and may NOT have the option of using another gate, the only thing I'd suggest you do, is tell the truth to the immigration cop. The TRUTH is that you were NEVER convicted of ANYTHING.

excon

You know as a police officer I only had to get the crook talking, they normally mess theirself up.

If the charges were dropped and you were never convicted and that is what the record says, then you were never convicted. Don't cause yourself more trouble. If you confess to something else and it was put on your immigration file, that file will show up every time you enter though immigration.

And if carry a piece of paper is too much trouble for you, perhaps you don't need to travel.

I never once said it was too troublesome to carry a piece of paper with me as I travel, my concern is with my family and friends. I never confessed to anything, I simply told them the truth and apparently they used it against me. I told them I was caught but NOT convicted.


You know as a police officer I only had to get the crook talking, they normally mess theirself up.

If the charges were dropped and you were never convicted and that is what the record says, then you were never convicted. Don't cause yourself more trouble. If you confess to something else and it was put on your immigration file, that file will show up every time you enter though immigration.

And if carry a piece of paper is too much trouble for you, perhaps you don't need to travel.