Inadmissibility

To be permitted entry into the U.S., non-U.S. citizens must not be inadmissible to the United States (i.e. prohibited from entering the U.S). There are several reasons as to why one would be rendered inadmissible to the U.S, which are referred as to as “grounds of inadmissibility”.

If one is inadmissible to the United States, he or she may be able to obtain a waiver, which would permit the individual to enter the U.S. despite his or her inadmissibility. However, for certain grounds of inadmissibility, one may not obtain a waiver.

The most common grounds of inadmissibility are criminal grounds. Canadians who have been convicted of, or who have committed, a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT) are inadmissible to the U.S., and must obtain a waiver to be permitted entry into the United States (this applies even if the conviction was “removed” via a pardon, conditional/absolute discharge, or expunged).