No one wants to be denied entry into another country. So, the most important thing to do is understand how to avoid this embarrassing and stressful situation. You can avoid being denied at the US-Canadian border by not overstaying in the United States in the first place! If you haven't travelled yet but are planning to, educate yourself before you go. Be aware of how long you are legally allowed to stay in the United States before you actually go there. Also consider the amount of time that you have spent in the country recently. This will decrease the chances of you accidentally overstaying in the country.
The USA allows travellers to stay in the country for a total of 6-months (or 182 days) for every 12 months. However, this is not just six-month blocks of time. Each day that you spend in the United States over that 12-month period counts as one of the 182 days that you are legally allowed to be in the country. Knowing this before you travel can help you make sure that you aren't breaking the law without realizing it! The penalty of overstaying in the United States varies, but it is usually 3 years if you have overstayed the 6-month period and 10 years if you have stayed in the country illegally for more than 2 years.
If you have already overstayed in the USA, then things get more complicated, though not impossible to deal with. Returning to your own country is typically not that difficult. The tricky part is when you decide that you want to return to the country that you overstayed your travel or work visa. For example, if you stayed in the United States illegally for a year, returning to Canada won't likely be the problem. The real problem exists when you decide that you want to go to the United States again, even just for a day. You will most likely be denied access to the country at the US-Canada border and may even face a fine or jail time, depending on the circumstances.
Your best bet? A US Waiver. A US Waiver is a document that allows you to temporarily enter into the United States, even if you have been denied access in the past or if you fear that you will be denied access in the future. This document is necessary for anyone travelling with a criminal record or anyone who has overstayed in the United States in the past. It will allow you to legally enter the country. A professional US Waiver service will be able to help with the application process.
Don't overstay in the USA - it can make it difficult to return to the country in the future. If you are planning to travel to the United States, be aware of your length of stay. If you have overstayed in the United States but want to return, find a professional to assist you with your US Waiver application. Educate yourself on the appropriate steps to take and get ready to travel with ease.
Julie Cammisa knows that overstaying in the USA will prevent you from entering in the future. As the owner of US Waiver Pardon Canada, she has helped clients with her professional experience and knowledge about US Waivers and Canadian Pardons.
