can you apply to canadian grad schools if you have a drunk driving conviction in America?

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

Now, before everyone gets all MADD on me, I'm just asking this question out of curiosity. I've heard things like 1) Canada views a crime as a crime and doesn't differentiate between a felony and a misdemeanor, 2) you will be rejected at the border trying to enter Canada if you have any criminal background, 3) though you cannot enter Canada if you have a DUI, many people are able to enter and it really depends on whichever officer you get at the border, and 4) there are ways and types of paperwork to be able to obtain the write to enter Canada if you have a DUI on your record. So, I know you might have problems crossing the border with a DUI on your record, but what about getting accepted into the school?

Edited August 16, 2012 by JoeyBoy718

[TakeruK]

I'm a Canadian. When I applied to Canadian grad schools, no one ever asked about criminal records. It's not even relevant to the grad school application! The only "misdemeanors" that the school might know about is anything that is recorded on your school transcripts. In terms of employment (as a TA or RA), Canadian law requires employers to not consider a candidate's criminal record when considering who to employ (i.e. it's a form of discrimination). So, it also shouldn't matter for both academic and employment roles that a grad student would have. I am fairly certain that a DUI would not prevent a student from getting accepted into a Canadian school.

As for crossing the border, I have no experience with that except to say that:

a ) I didn't need to submit a criminal record check to study in the US, and

b ) I do know that my non-Canadian PhD friends who are applying for Permanent Resident (i.e. "green card") status in Canada through the PhD stream do have to submit criminal record checks though (from the FBI for those who have lived in the US).

Hope it helps!

Edited August 16, 2012 by TakeruK

[Dal PhDer]

I want to echo Takeruk! I was never asked about it when I applied...however, I think it's dependent on the program.

If you are working a lot with the public (e.g., psychology, medicine) you might be required to submit a criminal record check - I know you have to at my university for these programs. I don't know what they would do with a DUI history- I get the feeling it's more to check to see if you may or may not be a danger/liability to working with people.

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

So I guess it seems to only affect actually crossing the border. I've read countless things online about Americans getting turned away for ANY criminal history.

[TakeruK]

If you are working a lot with the public (e.g., psychology, medicine) you might be required to submit a criminal record check - I know you have to at my university for these programs. I don't know what they would do with a DUI history- I get the feeling it's more to check to see if you may or may not be a danger/liability to working with people.

Good point! Probably important in something like Education too I guess. Also, some schools, such as a Military College, might be more interested in this kind of thing.

So I guess it seems to only affect actually crossing the border. I've read countless things online about Americans getting turned away for ANY criminal history.

I just have to say that when it comes to stories like this, there's a ton of misinformation on the Internet! When I was trying to figure out whether I qualify for J-1 student status (rather than F-1) and what the differences meant, I found so many different answers. Even admissions officials at the same school gave me different answers! The only sure source of information was contacting the International Student Program offices at the schools I wanted to attend. Government immigration websites were also helpful but I found that their public information is very vague while their legal documents are too dense for a layman to read!

So if you have a few Canadian schools in mind, maybe you can check out their International student pages and see what instructions they are providing for international students coming into their program this fall!

[lexipedia]

I think the issue here might not be applying to the school, but getting the necessary permits/visas to enter and stay in the country. The school won't ask you anything (unless you need a criminal record check for a placement), but immigration will need to know.

http://www.canadianimmigration.net/criminality-and-inadmissibility/dui-canada-entry.html

This should help. ^

[kaykaykay]

yep Canada asked for criminal clearance for a student visa.and ^ is a great link about DUIs.

p.s. the US does not ask for criminal clearance for student visas, but I assume they run a background check themselves.

Edited August 23, 2012 by kaykaykay