As the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is underway, there is a lot of star gazing these days on the streets of Toronto. Penlope Cruz, Tom Hanks, and Canadian Rachel McAdams to name a few are gracing our city.
The TIFF is a big deal for Toronto and for the film industry in general. Toronto is one the worlds largest movie and theatre destinations. Only Los Angeles, New York and London have more movie production taking place.
Visas and Denied Entry to Canada show stoppers to TIFF?
Every year TIFF brings a lot of tourism to Toronto as well as its share of immigration and visa problems. Almost every year, we encounter a TIFF delegate who has issues crossing into Canada due to a criminal record, sometimes very minor.
The lastest star to be caught in the immigration web is Hungar Games Actor Wes Bentley . We wrote a blog about this one. So whether you are a movie star or a “regular” everyday person, Canadian immigration laws really don’t discriminate. If you are inadmissible to Canada, you are inadmissible.
Temporary Resident Permit for Refused Entry to Canada
But the good news: for these stars and for the rest of us , there is a way out. It is called a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) that will allow you to enter Canada for a temporary period if you have a criminal record or medial issue. Depending on your country of orgin, a TRP can be issued at a Canadian Embassy or right at the Canadian Border.
Are you Famous and need to Enter Canada? Are you Not Famous?
It doesn’t really matter as you can see. You may need a TRP. If you think you may have an issue, feel free to contact us in confidence at info@visaplace.com.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
