Does a pardon ensure that I will be able to cross the U.S. border?

A pardon, more accurately referred to as a record suspension, keeps the judicial record of your conviction(s) separate and apart from other criminal records. It removes all information about your conviction(s) from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database and means that your conviction(s) will not show up on a regular criminal record check. Although a pardon clears your record in Canada, it is no guarantee that you will not have difficulties crossing the American border.

Even if you have a pardon, the best way to eliminate your chance of facing difficulties at the U.S. border is to obtain a U.S. Waiver. It is possible to apply for a waiver of your inadmissibility to the U.S., which grants you advance permission to travel to and from the U.S. for a set period of time. This waiver takes away the guesswork of whether or not you will be permitted to cross and minimizes any hassle you could face at the border. The process can take up to a full year after the application is submitted and you do not need a lawyer to complete one.