In Canada. If you are being convicted of a crime, it can have direct negative consequences on your future and you may face various difficulties while renting an apartment, enrolling in educational programs. getting custody of a child, securing employment, traveling abroad. applying for volunteering, and others. To offer relief to individuals who, despite being part of criminal activity, have rehabilitated themselves, Canada has passed a law as per The Criminal Records Act, Canadian legislation in the year 1985.
This legislation was curated in the country to offer a second chance to deserving individuals to have a fresh start and hide their previous criminal charges from the public. This also proves to be an advantage for people who once had a criminal record and then went on to live a crime-free life after serving their sentences. For these individuals, it was agreed upon to remove barriers to reintegration.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Record Suspension in Canada?
According to the Criminal Records Act, a record suspension contains a 10-step legal process that takes up to 10 to 18 months to be fully completed. The time period usually depends on the number of dispositions or locations and the nature of the criminal offense.
In ideal conditions, the below-given breakdown of the timeline will be followed:
- 4 to 6 months to curate and prepare the application
- 3 to 6 months for the government to process the completed applications
Can I Apply for a Criminal Record Suspension by Myself?
Applying for a criminal record suspension is more complicated than it looks and it can take a much longer time if you decide to do it yourself. However, it is your absolute privilege to try. You are certainly entitled to present yourself in court and can try to apply for a criminal record suspension yourself. But do remember that it comes with its own risks.
As mentioned above, getting a record suspension is a ten-step legal process, so keep in mind that you will have to complete all those steps in a perfect manner within the given timelines. If you made any errors by mistake then you could risk having your application rejected or deemed invalid. In this unfortunate scenario, you will not be able to apply for a record suspension for a full year and you will also lose the time and money that you invested in this process.
It is very rare to complete your criminal record suspension process by yourself successfully on the first try, so it is highly recommended that you consult Canadian record suspension with Pardon Applications before risking your precious time and money.
How Much Does it Cost to Get a Criminal Record Suspension?
The whole cost to get a criminal record suspension varies depending upon the length and seriousness of your record. You can expect it to be between $1500 to $3000 for a Criminal Record Suspension. This includes fees of the professional that you hired, fees to court, police, fingerprint, and lastly the filing fee for record suspension application which is $657.77 currently.
Contact Canadian record suspension with Pardon Applications today to discuss your Criminal Record Suspension Case and get a free consultation.
