Canadian Passports - do they contain info. on holder's past criminal history?

Question

When your Drivers License is scanned by Immigration Officers at the border between Canada & USA, any past criminal charges apparently show up. Is this correct? Would the same information be contained in a Passport?

Answer 1

The passport itself does not have anything written in it that says "...read this section for all the criminal offenses I have been convicted of".

However, when you hand your passport to the customs official (US or Canada), they normally place the passport under a scanner. That scanner gets the passport number and brings up the file they have on you. It is always a mystery exactly what info they keep on you, but for sure they will have records on how many times you crossed the border, when you did so, what border crossings you have used, and they would have the numbers from any pieces of ID you supplied.

I have heard that some border crossings have their databases linked to local government databases. So the US border crossings may have access to local DMV or police records for their state, and Canada border services may have provincial police or driver's license records.

However, I have seen a number of people post here that they have crossed the border without incident even with a criminal record. Based on their statements, I would guess that they may not have direct access to your criminal record, and it may only get noticed if they decide to take you aside for an additional security inspection.

Answer 2

The passport and Drivers License contain your identity, and put that identity into the computer when scanned through.  Then YES, the computer looks up your criminal record.  So they will find your criminal record, but it isn't contained in the passport.

Answer 3

When Drivers License is scanned by Immigration Officers , all info related to it is here

http://www.way4canada.com/visa.htm

u can see more info here also http://www.way4canada.com/Tourcanada.htm

Answer 4

it is when they scan it at the border