travel to canada with a criminal record?

i am english and i want to visit canada but have a criminal record,even though my last arrest was 21 years ago. i have been arrested 3 times the most serious being double assault & abh,the other 2 are minor offences.i have been granted a visa by the usa so what are my chances with canada,and also what documents do i need exactly.

Obviously, contact the Canadian Embassy.

Know your conviction details. What was the charge or conviction? If you weren't convicted, there is still a strong possibility that an arrest or charge will still be on your record. Canada weighs a conviction in the United States and other foreign countries against their own legal statutes. A DUI in the United States is a rather common incident, but this mark on your record can easily bar you from entry into Canada. On the same note a misdemeanor in the United States may be considered a more serious offense there, so do not assume your "minor" conviction isn't enough to cause a problem.

Gather all information about your conviction. The date you were convicted, all sentencing stipulations, probation time allotted (if applicable) and community service served. If you don't already have this information, be prepared to locate it. You will need it later.

A criminal conviction does not automatically bar you from entry; however, it can make it very difficult. Canada requires that all persons convicted apply for rehabilitation before entry. Rehabilitation considers that five years have passed since probation or parole sentences have finished or since an incident for which you were not charged (but may still be on your record).

In order to file for Rehabilitation certification, Canada can impose an application fee from $200 to over $1,000. The amount you will pay is tied into the seriousness of your conviction.

Fill out your application. This requires you to give basic information about yourself, explain your conviction, the events that led up to it as well as your statement on why you feel you are rehabilitated. (See the official application for further details.) Be honest. If you lie on your application, and conflicting information turns up, you may not ever be allowed entry.

Allow for enough time. Processing times for your application can be as long as a year. There are exceptions to this rule, but they are quite limited. Enough cannot be said about planning in advance of a trip to Canada.

Understand that each person and situation are unique. Do not be discouraged by your past and assume that you will not be able to gain entry. Do your homework, contact the Consulate and proceed from there.

It is best to check with the Canadian Consulate for the most current information or contact a lawyer to do the work for you.

Canadians are tougher than their American counterparts regarding person with a criminal record. The best thing is to obtain a pardon from your country. If not possible, contact the Canadian embassy and they will evaluate your profile. You'd better be honest with them, otherwise they may refuse a visa. if you old, your chance is higher. But in the same time, many high profile people have been refused entry in Canada without any convictions whereas they were authorized in the US.

unfortunately your chances are not so good.. but do give it a shot! canada's usually really open to immigrants.