Criminal Inadmissibility Lawyer in Regina
What an admissibility hearing can decide
Criminal inadmissibility means a person may not be allowed to enter or remain in Canada because of criminality. It can affect permanent residents, foreign nationals, workers, students, visitors and people applying for permanent residence. It can arise from Canadian convictions, foreign convictions or conduct outside Canada that would be considered criminal in Canada.
For many Regina clients, the word inadmissible appears late. They may first hear it after a criminal conviction, when applying for a work permit extension, renewing permanent resident documents, sponsoring family, returning from travel, or receiving correspondence from CBSA or IRCC. By that time, the criminal record may already be the central problem.
How criminal court records become immigration evidence
The best defence is early strategy. A non-citizen charged with a criminal offence should obtain immigration aware criminal advice before plea and sentencing. The charge, maximum punishment, sentence, facts admitted, and wording of the court order may all matter. The difference between two possible resolutions in criminal court can be the difference between remaining in Canada and facing enforcement.
Criminal inadmissibility can be triggered by offences people mistakenly call “minor.” Impaired driving, assault, theft, fraud, threats, breaches, weapons offences, drug offences and domestic allegations can all create risk depending on the facts and the final result. The law is technical. Do not rely on courthouse hallway advice or the assumption that no jail means no immigration problem.
What we review before the hearing
Pham Law Group helps Regina clients defend criminal charges with status consequences in mind. We review the disclosure, Crown theory, available defences, Charter issues, negotiation options and sentencing exposure. Then we assess whether a proposed resolution creates criminal inadmissibility, serious criminality or future travel problems.
For clients already facing immigration enforcement, we review the criminal court record carefully. Was the conviction accurately recorded? Was there a discharge? Was the sentence more than six months? Was the offence punishable by at least ten years? Was the offence hybrid and deemed indictable for immigration purposes? Was there a youth sentence? Was there an acquittal, stay or record suspension? Those details can matter.
Why early criminal defence strategy matters
Criminal inadmissibility files often require both legal and human evidence. A person is more than the worst police report in their life. Rehabilitation, counselling, treatment, work history, family support, children, community ties, medical issues and remorse may all be relevant depending on the process. But human evidence cannot replace legal analysis. Both are needed.
If you are charged in Regina and you are not a Canadian citizen, you should tell your lawyer immediately. Your lawyer needs to know your exact status, how long you have been in Canada, whether you have previous convictions, whether you have travel plans, and whether you have any immigration applications pending.
Speak to a lawyer before the hearing
The strongest position is created before the criminal file resolves. Once a guilty plea is entered, the facts and offence may be difficult to undo. If criminal inadmissibility is possible, the defence must be deliberate from the beginning.
Direct representation in criminal inadmissibility proceedings
Pham Law Group directly accepts criminal inadmissibility files at the Immigration Division and, where available, the Immigration Appeal Division. We assist clients facing CBSA letters, section 44 reports, admissibility hearings, removal orders, and appeal deadlines where the problem is connected to criminal charges, convictions, or allegations.
The firm brings criminal defence trial experience to immigration tribunal work. We understand disclosure, cross-examination, police narratives, sentencing records, Charter issues, rehabilitation evidence, and the difference between allegation, conviction, sentence, and admissibility. That perspective is valuable when a client’s ability to remain in Canada depends on what the criminal record actually proves.
Lawyer-led criminal and immigration representation
Pham Law Group is a lawyer-led criminal and immigration law firm. Where the file is accepted on retainer, we can handle the criminal defence and the connected immigration tribunal work from start to finish. That includes disclosure review, affidavit preparation, evidence packages, witness preparation, Immigration Division admissibility hearings, IAD removal order appeals, written submissions, and strategic criminal resolution planning.
At an admissibility hearing, the evidence can include criminal records, police summaries, court documents, allegations, admissions, convictions, and CBSA materials. Trial experience matters because the hearing can turn on what evidence is reliable, what facts are actually proven, whether the legal ground is made out, and what record should be created for any next step.
This is different from a form-only immigration service. Immigration consultants may be authorized for some immigration work, but they are not criminal defence lawyers and do not defend the criminal charge. When the immigration problem starts with police evidence, Crown election, plea negotiations, sentencing exposure, or a criminal record, the criminal strategy and the immigration strategy have to be built together.
The firm team includes Linh Pham, Harvey Singh, and Mihir Sharma. Linh Pham and Harvey Singh are lawyers. Mihir Sharma is an articling student who assists the firm under lawyer supervision. Public pages should describe the combined group as the Pham Law Group legal team.
FAQ section
What does criminally inadmissible mean?
It means a person may not be allowed to enter or stay in Canada because of a crime, conviction or certain criminal conduct.
Can a permanent resident be criminally inadmissible?
Yes. Permanent residents can face inadmissibility and removal risk for certain criminal outcomes.
Does a discharge avoid all immigration risk?
A discharge can be very important, but immigration consequences depend on the full context. Get advice before assuming it resolves every issue.
What information should I give my criminal lawyer?
Tell your lawyer your status, PR date if applicable, immigration applications, travel plans, prior convictions, family in Canada and any CBSA or IRCC contact.
Does Pham Law Group directly handle immigration tribunal work?
Yes. We accept immigration tribunal files involving criminal inadmissibility, serious criminality, section 44 reports, admissibility hearings and IAD removal order appeals. We confirm the precise scope at consultation and in the retainer.