Immigration Law Services in Regina for Criminal Charges, Inadmissibility and Removal Risk
Charged or convicted? Know the immigration damage before you plead.
A criminal charge can change a person’s life in criminal court. For a non-citizen, it can also change their right to stay in Canada.
The most dangerous mistake is treating the criminal case and the immigration case as separate problems. A plea that looks practical in Regina Provincial Court can create inadmissibility. A sentence that avoids jail may still create immigration risk. A conviction that appears minor can affect work permits, study permits, permanent residence, citizenship plans, travel, sponsorship, border entry, and removal proceedings.
Pham Law Group offers lawyer-led immigration services for clients whose criminal charges, convictions, or criminal records may affect their Canadian immigration status. We directly handle criminal defence, immigration consequences strategy, section 44 report response, admissibility hearing preparation and advocacy, and Immigration Appeal Division removal order appeals where the file is accepted on retainer.
Why criminal defence and immigration strategy must be connected
The criminal file often creates the immigration problem. That means the immigration strategy must be built before the criminal case is resolved.
The charge matters. The Crown’s election may matter. The maximum penalty may matter. The sentence may matter. The exact facts admitted in court may matter. A discharge, peace bond, withdrawal, stay, acquittal, alternative measures resolution, different offence, or carefully negotiated sentence may have very different immigration consequences.
That is why the core service is simple: charged or convicted? Know the immigration damage before you plead.
Immigration services and fee ranges
The ranges below are starting points for common immigration services connected to criminal law. The final fee depends on urgency, the amount of disclosure, the complexity of the criminal record, whether there is a tribunal deadline, whether affidavits or evidence packages are required, whether a hearing is scheduled, and whether the matter requires travel, transcripts, translation, expert reports, or extensive supporting records. Taxes, government fees, filing fees, transcripts, translation and disbursements are extra unless the retainer says otherwise.
| Service | Typical legal fee range | What it is for |
| Immigration Consequences Opinion | $750 to $1,500 | Focused advice on how a criminal charge, plea, sentence, discharge, peace bond, withdrawal, stay, or conviction may affect immigration status. |
| Criminal Inadmissibility Assessment | $1,500 to $3,500 | Review of criminal history, immigration status, Canadian equivalency, seriousness, sentence exposure, travel risk and available strategy. |
| Temporary Resident Permit Package | $3,500 to $7,500 | A package for a person who may be inadmissible but needs temporary permission to enter or remain in Canada. |
| Criminal Rehabilitation Package | $5,000 to $10,000 | A rehabilitation application package for a person seeking to overcome past criminal inadmissibility where eligible. |
| Urgent Border Refusal Strategy | $2,500 to $5,000 | Urgent advice and document preparation after a border refusal, port of entry issue, travel problem or sudden inadmissibility concern. |
Immigration consequences opinion
An immigration consequences opinion is designed for people who are charged, negotiating resolution, considering a plea, preparing for sentencing, or worried about the immigration effect of a past conviction. It can help identify whether the criminal file may affect permanent residence, temporary status, travel, work, study, sponsorship, removal risk, or future applications.
For many clients, this is the most important step before criminal court decisions are made. The opinion can help defence counsel and the client understand which outcomes are safer, which outcomes are dangerous, and what questions must be answered before resolution.
Criminal inadmissibility assessment
A criminal inadmissibility assessment is broader than a single opinion. It may include review of Canadian charges, foreign convictions, police records, court outcomes, sentence details, immigration status, family ties, work history, travel plans and tribunal risk.
This service is useful where a client has multiple charges, older records, foreign convictions, border issues, a CBSA contact, a section 44 concern, or a pending criminal case where the immigration consequences could be severe.
Temporary resident permit package
A temporary resident permit may be considered where a person is inadmissible but has a compelling reason to enter or remain in Canada temporarily. A TRP is not a permanent fix. It is a discretionary temporary solution and must be prepared carefully with evidence addressing why entry or stay is justified despite inadmissibility.
Pham Law Group can prepare TRP packages connected to criminal inadmissibility, travel urgency, family hardship, employment needs, study concerns, medical issues, business obligations, and border problems.
Criminal rehabilitation package
Criminal rehabilitation may be available in some cases involving past criminality. These packages require careful attention to the offence, sentence completion date, rehabilitation evidence, employment, family support, community ties, treatment, counselling, criminal record checks and supporting records.
For clients with older convictions, a rehabilitation package may be part of a long-term strategy to overcome inadmissibility and reduce future border risk.
Urgent border refusal strategy
Border refusals are stressful because decisions often happen quickly. A person may be stopped at the airport, land border, port of entry, or during travel planning because of a criminal record, outstanding charge, alleged inadmissibility, past removal issue or misunderstanding about a court outcome.
Urgent strategy may include reviewing the refusal reason, criminal records, court documents, disclosure, sentence information, immigration history and available options. Depending on the facts, the next step may be a TRP package, criminal rehabilitation assessment, record correction, status advice, tribunal strategy or a new application.
Why use a lawyer-led criminal and immigration team
Criminal inadmissibility is not just an immigration form problem. It often turns on criminal law: the offence, the elements of the offence, the maximum penalty, Crown election, sentence exposure, plea wording, admitted facts, Charter issues, disclosure, evidence, credibility and sentencing advocacy.
Immigration consultants may be authorized to provide some immigration services. They are not criminal defence lawyers. They do not defend the criminal charge, negotiate with Crown, review disclosure as defence counsel, run Charter applications, conduct criminal trials, or make sentencing submissions. Where the immigration risk comes from a criminal case, lawyer-led criminal defence experience matters.
Pham Law Group is built around courtroom advocacy. The same skills used in criminal trials, Charter applications, bail hearings, sentencing and appeals carry into tribunal work: evidence review, affidavit preparation, witness preparation, cross-examination planning, written argument and oral advocacy.
Speak to Pham Law Group before the criminal file moves
The earlier you get advice, the better. Do not wait until after the plea. Do not wait until after sentencing. Do not wait until CBSA contacts you. Do not wait until the border refuses you. If immigration status matters, the damage must be assessed before the next criminal decision is made.
FAQ section
What is the most important immigration service if I have a criminal charge?
For many clients, the starting point is an immigration consequences opinion. The goal is to understand the immigration damage before any plea, sentence, discharge, peace bond, withdrawal, stay, or trial decision is made.
Are the fee ranges guaranteed?
No. The ranges are estimates for common services. The final quote depends on complexity, urgency, evidence, tribunal stage, and scope. The retainer agreement controls the fee and scope of work.
Can Pham Law Group handle both the criminal case and the immigration issue?
Yes. Where the file is accepted on retainer, Pham Law Group can handle the criminal defence and connected immigration tribunal work, including section 44 strategy, admissibility hearings and IAD removal order appeals.
Is a temporary resident permit permanent?
No. A TRP is temporary, discretionary and limited. It does not permanently overcome inadmissibility.
When should I get advice?
Before pleading guilty, agreeing to facts, accepting a sentence, travelling, responding to CBSA, filing a TRP, filing a rehabilitation application, or attending an admissibility hearing.