Can I be deported if I have criminal charges or get a criminal record?
If you are a Canadian citizen you cannot be deported if you have criminal charges or get a criminal record.
If you are a foreign national or a permanent resident, criminal charges or a criminal record may result in your deportation.
If you are a foreign national or permanent resident and are charged with an offence, the police will submit a report to the Canada Broder Services Agency, who may conduct an admissibility hearing before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
The IRB may, at the conclusion of the hearing, issue a deportation order. Permanent Residents may be deported if convicted of a “serious crime,” meaning an offence where the maximum sentence is 10 years or more in prison, or if the actual sentence received is greater than six months in prison. A foreign national may be deported if convicted of a “serious crime,” a less serious crime, or two minor offences stemming from separate events.
If you are concerned about the impact that a criminal record may have on your immigration status, it is recommended that you speak with a criminal defence lawyer to explore the defences and options that may be available to avoid a criminal record. It is further advisable for you to consult with an immigration lawyer regarding the impact any potential outcome to your charges may have on your status in Canada.
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