Criminal Defense Lawyers in Windsor
Windsor is Canada’s busiest border city. Thousands of residents cross to Detroit every week for work in hospitals, auto plants and offices, and many more travel for family and shopping. For them, a criminal charge is not only a court problem. It can cost them a NEXUS card, a US work status or the ability to cross at all.
Provident Law LLP defends people charged by Windsor Police Service and other Essex County services, with a strategy that accounts for the border from day one. Our partners handle early Windsor appearances by video where the court allows and attends in person for trials and key hearings.
- 24/7 arrest and bail line: (647) 254-9617
- Free, confidential case review with a partner, not an assistant
- Courts we appear in: Brampton (Peel) and courts across the GTA
- Legal Aid Ontario certificates accepted
Criminal Case Evaluation
Complete the form below and one of our legal professionals will contact you shortly.
Windsor Police Service (Windsor and Amherstburg); LaSalle Police Service; Essex County OPP in other municipalities
How a Canadian Charge Can Affect Your Border Status
Issue | Possible consequence | What we focus on |
|---|---|---|
NEXUS or FAST membership | Suspension or cancellation after charges or convictions | Fast, non-conviction outcomes |
US work status | Questions or refusal at renewal or entry | Avoiding pleas to offences the US treats harshly |
US entry | Inadmissibility for certain offences | Choosing the charge you plead to with care |
Return to Canada (non-residents) | Delays or refusal for foreign nationals | Coordinated immigration advice |
Not listed?
Call us. A partner will tell you honestly whether we can help at your court location.
NEXUS and FAST Cards
NEXUS and FAST are trusted traveller programs run jointly by Canada and the United States, and either country can suspend or cancel membership. A criminal charge, even before any conviction, can lead to suspension, and a conviction usually ends membership.
For daily commuters, that means longer lines and closer questioning every trip. We aim for outcomes such as withdrawals or peace bonds that give you the best chance of keeping or regaining your card.
Working in Michigan
Many Windsor nurses, engineers and skilled trades workers hold US work status. US authorities look closely at criminal history when you enter and when you renew that status, and some offences, especially those involving drugs or dishonesty, can make you inadmissible. The wording of the offence you plead to can matter as much as the sentence. We consider US consequences before negotiating any resolution and recommend US immigration advice where needed.
US Entry Waivers
If a conviction makes you inadmissible to the United States, you may need a US waiver to enter, which can take months to process and must be renewed. That is a major burden for anyone who crosses regularly. Avoiding the conviction in the first place is far better. If you already have a record, a Canadian record suspension does not by itself fix US inadmissibility, so a waiver may still be required.
Wherever you were charged, start with one call
A partner will tell you honestly how we can help with your court location.
Criminal Case Evaluation
Complete the form below and one of our legal professionals will contact you shortly.
Assault and domestic assault
Impaired driving on the E.C. Row and Huron Church Road
Drug offences, including allegations of importing
Theft and fraud, including allegations at Caesars Windsor and shopping centres
What we offer
Why it matters for border crossers
Border-aware strategy
We assess US and trusted traveller consequences before any plea is discussed
Coordination with US immigration counsel
Your Canadian defence and US status advice work together
Video for early appearances
You do not need to take time off for routine Windsor dates
Focus on fast resolution
The sooner a charge is resolved, the sooner you can apply to restore your card
The lawyers who will handle your case
Charnpreet Saini
Lawyer & Partner
As a founding partner at Provident Law LLP, Preet focuses on Criminal Defence law.
Armandeep Gill
Lawyer & Partner
As a founding partner at Provident Law LLP, Arman practices in the Criminal Defence Law.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Never lie to a US border officer. A false statement can make you permanently inadmissible, which is far worse than the charge itself. At the same time, you should understand your situation before you cross. Speak with your criminal lawyer, and if needed a US immigration lawyer, about how to answer truthfully and whether it is wise to travel while the charge is pending.
-
It depends on your release conditions. Some orders require you to stay in Ontario or surrender your passport, which would stop you from commuting. If your job is in Michigan, tell us immediately. We can ask the Crown to agree to conditions that allow travel for work, or seek a variation from the court, while addressing any concerns about your return.
-
A discharge is not a conviction in Canada, and that can help. But US authorities apply their own law and may treat a discharge, or the admission of facts behind it, differently. For drug offences in particular, an admission alone can create problems. We weigh these risks before you accept any resolution, and sometimes a withdrawal or trial is the better path.
-
They may. Canada and the United States share certain law enforcement information, and US officers can ask you directly about arrests and charges. You should assume that a Canadian criminal record, and possibly a pending charge, may be visible to them. That is why we discuss travel plans with you early and coordinate with US immigration counsel where your work depends on crossing.
-
If Canada Border Services Agency officers found undeclared goods, drugs or weapons when you returned, you may face Customs Act charges, Criminal Code charges or both, along with seizure of goods or your vehicle. These cases depend on what you declared, what officers asked and how the search was done. Do not discuss the details with anyone until you have legal advice.
Speak With a Windsor Criminal Defence Lawyer
Call (647) 254-9617, 24/7, or book a free case review. Learn about our team.