Immigration Law in Canada

Who is legally allowed to help me with my immigration case?

For paid help: only lawyers (members of a provincial law society), Quebec notaries, and immigration consultants licensed with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. Charging for immigration advice or representation without that licence is an offence under s 91 of IRPA — and unlicensed "ghost consultants" are behind a large share of refused and misrepresentation-flagged applications. Verify any consultant on the College's public register before money changes hands. Our consultations connect you with Canadian lawyers.

How does Express Entry actually work?

It is a ranked pool, not a queue. You qualify for one of the federal programs (skilled worker, skilled trades, or Canadian experience), enter a profile, and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System score built on age, education, language test results, and work experience — with big additions for a provincial nomination. IRCC runs draws, general and category-based, inviting the top scores to apply for permanent residence. The strategic game is raising your score — better language results, a nomination, more experience — and category draws mean your occupation can matter as much as your points.

Can I sponsor my spouse or family?

Citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a spouse or partner and dependent children — undertaking financial responsibility for them for a set period — and genuine-relationship evidence does the heavy lifting in spousal cases. Parents and grandparents run through a capped intake, with the super visa as the long-visit alternative. Sponsorship refusals, unusually, carry an appeal right to the Immigration Appeal Division. A sponsor's own history (undertakings in default, certain convictions) can disqualify — check both sides of the file early.

I have a criminal record. Am I inadmissible?

Possibly — and impaired driving is the trap: since December 2018 it counts as serious criminality, which can make foreign nationals inadmissible and cost permanent residents their status, with removal orders and (for serious criminality with a substantial sentence) no appeal to the IAD. Fixes exist depending on the facts: criminal rehabilitation applications after enough time has passed, temporary resident permits for compelling need, and record suspensions for Canadian convictions (though these have limits at foreign borders). If you are not a citizen and face any charge, get immigration advice before any guilty plea.

My application was refused. What can I do?

Read the refusal and the deadline first — the routes are short-fused. Many refusals can be challenged in Federal Court by judicial review, with leave: 15 days to file for decisions made inside Canada, 60 days for outside. Sponsorship refusals generally appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division; refugee refusals may go to the Refugee Appeal Division. Sometimes the smarter move is a fresh, stronger application. Misrepresentation findings deserve special respect: they carry a 5-year bar. Which route fits is exactly a lawyer-hour question.

How do I become a Canadian citizen?

The standard grant requires permanent residence plus physical presence: 1,095 days (3 years) in Canada during the 5 years before you apply — each day as a temporary resident before PR counting as a half-day, up to 365 days' credit. Add tax-filing compliance, and for applicants aged 18 to 54, a language requirement (English or French) and the citizenship knowledge test. Days matter: keep a travel log, because miscounted absences are the most common avoidable refusal.

I'm out of status or facing removal. Is it hopeless?

No — but it is urgent. Depending on the facts there may be restoration of status (within 90 days of losing it), a humanitarian and compassionate application, a pre-removal risk assessment, deferral requests, or a Federal Court challenge with a stay motion. None of these reward waiting, and some doors close on fixed days. Call the free line to understand the landscape tonight, then get a lawyer on the file — this is the end of immigration law where hours genuinely matter.

Is this legal advice? Are you a law firm?

No. Legal Hotline is not a law firm. The free line gives general legal information and signposting about Canadian immigration law — not legal advice, not representation — and calling creates no lawyer-client relationship. Paid immigration advice may only come from lawyers, Quebec notaries or College-licensed consultants: when you want it, we connect you with a Canadian immigration lawyer for a one-hour consultation at a flat C$295 — the total, nothing added — bookable on the call.