Trusted Immigration Law Advice and Representation

How Canadian Immigration Law Actually Works (IRPA/IRPR Anchors)

Canadian immigration is governed by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). These set:

• Eligibility rules for temporary status (visitors, students, workers) and permanent residence (economic, family, refugee/humanitarian).
• Grounds of inadmissibility (IRPA ss. 34–42, including security, human/international rights violations, criminality, medical, misrepresentation).
• Procedural rules such as maintained status (IRPR s.183(5)), restoration (IRPR s.182), and work permit criteria (IRPR s.200).
• Express Entry integrity (IRPA s.11.2), allowing refusals if points/eligibility aren’t met at the time of decision.
• Appeals and review: many refusals go to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) of the IRB (e.g., certain sponsorships, residency obligation), while others require leave and judicial review at the Federal Court (IRPA s.72).

We cite the right provisions in your submissions so officers and tribunals see immediately how your facts meet the law.

Who Can Represent You (and When You Need a Lawyer)

IRPA s.91 permits representation by:

• Lawyers and Quebec notaries in good standing with a law society (full scope, including Federal Court).
• Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) in good standing (representation before IRCC/CBSA/IRB; not Federal Court).
• Unpaid representatives (family/friends) in limited circumstances.

When you really want a lawyer:

• Procedural fairness letters (PFLs), credibility concerns, or suspected misrepresentation (IRPA s.40).
• Medical inadmissibility (IRPA s.38) or criminality/serious criminality (IRPA s.36).
• Express Entry A11.2 refusals or complex program‑specific requirements.
• Residency obligation investigations (IRPA s.28) and PR card renewals with short days.
• Appeals at the IAD or judicial review at Federal Court (tight filing deadlines: e.g., 15 days for in‑Canada decisions; 60 days for decisions made outside Canada).

Our Process (Tailored, Not Templated)

• Within two business days: you receive an Eligibility & Risk Memo (issues, options, deadlines), a document checklist, and a filing roadmap.
• Evidence, organized: we build proof to the correct legal standard (e.g., relationship genuineness, skilled work per NOC/TEER, medical/rehabilitation evidence, dual intent analysis under IRPA s.22(2)).
• Timing protected: we track expiry dates, maintained status (IRPR s.183(5)), restoration windows (IRPR s.182), appeal/JR timelines, and biometrics/medical validity.
• Submission quality: cover letters and legal briefs map IRPA/IRPR to your facts; we pre‑empt common refusal grounds.
• Clear updates: short, plain‑English status notes; no jargon.

Practical Knowledge You Can Use

• Maintained status (IRPR s.183(5)) keeps you in status while a timely extension is in process; conditions remain the same until a decision.
• Restoration (IRPR s.182) may be available after status expiry if you act within the prescribed window. Don’t wait.
• Dual intent (IRPA s.22(2)) allows genuine temporary entry even with PR plans—explain ties, compliance history, and return plans.
• Spousal sponsorships: outland refusals usually appeal to the IAD; in‑Canada class refusals typically go to Federal Court by JR.
• Residency obligation: PRs must meet 730 days in 5 years; shortfalls require careful H&C submissions.
• Express Entry (IRPA s.11.2): points/eligibility must be satisfied at decision time, not just at ITA; update changes promptly.
• GCMS/ATIP requests: we obtain officer notes to diagnose file issues before escalating (reconsideration vs. JR).

Services for Individuals and Families

Permanent Residence (PR) – Express Entry (FSW/CEC/FST), PNP nominations, family sponsorships, humanitarian applications (IRPA s.25.1). We handle eligibility analysis, document strategy, and submissions.

Work & Study – Study permits, co‑op, post‑grad strategies; employer‑specific/open work permits; bridging options for PR‑in‑process; restorations and maintained status.

Visitor/Business Travel – TRVs/eTAs with clear purpose‑of‑travel narratives and evidence of ties.

Appeals & Federal Court – Sponsorship and residency appeals at IAD; JR filings at Federal Court with precise timelines and remedies.

Inadmissibility & Enforcement – Medical, criminality, misrepresentation; TRPs (IRPA s.24), criminal rehabilitation, ARC after removal orders.

We right‑size involvement: from a one‑hour strategy consult to full representation.

Business Immigration and Employer Compliance

For Ontario employers and Canadian subsidiaries:

• LMIA applications (IRPR s.203) and recruitment compliance.
• LMIA‑exempt work permits under IRPR s.205 (e.g., intra‑company transferees C12, significant benefit C10, reciprocal employment C20).
• Employer Portal filings and employer compliance (IRPR ss.209.2–209.4), audits, and remediation plans.
• Global mobility planning that aligns immigration timelines with hiring and onboarding.

Common Pitfalls—and How We Fix Them

• Returned or refused files due to missing documents, wrong forms, or wrong legal test → we triage, correct, and resubmit with a targeted brief.
• PFLs → we address the allegation directly, cure evidentiary gaps, and cite the right provisions.
• Misrepresentation (s.40) risks → we rebuild the record, pursue reconsideration where viable, or prepare JR/H&C strategies.
• Medical inadmissibility (s.38) → individualized plans addressing excessive‑demand or public health/safety concerns.
• Residency obligation/PR card renewals → day‑count analysis, H&C evidence, and IAD appeal prep.
• Tight timelines → we file on time or advise alternate remedies when deadlines have passed.

Next Step

Bring us your goals, prior applications, and any officer letters. Within two business days, we’ll deliver your Eligibility & Risk Memo and a clear plan with timelines. Then we execute—methodically and transparently.

Contact UL Lawyers for a free, confidential consultation.