Civitas Law
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Toronto · North York · Serving the GTA

Immigration Lawyer in Toronto

Careful, complete applications and confident representation for newcomers and families across the GTA.

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Immigration lawyer in Toronto, Civitas Law Immigration
Overview

What immigration covers in Ontario

Canadian immigration law is federal, governed primarily by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), but Toronto's large, diverse population means local immigration lawyers regularly deal with the full range of pathways, from Express Entry and provincial nominee applications to family sponsorship and refugee claims. Civitas Law assists individuals and families throughout the Greater Toronto Area with applications, responses to requests for additional information, and appeals when applications are refused.

We also assist Toronto's Persian-speaking community directly in Farsi, helping clients understand exactly what IRCC is asking for and why.

How we help

Services we handle in immigration

Direct access to your lawyer at every stage, with clear, honest advice about your options.

Permanent residence applications (Express Entry)

We assist with Express Entry profiles and applications under the federal skilled worker and Canadian experience class categories.

Family and spousal sponsorship

We prepare spousal, partner, and family sponsorship applications and respond to procedural fairness letters from IRCC.

Study and work permits

We assist with study permit and work permit applications, extensions, and refusal responses.

Provincial Nominee Program (Ontario) applications

We help clients apply through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program streams relevant to their occupation or job offer.

Refusal reviews and appeals

We assist with judicial review applications to the Federal Court and appeals before the Immigration Appeal Division.

Inadmissibility and criminal rehabilitation

We advise on overcoming inadmissibility findings, including criminal or misrepresentation-related grounds.

Citizenship applications

We assist eligible permanent residents with citizenship applications and help resolve issues raised during processing.

Ontario context

The Ontario laws and process behind immigration

Immigration law in Canada is exclusively federal, set out in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and its regulations, and administered nationally by IRCC rather than by the province of Ontario. However, Ontario runs its own economic immigration stream, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), which nominates candidates for permanent residence based on provincial labour market needs, and this matters directly for many Toronto-based applicants working in in-demand occupations.

When an application is refused, appeals or reviews may go to the Immigration Appeal Division, the Refugee Appeal Division, or ultimately the Federal Court of Canada through judicial review, none of which are provincial courts. Toronto's IRCC case processing centres and the volume of applications from the GTA mean processing times and local application trends are frequently different from national averages, which is something an immigration lawyer familiar with Toronto cases can help you anticipate.

FAQs

Questions Toronto clients ask about immigration

Plain-language answers to the questions we hear most. Every matter is different, so treat these as a starting point.

How long does spousal sponsorship take in Canada?
Current IRCC service standards target roughly 12 months for spousal sponsorship, though outland applications and inland applications can process at different speeds and actual times vary by case complexity. We help clients prepare complete applications up front to avoid the delays caused by missing documentation.
Can I work in Canada while my permanent residence application is being processed?
It depends on your current status; some applicants qualify for a bridging open work permit or already hold a valid work permit, while others do not have authorization to work until a decision is made. We review your specific status to advise whether a work permit application should be filed alongside your PR application.
What happens if my immigration application is refused?
Depending on the type of application, you may be able to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division, seek judicial review at the Federal Court, or reapply with stronger evidence addressing the refusal reasons. We review the refusal letter carefully to determine the best path forward, since deadlines to appeal or seek review are often short.
Do I need a lawyer or can I use an immigration consultant?
Both licensed immigration lawyers and regulated immigration consultants can represent applicants, but a lawyer can also represent you in Federal Court proceedings and complex legal matters that consultants cannot handle. For straightforward applications either may be appropriate, but for refusals, inadmissibility, or appeals, a lawyer's involvement is often important.
Can a criminal record stop me from immigrating to Canada?
A criminal record, including some offences that seem minor, can make a person inadmissible to Canada under IRPA, but options like criminal rehabilitation or a temporary resident permit may still allow entry or status. We assess the specific offence, its foreign equivalent under Canadian law, and the timing to determine your options.
Do you provide immigration services in Farsi?
Yes. We serve Toronto's Persian-speaking community directly in Farsi, so clients can discuss their situation, documents, and options without a language barrier.
What does an immigration lawyer do?
An immigration lawyer advises people on entering, working, studying, or remaining in Canada, and helps prepare and submit applications such as visas, work or study permits, sponsorship, and permanent residence. They can also assist with responding to refusals or other issues raised by immigration authorities.
Do I need a lawyer to sponsor a spouse in Canada?
A lawyer is not legally required to file a spousal sponsorship application, but the process involves detailed forms and evidence of a genuine relationship, and errors can lead to delays or refusal. A lawyer helps assemble a complete application and responds to any procedural fairness letters IRCC may send.
What is the difference between Express Entry and the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program?
Express Entry is a federal system that ranks candidates for permanent residence based on factors like age, education, and language ability, while the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is a provincial stream that nominates candidates based on Ontario's specific labour market needs. A provincial nomination can boost an Express Entry score.
How much does an immigration lawyer cost in Canada?
Immigration lawyer fees in Canada vary depending on the type of application, such as a work permit, sponsorship, or permanent residence application, and whether the matter is straightforward or involves complications like a prior refusal. A written fee quote for the specific application should be requested before proceeding.
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