Immigration Lawyer in Ajax, Durham Region & the GTA

Immigration services

• Spousal, common-law and family sponsorship
• Permanent residence and Express Entry
• Work permits and study permits
• Visitor visas and extensions
• Citizenship applications
• Procedural fairness letters
• Refusals, appeals to the Immigration Appeal Division and judicial review at the Federal Court

Visa and immigration lawyer for Oshawa and Durham Region

We help clients in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering and Clarington with visitor visas, super visas for parents and grandparents, study permits, work permits and permanent residence. Clients can meet us at our Ajax office or by video.

Oshawa is home to Ontario Tech University and Durham College, and many of our clients are international students or their families. We help with study permit extensions, changes of program or school, post-graduation work permits and the move to permanent residence. We also help families in Durham invite parents and relatives to visit, and respond when a visitor visa or super visa is refused.

A refused visa can often be fixed with a stronger application, but some refusals should be challenged at the Federal Court within strict deadlines. We review the officer's reasons before you reapply.

After a refusal

Refusals often have short deadlines. Many decisions made in Canada must be challenged at the Federal Court within 15 days. We review the decision and advise whether to reapply, appeal or seek judicial review.

Spousal and family sponsorship

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, as well as dependent children and, in some programs, parents and grandparents. Common-law partners generally must have lived together for at least 12 continuous months. The sponsor signs an undertaking to support the sponsored person, which lasts three years for a spouse or partner.

Applications can be made from inside or outside Canada. We help you choose the right stream, gather evidence that the relationship is genuine and prepare a complete package to reduce delays and requests for more information.

Permanent residence and Express Entry

Express Entry manages applications for the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades programs. Candidates are ranked by the Comprehensive Ranking System, and those who receive an invitation to apply generally have 60 days to submit a complete application. Provincial nominee programs, including the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, are another route to permanent residence.

Work and study permits

We assist with employer-specific work permits, including those that require a Labour Market Impact Assessment, open work permits for eligible spouses, and study permits and extensions. Permit rules and caps change frequently, so we confirm current requirements before every application.

Citizenship

Adult permanent residents generally need at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada in the five years before applying, along with tax filing, language and knowledge requirements. We review your travel history and documents before you apply.

Deadlines after a negative decision

• Judicial review at the Federal Court: 15 days for most decisions made in Canada and 60 days for decisions made outside Canada
• Sponsorship appeals to the Immigration Appeal Division: generally 30 days from receiving the refusal
• Procedural fairness letters: respond within the deadline stated in the letter, which is often short

Why applications are refused

Common reasons for refusal include missing or inconsistent documents, weak evidence of a genuine relationship, insufficient proof of funds or ties to home, misunderstanding program eligibility, and missed deadlines for requested information. Misrepresentation, even by mistake, can lead to a five-year bar on applying again. We review every form and supporting document for consistency before submission.

Visitor visas and extensions

We help with temporary resident visas, super visas for parents and grandparents, and visitor record applications to extend a stay in Canada. Applying to extend before your status expires helps protect your ability to remain while the application is processed.