- Which lawyers help with permanent residency in Canada?
- How can lawyers for permanent residency help their clients?
- How much does it cost to get an immigration lawyer in Canada?
- Do you need a lawyer to apply for permanent residency in Canada?
- What is the fastest way to get permanent residency in Canada?
- Lawyers for permanent residency: A foreigner's ally
Going through Canada's immigration laws—not to mention the procedures in transacting with the government—can make your life as a foreign national, immigrant, or skilled worker being brought into a Canadian office from abroad, more difficult. To help you through these processes and provide solutions to your problems, you can always turn to a lawyer for permanent residence (PR).
Which lawyers help with permanent residency in Canada?
Also called immigration lawyers, these lawyers can find ways to ensure that your dream of living and working in the Great White North becomes a reality. Generally, these legal professionals can:
- give custom legal advice if you want to move to Canada, whether you're currently living in or out of Canada
- help you process your application to enter Canada, get your PR card, or apply for Canadian citizenship
- represent you before the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the court, or other tribunals
- respond to immediate immigration concerns, such as possible detention, deportation, and other restrictions
You can hire or consult with a lawyer for permanent residency in Canada if you want to move to Canada, regardless of the Canadian immigration programs you want to use. These lawyers can also be hired by your family, spouse, or employer to take care of your PR application.
Getting it right for the first time is a sweet goal for both you and your lawyer. This is to prevent any complications that may result in denying your Canadian PR status, or even your citizenship application in the future.
Check out this podcast from CL Talk from our sister publication Canadian Lawyer, which discusses a lawyer's practice on business immigration:
Interested in consulting a lawyer for permanent residency in Canada? Contact one of the best immigration lawyers in Canada as ranked by Lexpert.
How can lawyers for permanent residency help their clients?
Whether you're a skilled worker or a businessperson who wants to move to Canada, there are a lot of ways that an immigration lawyer can help you, such as the following:
- skilled in immigration laws: Canadian lawyers for permanent residency are knowledgeable on the country's immigration laws and regulations, which has a lot of methods to acquire PR status
- decide what pathway is possible: as each case is different from one another, your lawyer can help you decide what immigration and PR method is best for you, your family, and based on your resources
- concerns about eligibility: after choosing which pathway is perfect for your case, lawyers for permanent residency can help you learn about its specific eligibility, documentary requirements, including its costs
- rights and obligations: immigration lawyers can tell you what your rights and obligations are as a permanent resident, which is a must if you would be applying for citizenship later in the future
- deal with regulators: as there are different regulators (apart from the IRCC) which you may have to deal with, having a lawyer by your side is helpful, who can deal with them and represent you when needed
- remedies for inadmissibility: in case your application has been denied, your lawyer (if you have one) will surely look for possible ways to remedy and appeal the situation
These are just a few of the ways that lawyers can be of assistance to you and your family. To know more, you can reach out to an immigration lawyer or a lawyer for permanent residence near your area.
How much does it cost to get an immigration lawyer in Canada?
The actual costs of hiring an immigration lawyer will depend on several factors, such as the complexity of your case and the type of pathway you would want to pursue.
At most, simple applications for PR status would average at $5,000. This does not include the fees you would have to pay to the IRCC and other documentation and medical fees.
Do you need a lawyer to apply for permanent residency in Canada?
While a lawyer is not required when you're processing your PR status and citizenship in Canada, it is still highly recommended to consult a lawyer for permanent residency. This is especially true if your case falls in any of the following complex cases:
- if you have a criminal history in the country where you come from
- if you or your family have severe or serious health issues
- if your family situation is complicated
If your case seems complex, then it's best to talk first to a lawyer, who can evaluate your case first before starting your PR application. The importance of this is amplified even further for those relocating for work. You don't want to be denied entry to the country and be out of a job!
What is the fastest way to get permanent residency in Canada?
There are many immigration programs (also called pathways) that you can use for your Canadian PR application, such as:
- Express Entry system
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Sponsorship (family or spousal)
- Start-up Visa
- Self-Employed Persons Program
- Atlantic Immigration Program
However, as explained in our article on how easy it is to move to Canada, there's no one-size-fits-all or a method which we can single out as the easiest method. To find out which method suits you, it's better to talk to a lawyer, as it really depends on your personal circumstances.
Also, you should have a preferred Canadian province or territory in mind already when choosing among these permanent residency programs. This will speed up your processing time, since most of these methods will rely on the province or territory that you want to permanently live in.
Fastest methods for PR status
In any case, here's a rundown of the fastest immigration methods that you can use, depending on your current situation and resources:
- for skilled workers: the Express Entry through the Federal Skilled Workers Program would be the fastest way to get permanent residency in Canada, with about 7 months of processing time
- for investors and businesspersons: immigrate to Canada through the Start-up Visa, which has the lowest amount of processing time at 37 months (around 3 years) compared to the other programs
- for students: entering Canada with a student visa would be the fastest with around 6 weeks processing time; foreign students may then apply for permanent residency after graduation or while working in Canada after graduation
The processing times mentioned here are just bare estimates, since the actual period would depend on several factors, such as how complex your case is, where you're applying from, etc.
Learn more about the Express Entry system with this video from the IRCC:
Check out our directory of the Lexpert-ranked best immigration law firms in Canada if you're looking for lawyers who can help you with your permanent residency application.
Who grants permanent residency in Canada?
It is the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which grants PR status in Canada. The Minister will invite you to apply for permanent residency when you have filed your intention to become one, either as a sponsored spouse or family member, as a businessperson or investor, or as a skilled worker.
What are my rights and obligations as a Canadian permanent resident?
After successfully hurdling the PR process, congratulations, you are now a PR who has certain rights but at the same time must also comply with certain obligations under the law.
Rights of a permanent resident
Under Canada's immigration laws, a foreign national who has been granted PR status is entitled to certain rights. In general, you have the following rights as a permanent resident in Canada:
- access to social benefits that Canadian citizens are entitled to
- to live, work, or study anywhere in Canada
- to be protected under Canadian laws and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- to apply for Canadian citizenship, if you become eligible under the law
These rights may be further explained by a lawyer for permanent residency, who can also help when any of your rights have been violated.
Obligations of a Permanent Resident
As a permanent resident in Canada, you must also meet some obligations so that your PR status will not be revoked. Following these rules will also help with your citizenship application in the future.
Here's a list of some of your obligations:
- to always carry and present your valid PR Card or PR Travel Document
- to apply for a new PR Card if your current PR Card expires
- to pay taxes whenever applicable
- to stay in Canada for at least 730 days (about 2 years) during the last 5 years
- to obey all Canadian laws
When you're travelling outside Canada, it's ideal to first consult with an immigration lawyer, so that your PR status will be protected throughout that time.
Lawyers for permanent residency: A foreigner's ally
In a country where you may have limited or zero knowledge about their immigration laws, a lawyer for permanent residency is your best bud. With their knowledge and expertise, you can be assured that you're paying what they're worth and have your PR status ready in no time.
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