Quick answer
What you need to know first
After an immigration refusal, a Burlington immigration lawyer can review your IRCC refusal letter, identify the legal or evidentiary gap, confirm your deadline for judicial review (often 15 or 60 days), and advise whether reapplying, responding to a procedural fairness letter, or going to Federal Court is the right next step.
What your IRCC refusal letter actually means
A refusal is not just a 'no.' It is a finding that the officer was not satisfied you met a specific requirement under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or Regulations. The refusal letter will point to the section of the law or the evidence gap the officer relied on. Understanding that reason is the first step. UL Lawyers reads the refusal letter alongside your original application to spot whether the officer made a legal error, overlooked evidence, or whether the application simply needs stronger supporting documents.
- We identify the exact IRPA or IRPR provision cited in your refusal
- We check whether the officer ignored or misapplied your evidence
- We assess if a procedural fairness letter should have been sent but was not
- We explain whether the refusal is a fixable gap or a deeper admissibility problem
- We confirm your current status and whether you need restoration or maintained status
Work permit, LMIA, and employer-driven refusals in Burlington
Many Burlington clients come to us after a work permit or LMIA-based application is refused. The refusal often turns on whether the officer accepted the job offer, the employer's genuineness, or your ability to perform the work. Sometimes the issue is a missing document; other times the officer doubts you will leave Canada at the end of your stay. UL Lawyers reviews the employer's documentation, the LMIA (if applicable), and your personal history to build a stronger reapplication or decide if judicial review is warranted.
- LMIA-based work permit refusals and employer compliance questions
- Intra-company transfer and CUSMA professional refusals
- Post-graduation work permit refusals and study gaps
- Spousal open work permit refusals tied to a principal applicant's status
- Employer portal submissions and officer concerns about genuineness
Permanent residence refusals: Express Entry, family sponsorship, and PNP
A permanent residence refusal can feel devastating, especially when you have been waiting months or years. Express Entry applications may be refused for missing documents, miscalculated CRS points, or concerns about work experience. Family sponsorship refusals often involve relationship genuineness or financial eligibility. Provincial nominee refusals can stem from a province withdrawing the nomination. UL Lawyers reviews the refusal reasons and your original submission to decide whether a fresh application, a reconsideration request, or a Federal Court challenge is the right path.
- Express Entry refusals: CRS point miscalculations and document gaps
- Family sponsorship refusals: relationship evidence and financial requirements
- PNP refusals: nomination withdrawal and employer changes
- Self-employed and start-up visa refusals
- Humanitarian and compassionate application refusals
Procedural fairness letters: your chance to stop a refusal
A procedural fairness letter is not a refusal yet—it is a warning. IRCC sends it when the officer intends to refuse based on credibility, misrepresentation, criminality, medical inadmissibility, or other serious concerns. You usually have a short window to respond, and what you say can change the outcome. A lawyer can help you draft a response that directly addresses the officer's concerns, attaches the right evidence, and makes legal arguments where the officer's interpretation is wrong. UL Lawyers has experience responding to procedural fairness letters across all major immigration categories.
- Misrepresentation allegations and the 5-year ban risk
- Medical inadmissibility and excessive demand responses
- Criminal inadmissibility and rehabilitation evidence
- Credibility concerns in relationship or employment history
- Short deadlines: we prioritize these responses immediately
Federal Court judicial review: deadlines you cannot miss
If the refusal was legally unreasonable or procedurally unfair, you may be able to challenge it at the Federal Court of Canada. The deadline is strict: 15 days for some decisions and 60 days for others, calculated from when you received the decision. Missing that deadline usually means losing the right to challenge. Judicial review is not a re-do of your application; it is an argument that the officer made a reviewable error. UL Lawyers can assess whether your refusal raises a legal error, prepare the application for leave and judicial review, and represent you at the Federal Court if leave is granted.
- 15-day deadline for some inland decisions; 60 days for overseas refusals
- Application for leave and judicial review: what the court looks for
- Settlement and consent to set aside: when the Department of Justice agrees
- Remittal back to IRCC for redetermination by a different officer
- Costs and timing: what to expect from a Federal Court challenge
Status restoration and maintained status after a refusal
A refusal can put your legal status in Canada at risk. If your permit has expired, you may have a 90-day window to apply for restoration of status. If you applied to extend before your status expired, you may have maintained status while the decision is pending—but that ends when the refusal is issued. UL Lawyers reviews your timeline to confirm whether you are still in status, whether you can restore, and whether leaving and reapplying is safer than staying. We also advise on the risks of working or studying after a refusal.
- 90-day restoration window after status expiry
- Maintained status: when it applies and when it ends
- Risks of working or studying after a refusal
- Re-entry considerations if you leave Canada after a refusal
- Bridging open work permits and when they are still available
Documents to gather before your consultation
A focused consultation starts with the right documents. Bring everything IRCC sent you, everything you sent them, and anything that explains your timeline. UL Lawyers uses these materials to confirm deadlines, spot legal errors, and recommend the next step. The more complete your file, the more useful the advice.
- IRCC refusal letter and any procedural fairness letter
- Your complete application package as submitted
- Passport, current and expired permits, and entry stamps
- Correspondence with IRCC, CBSA, or provincial immigration offices
- Employment letters, pay stubs, relationship evidence, or study records
Why Burlington clients choose UL Lawyers for immigration refusals
Immigration law is federal, so the legal issues are the same whether you are in Burlington, Toronto, or anywhere in Ontario. What matters is having a lawyer who reads the refusal letter carefully, understands IRPA and the Federal Courts Act, and gives you a straight answer about your options. UL Lawyers offers virtual consultations across Ontario, so you can get legal advice without travelling. We focus on refusal and dispute work—not just initial applications—so we are used to fixing problems, not just filling out forms.
- Virtual consultations available for Burlington and Halton Region clients
- Experience with IRCC refusals, procedural fairness letters, and judicial review
- Straightforward advice: we tell you if reapplying is better than going to court
- No forms-only approach: we focus on the legal and evidentiary gaps
- Serving clients across the GTA, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Ontario
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the refusal reasons and your timeline. Reapplying is usually faster and lets you fix evidence gaps, but it does not challenge a legal error. Judicial review can overturn an unreasonable decision, but the deadline is strict—often 15 or 60 days. UL Lawyers can review your refusal letter and advise which path fits your situation.
For most decisions made inside Canada, the deadline is 15 days from when you received the decision. For decisions made outside Canada, it is usually 60 days. These deadlines are strict, and missing them usually means losing the right to challenge. Contact a lawyer immediately to confirm your deadline.
A procedural fairness letter is IRCC's warning that it intends to refuse your application based on a specific concern—such as misrepresentation, credibility, or inadmissibility. You typically have a short time to respond. A lawyer can help you draft a response that directly addresses the officer's concerns with evidence and legal argument.
It depends on your current status. If you had maintained status while waiting for a decision, that status ends when the refusal is issued. You may have a 90-day window to apply for restoration. If you leave Canada, you may need a new visa or permit to return. UL Lawyers can review your timeline and advise on your status options.
Sometimes. If the refusal was based on the employer's documentation, the employer may need to provide additional information through the employer portal or address compliance concerns. UL Lawyers can work with you and your employer to identify what went wrong and strengthen a reapplication.
Yes. Family sponsorship refusals often involve questions about the genuineness of the relationship or the sponsor's financial eligibility. We review the refusal letter, the evidence you submitted, and any credibility concerns the officer raised, then advise whether a stronger application or an appeal is the right step.
No. UL Lawyers offers virtual and phone consultations across Ontario. You can get legal advice on your immigration refusal without travelling. We review your documents electronically and discuss your options by video or phone.
Costs and timelines vary depending on the complexity of the case and whether leave is granted. The process involves an application for leave, and if granted, a hearing. Some cases settle when the Department of Justice agrees to set aside the decision. UL Lawyers can give you a realistic estimate after reviewing your file.
You can usually reapply, but you must address the reasons for the refusal. Simply resubmitting the same application will likely lead to the same result. A lawyer can help you identify the gaps, gather stronger evidence, and present a more complete application.