Quick answer
What you need to know first
A Toronto immigration lawyer at UL Lawyers can review your IRCC refusal letter, identify legal errors, confirm your judicial review deadline (often 15 or 60 days), and explain whether reapplying, reconsideration, or Federal Court action is the stronger option for your work permit, study permit, PR, or sponsorship refusal.
What an IRCC refusal letter actually tells you—and what it doesn't
A refusal letter from IRCC states the legal grounds for the decision, but it rarely explains the full evidentiary gaps or policy interpretations the officer relied on. Without a careful review, you risk repeating the same mistake in a new application. UL Lawyers reads the refusal alongside your original application, supporting documents, and any procedural fairness correspondence to identify whether the officer made a reviewable legal error or whether stronger evidence could change the result.
- We compare the refusal reasons against IRCC's own operational manuals and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- We check whether the officer ignored relevant evidence or applied the wrong legal test
- We identify whether a procedural fairness letter was sent and whether the response was adequate
- We flag status expiry dates that may affect your ability to remain in Canada while you respond
- We explain the difference between a factual dispute and a legal error—only the latter grounds judicial review
Work permit, study permit, and LMIA-based refusals in Toronto
Toronto is Canada's largest labour market, and work permit refusals here often involve LMIA applications, intra-company transfers, or post-graduate work permits. A refusal can mean losing a job offer or falling out of status. UL Lawyers reviews the specific refusal ground—whether it relates to the employer's compliance history, the genuineness of the offer, or the applicant's ties to Canada—and advises on the fastest path back to a valid permit.
- LMIA-based work permit refusals: we check the Labour Market Impact Assessment validity and officer notes
- Post-graduate work permit refusals: we review study permit history, program completion, and part-time status issues
- Intra-company transfer refusals: we examine the specialized knowledge or executive capacity evidence
- Restoration of status: if your permit expired, we confirm the 90-day restoration window and eligibility
- Employer compliance reviews: we help employers respond to IRCC concerns about past offers or inspections
Permanent residence refusals: Express Entry, family sponsorship, and PNP
A permanent residence refusal can be devastating, especially if you have already built a life in Toronto. Whether the refusal came through Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, or a family sponsorship application, the next steps depend on whether the decision was final, whether you have appeal rights to the Immigration Appeal Division, or whether judicial review at the Federal Court is your only recourse. UL Lawyers helps you map the correct forum and deadline.
- Express Entry refusals: we review CRS score miscalculations, work experience assessments, and medical or security findings
- Family sponsorship refusals: we examine the genuineness of the relationship finding and financial eligibility
- PNP refusals: we check whether the province withdrew the nomination and whether you can seek reinstatement
- Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) vs. Federal Court: we explain which body has jurisdiction over your refusal
- Humanitarian and compassionate considerations: we assess whether an H&C application is an alternative to litigation
Procedural fairness letters: your last chance before a refusal
If IRCC sends you a procedural fairness letter, it means the officer intends to refuse your application based on a specific concern—credibility, misrepresentation, medical inadmissibility, or criminality. You usually have a short window to respond. A well-drafted response can address the officer's concern and avoid a refusal altogether. UL Lawyers helps you prepare a response that is factual, legally accurate, and supported by the right evidence.
- We identify the exact legal provision the officer is relying on and the standard of proof
- We gather and organize responsive evidence: updated employment letters, relationship proof, or rehabilitation documents
- We draft submissions that directly answer the officer's concern without introducing irrelevant information
- We advise whether a medical or security concern requires an expert opinion or a legal opinion letter
- We file the response within the deadline and keep a record for any future judicial review
Federal Court judicial review: deadlines, grounds, and what to expect
Judicial review is not an appeal on the merits. The Federal Court reviews whether the IRCC decision was reasonable and procedurally fair. The deadline to file an application for leave and judicial review is often 15 days for matters arising in Canada or 60 days for matters arising outside Canada—but exceptions exist. Missing the deadline usually ends your ability to challenge the refusal. UL Lawyers can assess whether the officer's decision contains a reviewable error and, if so, prepare and file the application.
- We confirm the applicable deadline under section 72 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- We draft the notice of application, identifying the specific legal errors and the relief sought
- We prepare the applicant's record, including the certified tribunal record and written submissions
- We explain the possibility of settlement: IRCC may consent to reopen the file if the error is clear
- We advise on costs, timelines, and the likelihood of a stay of removal if removal is pending
Restoration of status and maintained status in Ontario
If your temporary resident status has expired, you may be eligible to apply for restoration within 90 days. If you applied to extend your status before it expired, you may have maintained status until a decision is made. These rules are technical, and mistakes can lead to loss of status, work authorization, or even a removal order. UL Lawyers reviews your timeline and helps you apply correctly.
- We confirm whether you qualify for restoration under section 182 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
- We check whether you have maintained status and can continue working or studying
- We advise on the risks of leaving Canada while out of status
- We help prepare the restoration application with a strong explanation for the status lapse
- We coordinate with any pending application to avoid conflicting submissions
Admissibility issues: misrepresentation, criminality, and medical refusals
A finding of inadmissibility—whether for misrepresentation, criminality, or medical grounds—can have long-term consequences, including a five-year ban on entering Canada. These decisions often involve complex legal tests and discretionary language. UL Lawyers reviews the officer's analysis and advises whether a legal challenge, a rehabilitation application, or a temporary resident permit is the appropriate response.
- Misrepresentation findings: we examine whether the officer correctly applied the materiality and intent tests
- Criminal inadmissibility: we assess eligibility for rehabilitation, deemed rehabilitation, or a temporary resident permit
- Medical inadmissibility: we review the medical officer's opinion and the potential for a mitigation plan
- Security inadmissibility: we explain the limited review options and the role of the Federal Court
- We advise on the long-term impact of an inadmissibility finding on future applications
Why Toronto clients choose UL Lawyers for immigration refusals
UL Lawyers focuses on the moment after a refusal—when the decision is in your hands and the clock is running. We do not simply fill out forms. We read the officer's reasons, check the law, and give you a clear, practical recommendation. Our clients include individuals, families, and businesses across Toronto, the GTA, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, and Kitchener-Waterloo. We offer virtual consultations across Ontario.
- We review your refusal letter and application record before the first meeting so the consultation is focused
- We explain the legal options in plain language: reapply, reconsider, or litigate
- We calculate deadlines and file documents on time
- We stay with the file through resolution, whether that means a new application or a Federal Court order
- We coordinate with employers, sponsors, and overseas family members as needed
Documents to gather before you call an immigration lawyer in Toronto
The more information you bring to your first consultation, the more useful the advice will be. UL Lawyers recommends gathering the following documents before you call. If you are missing something, we can often obtain it through an access to information request or by contacting IRCC on your behalf.
- The full IRCC refusal letter, including all pages and the officer's notes if available
- A copy of your original application and all supporting documents you submitted
- Any procedural fairness letter you received and your response, if you sent one
- Your current passport, work permit, study permit, or visitor record
- Correspondence from IRCC, the Canada Border Services Agency, or a provincial immigration office
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
For most immigration decisions, the deadline to file an application for leave and judicial review is 15 days if the decision was made in Canada or 60 days if it was made outside Canada. These deadlines are set by section 72 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and are strictly applied. A lawyer can confirm the exact deadline for your specific refusal.
Yes, reapplying is often faster and less expensive than judicial review. However, if you do not address the reasons for the first refusal, your new application may be refused for the same reasons. A lawyer can review the refusal letter and tell you whether the problem is fixable with better evidence or whether the officer made a legal error that only a court can correct.
Reconsideration is an informal request asking IRCC to look at the decision again. It has no fixed deadline and no guaranteed response. Judicial review is a formal Federal Court process that challenges the legality of the decision. Judicial review has strict deadlines and can result in the court ordering IRCC to redetermine the application.
The procedural fairness letter itself will state the deadline, which is often 7 to 30 days. You must respond by that date. A lawyer can help you prepare a response that directly addresses the officer's concerns with the right evidence and legal submissions.
Yes. Immigration law is federal, so the legal issues are the same whether you are in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, or outside Canada. UL Lawyers offers virtual consultations across Ontario and can represent clients in Federal Court regardless of their physical location.
The Federal Court rarely extends the deadline. If you miss it, you generally lose the right to challenge the refusal in court. You may still be able to reapply or, in limited circumstances, request an extension of time, but the bar is high. You should contact a lawyer immediately if your deadline is approaching.
The cost depends on the complexity of the file, the number of legal issues, and whether the matter settles or proceeds to a hearing. UL Lawyers discusses fees transparently during the initial consultation so you can make an informed decision. We do not charge for the initial call.
Generally, no. You cannot work or study until your status is restored and a new work or study permit is issued. There are limited exceptions. A lawyer can confirm your specific situation and advise on the safest course of action.
In a judicial review, IRCC must produce a certified tribunal record containing all the documents that were before the decision-maker. This record is the basis for the court's review. A lawyer can review the record to identify missing documents or procedural errors that support your case.