Securing permanent residence in Canada represents a significant milestone in your immigration journey, opening doors to long-term stability, employment opportunities, and the ability to build a life in one of the world’s most welcoming countries. However, the path to Canadian permanent residency involves complex legal requirements, extensive documentation, and strict deadlines that can overwhelm even the most prepared applicants.
An immigration lawyer in Markham brings specialized knowledge of Canadian immigration law and local experience working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to guide you through each stage of the process.
Whether you’re applying for the first time, maintaining your status, or facing complications with your permanent residence, professional legal support can mean the difference between approval and rejection.
Contact our Markham immigration team to start your PR journey today.
Why You Need a Permanent Residence Lawyer in Markham
The Canadian permanent residence application process demands precision. A single missing document, improperly completed form, or misunderstood requirement can delay your application by months or result in outright rejection. Immigration officers review thousands of applications, and those that don’t meet exact specifications often face refusal without the opportunity for clarification.
A permanent residence lawyer in Markham provides several advantages:
Strategic planning: We assess your circumstances to identify the most appropriate immigration pathway, whether through Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, family sponsorship, or other streams, preventing wasted time pursuing unsuitable programs.
Documentation accuracy: We ensure all supporting documents meet IRCC requirements, are properly translated if necessary, and clearly demonstrate your eligibility, reducing the likelihood of procedural fairness letters or requests for additional information.
Local experience: Our Markham location means we understand the regional immigration landscape, including Ontario-specific programs like the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), and have established relationships with local services you may need.
Timely responses: We ensure you respond appropriately and on time to any IRCC communications, protecting your application from administrative closures.
Legal support at the outset typically saves both time and money compared to addressing complications after a refusal.
Services We Offer for Permanent Residence Applicants
PR Application Assistance
Our comprehensive application support begins with a thorough eligibility assessment. We review your education, work experience, language abilities, and personal circumstances to determine which permanent residence programs best suit your profile. For Express Entry candidates, we analyze your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and identify strategies to improve your ranking.
We then prepare your complete application package, including educational credential assessments, language test results, police certificates, and medical examinations. We ensure forms are completed accurately and compile supporting evidence that strengthens your case.
Throughout the process, we serve as your representative with IRCC, managing all correspondence and responding to requests for additional information.
PR Renewal and Maintenance
Maintaining your permanent resident status requires meeting specific residency obligations. You must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within every five-year period, though exceptions exist for accompanying Canadian citizen spouses abroad or working for Canadian businesses overseas.
We help permanent residents understand and comply with these requirements by calculating your physical presence, advising on acceptable absences, and developing strategies to maintain status while accommodating necessary travel. When applying for PR card renewal, we ensure your application demonstrates continued compliance.
If you’ve fallen short of residency requirements, we can explore humanitarian and compassionate considerations that may allow you to retain your status.
Learn more in our guide on how to maintain PR status in Canada.
Permanent Residency Appeals & Rejections
A PR application refusal isn’t necessarily final. Depending on the grounds for refusal, several legal avenues may exist to challenge the decision or reapply with a stronger case.
We analyze refusal letters to identify procedural errors, overlooked evidence, or unreasonable decision-making. We can file applications for judicial review in Federal Court when officers fail to properly consider evidence or breach procedural fairness requirements.
For those who’ve lost permanent resident status due to non-compliance with residency obligations, we represent clients at Immigration Appeal Division hearings, presenting humanitarian and compassionate factors that justify retaining your status.
Permanent Resident vs Canadian Citizen – What’s the Difference?
While permanent residents enjoy many of the same rights as Canadian citizens, important distinctions exist. Permanent residents can live, work, and study anywhere in Canada, access most social benefits, and receive protection under Canadian law and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, they cannot vote, run for political office, or hold certain jobs requiring high-level security clearance.
The most significant difference involves residency obligations. A Canadian citizen vs permanent resident faces different requirements: citizens maintain their status regardless of where they live, while permanent residents must meet physical presence requirements to retain their status.
Permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting eligibility criteria, including physical presence of at least 1,095 days within five years and demonstrating language proficiency and knowledge of Canada. Our firm guides eligible permanent residents through the citizenship application process, helping you transition from PR status to full citizenship when you’re ready.
Pathways to Canadian Permanent Residence
Express Entry
The Express Entry system manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates create profiles ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System, which awards points for age, education, language ability, and work experience.
The highest-ranking candidates receive Invitations to apply during regular draws. A permanent residence lawyer in Markham can help maximize your CRS score through strategic planning, such as improving language test results, obtaining additional credentials, or securing a provincial nomination that adds 600 points to your profile.
We also identify potential issues before submission, such as gaps in work experience documentation or credential assessment problems that could derail your application.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Provincial Nominee Programs allow Canadian provinces to nominate individuals who meet specific labour market needs. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers several streams targeting skilled workers, international students who’ve graduated from Ontario institutions, and entrepreneurs.
Working with a Markham-based immigration lawyer provides distinct advantages for OINP applications. We understand Ontario’s economic priorities, regional labour shortages, and specific documentation requirements that differ from federal programs.
A provincial nomination through OINP adds 600 points to your Express Entry profile, virtually guaranteeing you’ll receive an Invitation to Apply. For non-Express Entry OINP streams, nomination allows you to apply directly for permanent residence.
Family Sponsorship
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence. Spousal sponsorship is the most common category, allowing you to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. Additional categories include dependent children and parents and grandparents.
Family sponsorship applications require proving relationship genuineness, meeting minimum income requirements (for parent/grandparent sponsorship), and demonstrating the sponsor’s ability to support the sponsored person financially. Immigration officers scrutinize these applications carefully, particularly cases involving short relationships, significant age differences, or previous sponsorship history.
Legal representation becomes particularly valuable in complex cases involving prior marriages, children from previous relationships, or circumstances that might raise questions about relationship genuineness. We help prepare comprehensive applications that proactively address potential concerns.
Why Choose Our Markham Immigration Law Firm?
Kingwell Immigration Law brings over 20 years of immigration law experience to clients throughout Markham and the Greater Toronto Area. Our founder, Daniel Kingwell, has built a reputation for handling complex immigration matters that other firms may decline, including Federal Court litigation and urgent removal cases.
Our Markham location means we’re accessible to local clients while maintaining sophisticated legal capabilities. We understand the demographic diversity of Markham’s population and have experience serving clients from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
What distinguishes our approach is our commitment to personalized service. We recognize that immigration law affects your ability to build a life in Canada, support your family, and pursue your career goals. Every client receives a tailored strategy rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Our Federal Court litigation experience particularly benefits clients facing refused applications or removal proceedings. Get in touch with our permanent residence lawyers today to discuss your immigration goals.
Schedule a Consultation With a Markham Permanent Residence Lawyer
Attempting to handle permanent residence applications without legal guidance increases the risk of costly mistakes, processing delays, and refusals. The stakes are too high to leave your Canadian immigration future to chance.
We offer consultations where we review your situation, assess your eligibility for various permanent residence pathways, and outline a strategic approach to achieving your immigration goals.
Book a confidential consultation with a permanent residence lawyer in Markham today. You can reach our team at 416.988.8853 or through our contact page to schedule a meeting at your convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I apply for permanent residence in Canada from Markham?
You can apply for Canadian permanent residence through several pathways, including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, family sponsorship, or specific economic programs. The best pathway depends on your qualifications, work experience, and personal circumstances. A Markham immigration lawyer can assess your eligibility and guide you through the application process for your situation.
What documents are needed for PR application in Canada?
PR applications typically require educational credential assessments, language test results, police certificates from all countries where you’ve lived, medical examinations, proof of work experience, and financial documentation. Specific requirements vary by program. Your lawyer ensures you gather the correct documents and submit them in the proper format to avoid processing delays.
Do I need a lawyer to apply for Canadian PR?
While not legally required, hiring a lawyer significantly improves your chances of approval. Immigration lawyers identify the best pathway for your profile, ensure accurate documentation, respond to procedural fairness letters, and can appeal refused applications. Legal representation is particularly valuable for complex cases or applicants with potential inadmissibility issues.
How long does it take to get permanent residence in Canada?
Processing times vary by program and individual circumstances. Express Entry applications typically process within six months after receiving an Invitation to Apply. Provincial nominee programs may take 15-19 months total. Family sponsorship timelines range from 12-24 months depending on whether you’re sponsoring someone inside or outside Canada. Your lawyer can provide more specific timelines for your situation.
Can I lose my permanent resident status in Canada?
Yes, you can lose permanent resident status by failing to meet residency obligations (being physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within each five-year period), being convicted of serious crimes, or through misrepresentation. If you’re at risk of losing your status, legal representation can help you explore options to maintain your PR or appeal a removal order.