Best Immigration Lawyers in Mississauga, ON

Before acquiring the services of an immigration consultant, it is important to understand the difference between a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) and an unauthorized provider of immigration services. RCICs are required to abide by a strict Code of Professional Ethics. The following rules, guidelines, and attribute of a RCIC are as follows: Knowledgeable and informed on immigration law and Canadian immigration system, Required to abide by stringent ethical and professional rules that are designed to protect consumers, Required to provide evidence of good character prior to becoming Regulated, Proficient in English or French, Work with agents known to ICCRC, Supported by ICCRC to enhance quality of services, Monitored by ICCRC; non-compliance is taken seriously, Accountable to ICCRC; complaints are taken seriously, and Possess valid Errors and Omissions Insurance for enhanced consumer protection. Please note that an Unauthorized Providers of Immigration Services does not have any of these attributes.

Permanent residents are not obliged to remain in Canada, and are in no way restricted from departure at any time. However, the longer a permanent resident is absent from Canada after landing, the greater the risk that permanent resident status may be jeopardized. Permanent resident status will be revoked if you will be absent from Canada for more than 2 years of a 5 year period, from your landing date.

Your spouse and any dependent children may be included in the application. Children must be under the age of 19 years. If they are 19 and older, they must not have had an interruption of more than 12 months in their schooling. Your accompanying dependents will be subject to medical and security clearance requirements. Other family members, such as your parents, generally cannot be included in the application but you may be able to sponsor them as part of the family class after you land in Canada. Common-law spouses and same-sex partners are not considered spouses for immigration purposes. They will be assessed independently. Where the common-law spouse or same-sex partner does not qualify as an independent immigrant, an Immigrant Visa may still be issued on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

We recommend that you complete and submit an online assessment of your eligibility for immigration which we will evaluate at no charge. You may do so as a skilled worker applicant, a business applicant, or a family class applicant.

Unlike permanent residents, Canadian citizens are allowed to be absent from Canada for extended periods of time without any risk of losing their status. Except in rare cases, Canadian citizens cannot be deported from Canada. Canadian citizens also receive Canadian passports and are entitled to vote in federal elections.