Virtual Immigration Consultation

Canadian immigration and refugee law is federal law. It applies the same way in every province and territory, and most of the people it affects are never in the same room as their lawyer. Sponsors in Canada with spouses overseas, permanent residents abroad without a valid PR card, employers hiring foreign talent, and applicants whose refusal letters arrived by email — location has never determined whether a matter can be handled properly.

The work itself is documentary. Applications are built from passports, civil status documents, employment letters and written submissions. Refusal reviews are built from the decision letter, the officer’s notes and the application record. What a matter needs most is careful preparation and a clear view of the deadline.

Federal Court litigation follows the same pattern. A judicial review application under section 72 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act begins with written filings — the application for leave and the application record. Where the Court holds an appearance, participation is arranged in accordance with the Court’s directions, and clients outside Toronto join remotely.

Step 1 — Write or call. Describe the matter through the contact form, by email, or by telephone at 416-320-0126. If a refusal has just arrived, say so: Federal Court deadlines run 15 days for decisions made inside Canada and 60 days for decisions made outside Canada, and they start when notice of the decision reaches you.

Step 2 — Confirmation in writing. Before the appointment, the firm completes a conflict check and confirms the scope and fee of the consultation in writing, together with an appointment time set in your local time zone.

Step 3 — The consultation. We meet by secure videoconference, with telephone available if you prefer. Documents are exchanged through the secure method agreed in advance. Bring the decision letters, application forms and correspondence — the details decide how a matter is best framed.

Step 4 — What comes next. After the consultation you will have a clear view of the options and the next steps. If you retain the firm, the engagement is set out in a written retainer — scope, fees and responsibilities — before any substantive work begins.

Video is a matter of access, not a reduced form of representation. The same lawyer prepares, files and argues the matter; remote clients simply attend from where they live. A few steps remain formal by necessity — some sworn documents follow commissioning procedure, and a court may direct an in-person attendance. Where something cannot be done remotely, you will be told early, not after it becomes a problem.

Appointments are scheduled in your local time zone, and early-morning or evening consultations can be arranged where the time difference requires them.

For the meeting you need a telephone or computer with a camera and microphone, a stable connection, and a private space. Documents can be photographed or scanned with a phone. The meeting platform and a link are confirmed in advance, and nothing needs to be installed ahead of the appointment.

Solicitor-client privilege applies to a remote engagement exactly as it does to one conducted in person. The firm follows the Law Society of Ontario’s rules on confidentiality, technology and client identification — including verification of identity before a matter is opened — and agrees secure channels for sensitive documents during intake.

Submitting an inquiry or booking a consultation does not, by itself, create a solicitor-client relationship. The relationship begins when the firm confirms in writing that it has been retained for your matter.

This service is built for clients across Canada who want counsel accessible without a commute, and for clients abroad with Canadian immigration matters — sponsorships pending while a couple lives overseas, PRTDs for permanent residents outside the country, work permit strategies and refused applications that need a second look.

Annie Rupchand is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario and practises Canadian federal immigration and refugee law. Remote clients receive the same standards, the same file, and direct access to the lawyer responsible for the matter.