Can anyone recommend an Immigration lawyer in the Toronto area who has experience dealing with H&C(Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds) Case where residency obligation is in question for an existing permanent resident ?

I am too skeptical to pick one up from advt. or interviewing one to ask if they have experience with H&C cases, hence looking for recommendation of Canadian desi members, who may have dealt with a lawyer or know someone who did and liked that lawyer.

Thanks
photohobbyst

There are a few GOOD Lawyers whom you can contact through the Legal Society in the yellow pages in Toronto and you will have to do your due diligence, prior to hiring him for the work he will undertake. There are no guarantees in the work they do. But they do provide you with a 20-30 minute time frame to discuss to see if you both want to continue the relationship. Please make sure that you know his hourly rates and the daily rates also, because he will have to be there with you on the day of the hearing at the Citizenship Court.

You will have to make your case as strong as you can make, prior to arriving at his Offices. So, get started and put it all on paper and see how well you have portrayed it yourself. My reply here is based upon the H & C grounds.

I cannot post their names and addresses here on this website. So, please do your own selection process.

Freddie.

Hi Freddie,

I did not find any entry in White Pages section of Yellow pages. Did you mean Legal Aid Society by and chance ?
They were mentioned on the Law Society of Upper Canada website. The LSUC also had a lawyer directory, but that is all it is a directory. I will probably try a new immigrant helping agency near my home. I think they might give some referrals.

This is not yet for citizenship, this is to save my PR status, as I have not yet finished the required number of days for citizenship. That battle is if I win this one.

Quote:

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Originally posted by ftfl



There are a few GOOD Lawyers whom you can contact through the Legal Society in the yellow pages in Toronto and you will have to do your due diligence, prior to hiring him for the work he will undertake.
Freddie.

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Hi photohobbyst

Here is the LSUC:

***ALWAYS REMEMBER WHENEVER YOU DIAL A 900 SERIES NUMBER THERE IS A CHARGE TO THE PHONE YOU ARE CALLING FROM.***
In this case it is $6.00 PER CALL.
Lawyer Referral Service (LRS)
Toll line: ($6.00/call): 1-900-565-4LRS (4577)
E-mail:
If in crisis, contact: Toll-free: 1-800-268-8326 or 416-947-3330* *(i.e. victims of domestic violence; incarcerated or institutionalized callers)

You can always write to them with your requirements just like you did post here and see what they send you in response. They normally provide you with names and locations of TWO lawyers in your neighborhood and each one will provide you with a 20-30 minute consultation. It still might not be suitable to your liking.

You do have their location : http://www.lsuc.on.ca/about/a/contact/

All the best.

Freddie.

Hello photobobbyst,

Yesterday, the 7th May 2008, I was in a lengthy conversation with a very nice Immigration Officer, over the phone, and I came to know that if you are unable to fulfill the required number of days within the five year period, you can re-apply to get in as a skilled immigrant from India, Middle East or anywhere.

So, instead of spending a fortune on the lawyers and still not knowing what the outcome will be, RE-APPLY to get a second PR, to Buffalo, and expect to get through the same with in 18 months or so. Cost $500.?? (About the same as the consultation fee for a lawyer)

Here are some facts: There are 43,000 foreigners, whose where abouts are unknown, are wandering here in Canada, who are eluding their DEPORTATION WARRANT. (Auditor General of Canada)

So, go ahead and fill out an application with a letter of employment.
You have your OHIP and get your Annual check up from a qualified Physician and with his report..
You have been working here and paying the Taxes, enclose your NOA from CCRA..
What ever that you can come up with, bank statements etc.,
Also go see your Member of Parliament tell him about the situation and get a letter of recommendation...

You are a PR here in Canada and you are filing out a second application to get another PR for lack of fulfilling the required number of days, fruitfully employed, leading a normal life with nothing hanging over your head to threaten your stay here or throw you out of this country and wanting to settle down here, and you are HERE.

Go ahead and DO IT.

You will have your response within three months!!

With a file number etc.,

Good Luck. Have a good one.

Freddie.

If you are short of few weeks/months to fullfil the conditions, you can wait for that much time and later you can renew your PR when you have accumulated 730 days in last 5 years. Is it not possible? Why you have to
re apply?

Hi Freddie,

That thought came to my mind, but these guys have to first take away your PR before you can re-apply. Problem is that what will I do and how will I stay in Canada while my PR has been taken away.

I have a good job and paying a ton of taxes, but don't want to go ask my employer to do a work permit while it takes a sweet 18 months to 2 years to get a new PR.

I could ask my spouse to sponser me, as I am out of the 3 year commitment that I had when I orginally sponsered and the spousal case might get done sooner...but you know what...I am sick of all this paper work. This country's immigration department is stupid if they want to kick me out...one who has not taken a single dollar in charity, but paying a lot of taxes...I will just go back to India, if they deny my PR after all this.

I called the Legal Community clinic and she says we cannot give you a referral and mentioned the same $6 bucks service, but she said, honestly no one will tell you if a lawyer is good or not. This service might give you the free 20-30 min consultation time, before hiring a lawyer.

What I fail to understand is why in a user forum can one not say a lawyer he dealt with was good or bad. I saw the thing for a doctor...why should people be scared in an open Demorcatic country like Canada to say the bad things they have experience.

Quote:

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Originally posted by ftfl

Hello photobobbyst,

Yesterday, the 7th May 2008, I was in a lengthy conversation with a very nice Immigration Officer, over the phone, and I came to know that if you are unable to fulfill the required number of days within the five year period, you can re-apply to get in as a skilled immigrant from India, Middle East or anywhere.

So, instead of spending a fortune on the lawyers and still not knowing what the outcome will be, RE-APPLY to get a second PR, to Buffalo, and expect to get through the same with in 18 months or so. Cost $500.?? (About the same as the consultation fee for a lawyer)

Here are some facts: There are 43,000 foreigners, whose where abouts are unknown, are wandering here in Canada, who are eluding their DEPORTATION WARRANT. (Auditor General of Canada)

So, go ahead and fill out an application with a letter of employment.
You have your OHIP and get your Annual check up from a qualified Physician and with his report..
You have been working here and paying the Taxes, enclose your NOA from CCRA..
What ever that you can come up with, bank statements etc.,
Also go see your Member of Parliament tell him about the situation and get a letter of recommendation...

You are a PR here in Canada and you are filing out a second application to get another PR for lack of fulfilling the required number of days, fruitfully employed, leading a normal life with nothing hanging over your head to threaten your stay here or throw you out of this country and wanting to settle down here, and you are HERE.

Go ahead and DO IT.

You will have your response within three months!!

With a file number etc.,

Good Luck. Have a good one.

Freddie.

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