Immigration Lawyers

Immigration is big news these days. People from all over the world are pouring in over the borders, and not all of them follow the proper steps for immigrating to Canada. Canada opens its doors to those who wish to relocate here, assimilate into society, and possibly even become Canadian citizens, but there are laws and regulations governing every step of the process.

Immigration law encompasses any and all steps in this process, including applying for a passport, traveling from one country to another, entering the country temporarily to work or study, or moving here to take up permanent residence. Immigration law also intersects with international law and laws concerning nationality and citizenship. Immigration laws vary in different countries around the world, although some rules are nearly universal (for example, under the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, all countries must allow entrance by their own citizens).

Immigration law determines an immigrant’s status as well as his or her legal rights, duties and obligations while they are on Canadian soil. An alien is commonly defined as any person who is not a natural-born citizen of a given country. Canadian immigration statutes and regulations dictate the process through which an alien may enter the country, obtain residence, and become a naturalized citizen with full rights of citizenship. The government may also dictate who may enter the country, how long they may stay, and at what point they are required to leave.

The immigration process can be complex and confusing; an experienced immigration attorney can help you evaluate your options and help you achieve your immigration goals.

Citizenship Requirements

Those who are seeking citizenship will be required, as a part of the application, to undertake a citizenship test, which typically lasts for about 30 minutes and consists of 20 multiple choice questions. Applicants are required to answer at least 75%, or 15 questions, correctly in order to achieve a passing grade. The test draws its questions from a pool of about 200 queries based upon a guide titled, “Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.” Questions cover such topics as the rights of Canadian citizens, Canadian history, political systems, physical and political geography, and other questions pertaining to the region where the applicant wants to obtain residence. Newer versions of the test also contain questions on Canadian values such as the equality of men and women, democracy, and human rights. Applicants for citizenship will also need to demonstrate proficiency in at least one of Canada’s two official languages, English and French. An experienced immigration lawyer can provide advice for every step of your journey toward citizenship.

Finding the Right Immigration Lawyer

At Lawyershop.ca, we are committed to helping you locate and retain a qualified immigration or amnesty law attorney who can best represent your interests. We have selected an exclusive group of immigration law professionals to meet your needs. Simply click the name of the city or province near you to be connected to an experienced, qualified immigration law firm.