Schachnow Law

Appeals and Federal Court

When a refusal is wrong, we challenge it.

Appeals to the Immigration Appeal Division and judicial review at the Federal Court. The deadlines are short, sometimes 15 days. If you have a decision in hand, talk to us now.

Book a consultation Call (437) 800-1918
Your trusted Canadian immigration law firm on Google

Get your decision reviewed

Some decisions can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division: sponsorship refusals and residency obligation findings. Others can only be challenged by judicial review at the Federal Court, where a judge reviews whether the decision was reasonable and fair. Only lawyers can represent you in Federal Court, and the filing windows are strict.

What we handle

Appeals and challenges we take on.

  • Sponsorship appeals at the Immigration Appeal Division
  • Residency obligation appeals for permanent residents
  • Judicial review of visa and permit refusals at the Federal Court
  • Strict deadlines: as short as 15 days from the decision for some challenges

How we work

A modern lawyer-led process, built on state-of-the-art software.

01

Initial consultation

Talk to one of our licensed lawyer's to tell us your background and needs. We then provide expert advice and suggested next steps, including a flat fee for further assistance.

02

Application preparation

You'll work closely with our team on our secure, AI-powered software to prepare and finalize your application as quickly as possible.

03

Our lawyers review and file

An Ontario licensed immigration lawyer always does a final review (sometimes twice), and files on your behalf.

Flat fees. Personal responses within 24 business hours. No surprises.

What to know

Your options, mapped.

  1. 01

    If your sponsorship was refused

    A refused family sponsorship filed from outside Canada can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division within 30 days. The appeal is a fresh hearing: new evidence and testimony are allowed, and many appeals resolve at alternative dispute resolution before a full hearing.

  2. 02

    If you were short on residency days

    Permanent residents found short of the 730 day residency requirement can appeal on legal grounds or humanitarian factors. Strong ties to Canada, the reasons for the absence, and the best interests of children all count.

  3. 03

    When appeal is not an option

    Most visa refusals cannot be appealed, only judicially reviewed at the Federal Court. The court does not redecide your application. It decides whether the officer's decision was reasonable and fair, and sends it back to be redone if not.

  4. 04

    How these cases actually end

    Judicial review first needs leave from the court. Many strong cases settle early, with the government consenting to send the file back for redetermination. That consent is often the fastest good outcome available.

Why us

Why work with us on your challenge?

Court is lawyer territory

Judicial review is legal argument, not form filling. Only a lawyer can appear for you in Federal Court, and ours do.

Deadlines managed from day one

15 and 60 day windows leave no room for delay. We file protectively while the full record is built.

Settlement leverage

Many judicial reviews end with IRCC agreeing to redecide the file. We push for the fastest good outcome, not the longest fight.

Honest odds before you spend

We tell you the realistic chance of success before you commit to a challenge, and when reapplying is the smarter play.

FAQ

Appeal questions, answered.

Do not see your question? Ask us directly. An Ontario licensed immigration lawyer replies within one business day.

Ask a question
What is the difference between an appeal and judicial review?
An appeal rehears your case, with new evidence allowed. Judicial review only tests whether the decision was lawful and reasonable. Which one is available depends on the type of decision.
How long do I have?
Thirty days for most Immigration Appeal Division appeals. Judicial review runs 15 days for decisions made in Canada and 60 days for overseas decisions. The clock starts at the decision, not when you find a lawyer.
What are my chances of winning?
It depends on the decision and the record behind it. We read both and give you a straight answer before you spend anything on a challenge.
Do I need a lawyer for Federal Court?
Yes. Immigration consultants cannot represent you there. Only a lawyer can file and argue a judicial review.

Trusted by clients across Canada.

LA

Lucas Arantes

Josh was incredibly helpful throughout two work permits and our overall immigration process, guiding all of us (including two different employers) every step of the way. He made complicated immigration topics easy to understand and helped us choose the best strategy for our family's needs. Now we're proud Canadian citizens raising our two kids in Montréal.

YZ

Yongjie Zhang

It was a pleasure working with Josh on my work permit application. He was very professional and timely with his communication and I am excited to finally be accepted to Canada.

RA

Rob Attwell

Josh was incredibly helpful and responsive in dealing with our immigration issues through the Global Talent Stream Program. He really knew his stuff and was willing to help me and, more importantly, our candidate through the process.

AS

Abhishek Srivastava

Josh made the whole work permit application process quite easy and it was great to work with him. He is very knowledgeable in his area of expertise and resolved all my queries. I am excited to be starting my new life in Canada!

IA

Irem Ayan

It has been an absolute pleasure working with Joshua throughout my immigration process. He easily spotted the mistake in my first Express Entry application and guided me through a second application which was recently approved. Very professional, knowledgeable, and courteous. I wouldn't be planning my landing in Canada if it weren't for his advice.

AC

Adam Cowley

We worked with Josh on a work permit re-application after we had some struggles trying to get it ourselves. Josh was a pleasure to work with and helped us get our approval in a timely fashion. We hope to work with him again soon.

PC

Priyanka Chabbi

I had a great experience working with Josh. He is an incredibly patient and knowledgeable lawyer who truly cares about his clients. The company that hired me in Canada worked with Josh for my visa process, and everything went smoothly from start to finish.

JS

Jess S.

I'm glad I met Josh. He helped me with my Canadian Work Permit Visa and my husband's OWP. I was apprehensive at first, and I had a lot of questions, but Josh was always accurate and willing to help. He is an excellent professional, and it's clear that he cares about every client.

Joshua Schachnow, founding Canadian immigration lawyer at Schachnow Law

Meet our Managing Partner

Joshua Schachnow, B.Com., J.D.

Founding Partner

Josh is a Toronto-based lawyer who has been practicing immigration law for more than 9 years. More specifically, he's helped thousands of individuals and companies navigate Canadian immigration - from work permits to permanent residence, study permits, citizenship, LMIAs and more. Josh always puts his clients first, and believes quick and thoughtful communication is most important to making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Called to the Ontario Bar. Member of the Law Society of Ontario, and the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association.

Ready to get started

Get your decision reviewed.

Send us the decision letter as soon as you can. Within one business day, an Ontario licensed immigration lawyer will tell you your options, your deadline, and the strongest route.

Flat fees. No obligation. We reply within 24 business hours.
Call (437) 800-1918Other ways to reach us

Get your decision reviewed