FAQ

Yes. Elegant Immigration Services Ltd. is led by Ali Yousefi, Ph.D., a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB) licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), licence number R535117. The RCIC-IRB licence also allows us to represent clients before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. You can verify any consultant on the CICC public register.

Yes. A consultation session is mandatory before we accept any file, because every case must be assessed on its own facts. The amount you pay for the consultation is deducted from the professional fee in your service agreement.

You can book online through our consultation booking page. Consultations are available in English and Farsi.

The general information on our website is free. However, we cannot give advice about a specific case without a consultation, because a responsible assessment requires reviewing your full history and documents.

Fees depend on the service, the number of family members and the complexity of the case. After the assessment, all services, fees and payment terms are set out in a written service agreement. Many services can be paid in interest-free monthly instalments, and current clients of Elegant Immigration Services receive a 50% discount on our services.

You can pay by credit or debit card, Interac e-Transfer, or, if you live in a country without access to international banking, through a currency exchange office. All options are on our Payment page.

Yes. We serve clients inside Canada and around the world. Most of our work can be done online, from consultation to submitting the application.

No. Decisions are made by IRCC officers, the IRB or the courts, and no licensed representative can guarantee a result. What we guarantee is a careful assessment, an honest opinion and a well-prepared application. Be cautious of anyone who promises approval.

Yes, you can reapply. Before you do, it is important to understand why you were refused. We usually recommend requesting the officer's notes (GCMS notes) and addressing each concern with stronger evidence. In some cases, a judicial review in the Federal Court may be a better option, but strict deadlines apply.

The Super Visa is for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It allows longer stays than a regular visitor visa, up to five years at a time. The host in Canada must meet income requirements, and the visitor needs private medical insurance that meets IRCC's rules.

Visitors cannot work in Canada without authorization. You may take a short course or program of six months or less without a study permit, but longer programs require a study permit.

Most new study permit applicants need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) from the province where they will study, though some groups are exempt. The rules have changed several times, so we confirm during the consultation whether you need one.

Only in certain cases. Eligibility for a spousal open work permit now depends mainly on the student's program, for example master's, doctoral and certain professional programs. We check your program before you apply.

Many graduates of eligible programs at eligible institutions can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), usually within 180 days of receiving their final results. Some programs also have language and field-of-study requirements.

An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada. An employer-specific (closed) work permit only allows you to work for the employer, in the job and location, listed on the permit.

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that confirms an employer may hire a foreign worker for a specific job. Many employer-specific work permits require one, while others are LMIA-exempt.

If you apply to extend your work permit before it expires and you stay in Canada, you can usually keep working under the same conditions while your application is processed (maintained status). If your permit has already expired, other options such as restoration may apply.

Some permanent residence applicants can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). See our In Progress PR Application Holders page for details.

Some Iranian nationals may extend their work permits under the IRAN2026 public policy. See our IRAN2026 Public Policy page for eligibility and documents.

Express Entry is IRCC's online system for the main economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates are ranked by their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and those invited to apply usually have 60 days to submit a complete application.

The BC PNP allows British Columbia to nominate skilled workers, graduates and entrepreneurs who meet the province's needs. After nomination, you apply to IRCC for permanent residence.

Processing times depend on the program and change often. IRCC publishes current processing times on its website, and we review the expected timeline with you for your specific program.

Permanent residents must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (two years) in every five-year period. Some time spent outside Canada, for example with a Canadian citizen spouse, may also count.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are at least 18 years old can sponsor a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, as long as they are not barred from sponsoring. The sponsor must support the person financially and prove the relationship is genuine. Applications can be made from inside or outside Canada.

Parents and grandparents are sponsored through the Parents and Grandparents Program, which only accepts a limited number of applications by invitation. The sponsor must meet minimum income requirements. The Super Visa is a popular alternative for long visits.

You can make a claim at a port of entry when you arrive, or from inside Canada through IRCC's online portal. If your claim is found eligible, it is referred to the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) for a hearing.

Yes. Once the claim is referred to the IRB and the immigration medical exam is done, claimants can usually get a work permit. Contact us for help with your application.

Depending on your case, you may be able to appeal to the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD), usually within 15 days of receiving the written reasons, or apply for judicial review in the Federal Court. Deadlines are very strict, so contact us immediately.

Returning to your home country, or renewing or using its passport, can seriously harm your refugee claim or protected person status. Always get professional advice before doing so.

Yes. Refugee claimants are usually covered by the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) until they become eligible for provincial health insurance.

You must be a permanent resident, have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) in the five years before you apply, and have filed your taxes. Applicants aged 18 to 54 must also meet the language requirement and pass the citizenship test.

Yes, partly. Each day you spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person within the five-year period counts as a half day, up to a maximum of 365 days.

No. An expired PR card does not mean you have lost your status. You keep your status unless it is formally removed, but you need a valid PR card or a travel document to return to Canada. You must meet the residency obligation to renew the card.

GCMS notes are the officer's internal notes on your file. You can request them through an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request. They often explain the real reasons for a refusal and help prepare a stronger new application or a court challenge.

You must file an application for leave and judicial review within 15 days if the decision was made in Canada, or within 60 days if it was made outside Canada, counted from the day you were notified of the decision.

If IRCC has delayed your application far beyond normal processing times without a reasonable explanation, a Federal Court application for mandamus may be possible. It asks the court to order IRCC to make a decision.