Frequently asked questions
Things you need to know
Why should I choose BridgePoint Law?
BridgePoint Law offers personalized, high-quality legal services, specializing in immigration, business, and cross-border matters, with a focus on achieving optimal outcomes for every client.
What makes your firm different from others?
Our multilingual team, cultural sensitivity, and expertise in both local and international legal issues allow us to provide tailored solutions for diverse clients navigating complex legal challenges.
Do you offer services for immigrants?
Yes, we specialize in immigration law, offering comprehensive support for visa applications, asylum, naturalization, and other immigration matters with a deep understanding of clients’ needs.
How can you support international clients?
We handle cross-border legal issues, including international arbitration and enforcement of foreign judgments, with a focus on providing efficient, trusted legal solutions for global clients.
Answers, honestly
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions on business, investor, and family immigration to Canada. General information only — not legal advice for your specific case.
Do I need an LMIA to hire a foreign worker in Canada?
Often, but not always. Most employer-driven hires under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program require a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from ESDC before the worker can apply for a work permit. However, Canada's International Mobility Program covers many LMIA-exempt situations, such as CUSMA professionals, intra-company transferees, and spouses with open work permits. The right answer depends on the role, the worker's citizenship, and any treaty or significant-benefit ground. Have the category assessed before you advertise or file.
Can I hire a foreign worker in Canada without an LMIA?
Yes, in many cases, through the International Mobility Program (IMP). LMIA-exempt routes include CUSMA, intra-company transfers, C11 owner-operator, Francophone Mobility (C16), and spousal open work permits. Each has specific eligibility criteria, and the employer usually still submits an offer of employment and pays a compliance fee through the IRCC Employer Portal.
How long does an LMIA take to process?
It varies by stream, occupation, region, and ESDC workload, and service standards change. The Global Talent Stream has historically been targeted for faster processing, but no timeline is guaranteed. The LMIA is only the first stage; the worker must then apply to IRCC for a work permit, which has its own processing time. Always verify current ESDC targets with official Government of Canada sources.
What is the Global Talent Stream?
An expedited LMIA pathway within the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for high-skilled, in-demand occupations. Category A is for innovative employers referred by an ESDC-designated partner; Category B is for occupations on the Global Talent occupations list. Both require a binding Labour Market Benefits Plan that ESDC can later review.
Is there still a passive investor immigration program in Canada?
No. Canada does not currently offer a passive “buy-a-visa” program. The federal Immigrant Investor Program closed to new applicants in 2014, and Quebec's QIIP has remained suspended rather than reopening to new passive applicants. Investors now immigrate by genuinely building or running a business through the Start-Up Visa, a C11 work permit, a Provincial Nominee entrepreneur stream, or an intra-company transfer.
How much money do I need to immigrate to Canada as an investor?
There is no single national figure. The Start-Up Visa sets no fixed personal investment minimum but requires designated-organization support and settlement funds. Provincial Nominee entrepreneur streams set explicit thresholds that vary widely by province, location, and sector. Confirm current thresholds on the relevant IRCC or provincial page.
What is the Start-Up Visa and does it lead to permanent residence?
Yes. The Start-Up Visa is a direct federal route to permanent residence for entrepreneurs. It generally requires a qualifying business, a commitment of support from a designated organization, language ability at CLB 5, and settlement funds. Intake is managed through annual caps, which affects timelines — verify current intake rules on IRCC.
What is a C11 owner-operator work permit?
A C11 is an LMIA-exempt work permit for an entrepreneur who will own and actively run a Canadian business that delivers significant economic, social, or cultural benefit. It is a work permit, not permanent residence, and is often used as a bridge toward PR through a Provincial Nominee stream or Express Entry.
Is an intra-company transfer (ICT) LMIA-exempt?
Yes. The ICT category is LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program. A multinational transfers an executive, senior manager, or specialized-knowledge employee from a foreign entity to a qualifying related Canadian entity. The employee generally needs at least one year of qualifying employment within the prior three years, and a genuine corporate relationship must exist. The employer must still submit the Employer Portal offer and compliance fee.
What are an employer's compliance obligations after hiring a foreign worker?
Employers must provide the wages, occupation, and working conditions set out in the LMIA or offer, keep relevant records for six years, maintain a workplace free of abuse and reprisal, and be able to demonstrate compliance during an ESDC or IRCC inspection. Both TFWP and IMP employers are subject to this regime.
What triggers an employer compliance inspection in Canada?
Three triggers: random selection (a clean record does not exempt you), a reason to suspect non-compliance (a tip, complaint, media report, or data irregularity), or prior non-compliance. Inspections can occur during employment and for six years afterward, usually beginning with a written notice and a short deadline.
Can a business immigration consultant do what an immigration lawyer does?
Licensed immigration consultants and paralegals can lawfully do many things, and we respect that work. Only lawyers, however, can represent you before the Federal Court of Canada and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and lawyers are bound by solicitor-client privilege and a duty of candour. For high-stakes or court matters, that difference can be decisive.
Why hire a lawyer instead of an immigration consultant?
For complex, high-value, or litigation matters, a lawyer offers solicitor-client privilege, professional liability insurance, court standing, and the ability to give holistic legal advice beyond the immigration form. We do not price-match consultants; we focus on careful, thorough work where the stakes justify it.
Do you only serve clients near Kingston and Toronto?
No. Immigration is federal law, so the core programs apply across Canada regardless of where you live. Our offices are in Kingston and Toronto, Ontario, but we act for clients across Canada and internationally and work remotely as a matter of routine, with a strong Canada–US–China cross-border focus.
What happens if my application or LMIA is refused?
A refusal is not always the end. Depending on the reasons, options can include correcting deficiencies and reapplying, pursuing an appeal where one is available, or seeking judicial review at the Federal Court where there is a reviewable legal error. The right response depends on a careful diagnosis of the decision.
Can BridgePoint Law represent me at the Federal Court?
Yes. Principal lawyer Natalie Zhang has rights of appearance at the Federal Court of Canada and acts on applications for leave and judicial review under IRPA section 72, urgent stay-of-removal motions, and certiorari and mandamus applications. Federal Court is generally the next step after IRCC, RPD, RAD, or IAD refusals — with a 15-day filing deadline for inland matters.
How does BridgePoint Law charge — flat fee or hourly?
Our fees are generally flat fees that include a defined number of hours. If a matter requires substantial additional, hands-on attention, the legal fee is adjusted accordingly, and we discuss it with you first. See our Fees page for details.
Do you offer a first consultation, and is it required?
Yes, and we do not take on a client without one. A first consultation lets both sides assess, honestly, whether we are the right fit for a journey that can take years. We give you a candid, realistic assessment — including when the answer is “not yet” or “not this way.” We never guarantee outcomes.