Sponsorship Appeals
When a sponsored family member's permanent residence application is refused by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the sponsor may have the right to appeal the refusal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
Common grounds for sponsorship appeals include a visa officer who misapplied the law or made an error of fact, new evidence that was not before the officer at the time of the decision, and humanitarian and compassionate circumstances that favour allowing the appeal.
The IAD has the authority to allow the appeal outright, allow it on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, or dismiss it. In some cases the IAD may stay a removal order with conditions.
This flat-fee service covers preparation and representation for one sponsorship appeal hearing at the IAD. There are no IRCC government filing fees for a sponsorship appeal.
What Is Included
- Review of the refusal letter and the basis for the appeal
- Preparation of the Notice of Appeal
- Review of the Record of Proceedings (disclosure from IRCC)
- Legal research on applicable grounds of appeal
- Preparation of written submissions and supporting materials
- Preparation of witness evidence (if applicable)
- Representation at the IAD hearing
- Post-hearing written submissions (if required by the IAD)
What Is Not Included
- Federal Court judicial review (if the IAD appeal is dismissed)
- Humanitarian and compassionate applications filed separately with IRCC
- A new permanent residence application filed after a dismissed appeal
- Translation fees for documents not in English or French
- Expert witness fees (e.g., psychologists, country-condition experts)
- Travel costs for in-person hearings outside Toronto
Who This Service Is For
Information Required from You
- 1Copy of the refusal letter from IRCC
- 2Copy of all immigration application forms and supporting documents submitted to IRCC
- 3Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence for the sponsor
- 4Passports and identity documents for both sponsor and sponsored person
- 5Any correspondence with IRCC regarding the application
- 6Details of any humanitarian and compassionate circumstances to be raised on appeal
Frequently Asked Questions
Important Limitations
- •The right to appeal to the IAD is not available in all cases — for example, if the refusal is based on serious criminality or security grounds, no right of appeal may exist. Eligibility is confirmed at intake.
- •A successful appeal does not guarantee the sponsored person will receive permanent residence — the IAD may allow the appeal and send the matter back to IRCC for redetermination.
- •There are no IRCC government fees to file a sponsorship appeal at the IAD.
- •Approval is not guaranteed. The IAD makes all final decisions on appeals.
Fixed fee
$7,500
Plus HST
Flat legal fee of $7,500 + HST. There are no IRCC government fees to file a sponsorship appeal at the Immigration Appeal Division.
This service is provided by a third party. By requesting this service, you consent to us sharing your inquiry with one of our partner law firms, and you may be contacted by them, pursuant to our Privacy Policy.
Requesting does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Subject to conflict check and acceptance.
Prices are for the stated scope only. Additional complexity, urgency, disbursements, HST, or government fees may apply.
Fixed fee
$7,500
Plus HST