You Do Not Need to Work with a Lawyer for Your Immigration Application

If you are considering immigrating to Canada, you may already know that hiring a lawyer is not required. Unlike in court proceedings where legal representation is often necessary, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) allows individuals to submit their own immigration applications. Everything you need—forms, instructions, and eligibility criteria—is available online. If you are detail-oriented, have the time to research, and are comfortable interpreting government policies, you can submit your application without professional assistance.

However, the reality of immigration law is more complicated than just following instructions. While you can prepare your own application, whether you should do so is a different question. A minor mistake—something that seems trivial or unintentional—can have serious and sometimes irreversible consequences. And while no one wants to sound alarmist, those of us who work in immigration law see these problems unfold every day.

Once again, this article is not meant to scare you into hiring a lawyer. Instead, it’s meant to provide an honest perspective on when and why legal help can make a difference—and how to avoid paying more than you should if you do choose to work with a lawyer.

IRCC Provides the Tools—But No Second Chances

One of the most encouraging things about the Canadian immigration system is that it is transparent. Most of the rules and eligibility requirements are clearly outlined on IRCC’s website, and every immigration form is accompanied by detailed guidance. If you are diligent, willing to spend time researching, and comfortable interpreting legal language, you may be able to complete your own application successfully.

But here’s the challenge: your immigration journey does not allow room for error (at least not always). IRCC operates under a strict framework, and even minor mistakes can derail your application. A missing document, a misunderstood question, or an incorrect response can lead to refusals, delays, or worse—allegations of misrepresentation.

Take, for example, one of my current clients. She initially applied for a temporary resident visa (TRV) by herself and, unintentionally, did not disclose her full employment history. Later, when she applied for a work permit through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process, she provided the correct employment details. IRCC flagged this discrepancy, accused her of misrepresentation, and issued a procedural fairness letter.

The mistake wasn’t an attempt to deceive—it was a simple oversight. Case law supports the idea that voluntary corrections should be taken into account before issuing a misrepresentation finding. But IRCC does not always interpret cases fairly. Now, instead of focusing on building her life in Canada, she is fighting to clear her record and avoid a five-year ban from the country.

Cases like this happen more often than you might think. I have seen individuals who misunderstood a single question on an IRCC form—because, let’s be honest, some of them are poorly worded—and ended up battling their case in court.

Even When Everything is Done Right, Things Can Still Go Wrong

Let’s assume you follow every instruction carefully. You review your application multiple times, check for errors, and submit everything required. Does that guarantee success? Unfortunately, no.

Immigration officers are human, and like all humans, they make mistakes. Even worse, IRCC increasingly relies on artificial intelligence (AI) to “streamline” application processing. While this speeds up decision-making, it also introduces a new set of problems. AI programs do not always interpret applications accurately, and legitimate candidates can receive unfair refusals due to flawed algorithmic assessments.

This is where a lawyer can be indispensable. Even in situations where an application is perfect, unfair decisions happen. Having a competent immigration lawyer by your side means that if something goes wrong, you are not alone. Your lawyer can advocate for you, challenge wrongful decisions, and ensure that doors remain open when IRCC attempts to close them.

When we review an application, we are not just checking for typos. We are looking at:

✔ How an officer will interpret your answers – Immigration officers don’t always see what you intended to say. We anticipate how they will read your responses and adjust wording to avoid misunderstandings.

✔ Whether your supporting documents are strong enough – Many refusals happen because the evidence provided is too weak or does not address all eligibility criteria. A lawyer ensures that your documents tell the right story.

✔ Potential red flags – We identify risks you may not even realize exist, such as inconsistencies between past applications or gaps in your employment history.

A Lawyer Doesn’t Have to Cost You a Fortune

Let’s be honest—lawyers can be expensive. And not everyone can afford to hire one for their entire immigration process. But that does not mean you need to go through the process completely on your own.

If you choose to prepare your own application, I strongly recommend at least having a lawyer review it before submission. A competent immigration lawyer will be able to spot issues you may not have considered and guide you on potential risks. We read IRCC’s forms and guidelines differently because we have seen what happens when things go wrong. We know how immigration officers tend to interpret different answers, what documentation strengthens a case, and how to avoid pitfalls that are not always obvious to applicants.

More importantly, hiring a lawyer doesn’t mean paying an exorbitant amount. If a lawyer is charging $60,000 for an LMIA or a work permit, something is seriously wrong. A lawyer’s fees should be reasonable and reflective of the actual work required. Competent immigration lawyers understand that their role is not just about making money but about ensuring that people have the best possible chance at success.

Final Thoughts

You do not need a lawyer to submit an immigration application. If you are detail-oriented, willing to do extensive research, and confident in your ability to navigate the system, you may be able to manage your case successfully.

But immigration law is unforgiving. A single mistake—intentional or not—can have life-changing consequences. And even when you do everything right, external factors like officer errors or AI processing mistakes can still jeopardize your application.

The role of a lawyer is not just to complete forms—it’s to protect you from these risks, advocate for you when things go wrong, and ensure that your case is as strong as possible. If hiring a lawyer for full representation is not financially feasible, at least consider having your application reviewed by a professional.

Your immigration journey is too important to leave to chance. If you decide to proceed on your own, be prepared, be meticulous, and be aware of the risks. And if you choose to work with a lawyer, make sure it’s someone who is truly invested in your success—without charging you an unreasonable fee.

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About the Author

I’m Ahmet Faruk Ocak, a Canadian immigration lawyer and the founder of Blacksy Immigration Law Firm 🌊. 

At Blacksy, we specialize in providing honest, straightforward, and tailored immigration solutions to individuals and businesses worldwide. Our brand promise is simple: no unnecessary fuss, no false hopes, and no empty promises—just realistic, reliable guidance to help you achieve your immigration goals.

Whether you’re expanding your business to Canada, transferring top talent, or planning your future here, we’re here to guide you with precision, transparency, and care.

Visit us at www.blacksyimmigration.com to learn more or to start your journey.