Table of Contents
1. About the Guide
2. Introduction
Maintaining and regularizing immigration status in Canada
- Appeals and Judicial Reviews
- Refugee and Person in Need of Protection Claims
- Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) Application
- Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) Application
- In-Canada Spousal and Common-Law Partner Sponsorship
- Renewing or restoring a temporary visa or permit
- Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers (OWPVW) Application
- Other ways to maintain status with an open work permit
- Public Policies and Pilots
What is an immigration arrest warrant?
What powers can police, CBSA and security guards have in arrest and detention
Understanding where CBSA may apprehend you
- What happens if CBSA comes to my home?
- What happens if CBSA comes to my shelter?
- What happens if CBSA stops me in a public place (street, shopping mall, park, etc.)?
- What happens if CBSA stops me while I am driving or riding a bike?
- What happens if CBSA stops me while I am a passenger in a car?
- What happens if CBSA stops me on public transit?
- What happens if CBSA comes to my children’s school?
- What happens if CBSA comes to my workplace?
- What are my rights if I am arrested or detained?
- If I am arrested, can CBSA search or take my belongings?
- Can I be released after arrest without being sent to immigration detention?
- What happens if CBSA says I am not going to be released?
- How can I get a lawyer for detention review hearings if I can’t afford one?
- Who can be a bondsperson?
9. Appendix A: Key terms and definitions
11. Appendix C: Undocumented Workers' rights at work
12. Appendix D: List of resources
13. Appendix E: Benefits and entitlements chart
How to Navigate the Guide:
We’ve created an online version of the guide to help you find the information you need.
You can use the Table of Contents on the left side of the page to navigate through each section captured in the guide. Each section is split by headings and subheadings to help you find the information most relevant to your situation.
Want to learn more? Join us for a free session to dive deeper into the toolkit and your rights in the event of immigration stops, detention or deportation.
Should you have questions about information contained in this guide or find that anything is outdated or missing, please reach out to …
How to Use the Guide:
This guide is intended to provide legal information to help undocumented and non-status people (or people at risk of falling out-of-status) living in Ontario to understand options to regularize status and plan for border enforcement interactions.
This guide provides general legal information and not legal advice. It is important to get legal advice about your specific circumstances.
This guide provides current legal information up to December 12, 2025.
This guide was created by organizations in Ontario, but the unfair immigration rules discussed here affect people across Canada. If you live in a different province, we encourage you to connect with a migrant justice organization in your area. You can find some of them here: Migrant Rights Network
