Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Am I at risk of arrest, detention, or deportation?
- What can I do if I think I am at risk?
- Developing a strategy to deal with CBSA interactions
- Making a safety plan for arrest and detention
- Removal orders
- What are Sanctuary cities or Access without fear policies?
- Appendix A: Key terms and definitions
- Appendix B: Inadmissibility explained
- Appendix C: Undocumented Workers' rights at work
- Appendix D: List of resources
- Appendix E: Benefits and entitlements chart
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
It is important to understand the different roles played by lawyers, registered immigration consultants and paralegals so you can make an informed decision about who to work within on an immigration and refugee application:
- Lawyers: A lawyer is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) to provide legal services in Ontario. Lawyers are able to provide advice and representation in matters before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Federal Courts of Canada (as well as other levels of court). They can also accept legal aid certificates if they are authorized to do so by Legal Aid Ontario. You can search for a lawyer by their first and last name and the region on Law Society of Ontario website: https://lso.ca/public-resources/finding-a-lawyer-or-paralegal/lawyer-and-paralegal-directory. If someone tells you that they are a licensed lawyer, it is a good idea to confirm by searching the LSO website before paying money or signing any agreement.
Important note: There are organizations across Canada fighting for migrant justice and Status for All that may be able to support you with information relevant to where you live. You can find some of them here: About Migrant Rights Network – Migrant Rights Network
- Registered Immigration Consultants: An immigration consultant must be registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants in order to provide legal services. Immigration consultants can provide advice and representation before the Immigration and Refugee Board and in applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. However, they cannot appear at the Federal Courts of Canada. Immigration consultants cannot accept legal aid certificates (some consultants may work with a lawyer who does so, but it is important to understand who is representing you in those circumstances). You can search for a registered immigration consultant on the College’s website: https://register.college-ic.ca/. If someone tells you that they are a registered immigration consultant, it is a good idea to confirm by searching the CICC registry before paying money or signing any agreement.
- Paralegals: Paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) to provide legal services in some areas of immigration and refugee practice only. Currently, paralegals are restricted to provide assistance in matters before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) only. This means that they are not licensed to provide legal advice or representation on applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the Federal Courts of Canada. Paralegals may take legal aid if they are authorized to do so in a specific area by Legal Aid Ontario. You can search for a paralegal on the LSO website: https://lso.ca/public-resources/finding-a-lawyer-or-paralegal/lawyer-and-paralegal-directory. If someone tells you that they are a licensed paralegal, it is a good idea to search the LSO website before paying money or signing any agreement.
| Resource | Contact Info |
| Legal Aid Ontario (General Phone Line) | Toll free: 1-800-668-8258
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday |
| Legal Aid Ontario – Find A Legal Clinic | https://www.legalaid.on.ca/legal-clinics/
(Enter your postal code to find the clinic that serves your area) |
| Hamilton Refugee Law Office | 110 King Street West Suite 780
Hamilton L8P 4S6 Telephone: 905 528 0134 Toll-free: 1 877 449 4003 *Can ask for an interpreter |
| Ottawa Immigration & Refugee Law Office (part of Ottawa Integrated Legal Services Office) | 275 Slater Street Suite 1101
Ottawa K1P 5H9 Telephone: 613 569 7448 *French language services available, and can ask for an interpreter for other languages |
| Toronto Refugee Law Office | 20 Dundas St. West, Suite 730
Toronto, ON M5G 2H1 Telephone (collect): 416 977 8111 Toll free: 1-800-668-8258 (open 9am-5pm weekdays) *French language services available, and can ask for an interpreter for other languages |
| Workers’ Action Centre (WAC) | 720 Spadina Avenue
2nd floor, Suite 223 Toronto, Ontario M5S 2T9 Tel: 416-531-0778 Toll free: 1-855-531-0778 Monday 12 pm – 5 pm Wednesday 12 pm – 5 pm Friday 12 pm – 5 pm |
| Migrant Workers Alliance for Change | Call our hotline on WhatsApp: 647-782-6633 |
| Parkdale Community Legal Services (PCLS) | 1229 Queen Street West, Lower Level
Toronto, ON, M6K 1L2 Tel. (416) 531-2411 Email: intake@pcls.clcj.ca Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am-5pm (closed between 1pm-2pm daily) * Provides legal and other services free of charge, including in the area of immigration and employment law to low income individuals in Parkdale and Swansea neighbourhoods in Toronto |
| Industrial Accident Victims’ Group of Ontario (IAVGO) | Industrial Accident Victims’ Group of Ontario (IAVGO)
1-877-230-6311 |
| Community & Legal Services Program (CLASP) ID Clinic | https://www.yorku.ca/osgoode/clasp/specialty-clinics/
4700 Keele Street Toronto, ON M3J1P3 416 736 5029 Monday and Thursday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Tuesday and Wednesday: 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm |
| Partners for Access and Identification (PAID) | PAIDinfo@tngcs.org
647.577.PAID (7243) *Assist people who are unhoused including with Verification of Status (VOS) and Ontario Photo ID |
| TTC Riders – Know Your Transit Rights | https://www.ttcriders.ca/rights |
| S4 Collective | s4collectiveTO@gmail.com |
| Childhood Arrivals Support and Advocacy Centre of Canada (CASA) | https://casacentre.ca/
Childhood Arrivals Support and Advocacy Centre of Canada (CASA) 1240 Bay Street, Suite 600 Toronto, Ontario M5R 2A7 Email: info@casacentre.ca *Provides free, confidential legal services |
| Justice for Children and Youth (JFCY) | https://jfcy.org/en/about-us/contact-us/
GTA: 416-920-1633 ON Toll Free: 1-866-999-JFCY (5329) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am-12pm and 1-5pm (lunch closure) *Provides legal services to children and young people across the province of Ontario, including young people with no or precarious immigration status |
Important note: There are organizations across Canada fighting for migrant justice and Status for All that may be able to support you with information relevant to where you live. You can find some of them here: About Migrant Rights Network – Migrant Rights Network