Wading through the legal maze of Canadian immigration can feel like trying to untangle a plate of spaghetti — messy and overwhelming!
Just ask my friend who landed in Halifax with dreams of maple syrup and moose but found herself drowning in paperwork as her temporary residency visa neared its expiration date.
With a laundry list of requirements to meet, panic set in!
In a frenzy, we scoured for immigration lawyers in Halifax faster than a beaver building a dam. After chatting with a bunch of legal eagles, we finally found the perfect fit, and — voila — her visa extension sailed through smoother than a puck on ice. Whew!
Seeing my friend’s meltdown lit a fire under my toque — I vowed to be a beacon of hope for all those lost in the immigration wilderness.
So, if you’re feeling more lost than a goose in a snowstorm, this list of top-notch immigration lawyers in Halifax is your ticket to smoother sailing!
How much do immigration lawyers charge in Halifax? Immigration lawyers in Halifax charge $200 to $400 per hour. Note that this amount varies depending on the visa type. There may also be other payment options such as flat rates and pay-as-you-go rates. |
How We Chose the Best Immigration Lawyers in Halifax
Brookshire Law Office
Website: https://www.brookshirelawoffice.com/
Address: 380 Bedford Hwy Suite 102
Contact Details: +1 902-835-2726
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Friday: 8 AM–5 PM
Brookshire Law Office has over 25 years of experience in different legal areas, including immigration. We were happy to know that their immigration cases are handled by real lawyers, not Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC).
Immigration lawyers have law degrees and licenses to practice law, while RCICs lack such qualifications though they can represent clients to the Canadian government.
We found out that Brookshire Law Office provides thorough immigration services, covering temporary and permanent residency, along with temporary residency renewals.
Their payment options, like pay-as-you-go and flat rate, are flexible. We’re big fans of these options as they help clients manage costs without upfront fees.
However, some clients expressed dissatisfaction with their service, citing last-minute online meeting cancellations and billing errors as areas of concern.
Pros
- Experienced lawyer
- Comprehensive range of immigration services
- Flat-rate payment options
Cons
- Meeting cancellations
- Erroneous billing
Professional, efficient, and transparent
“The service provided was extremely professional from beginning to end. Efficient, transparent and conducted with a personal touch. Thanks to everyone involved.”
Tiemo Witte, Google Reviews
Friendly, open, and welcoming
“We have always dealt with Shaun Scott and to this day will deal with no one else. This law firm has always gone above and beyond with any matter we have brought to them, they are always friendly, open and welcoming even when I don’t have an appointment.”
Sherri Pate, Google Reviews
North Star Immigration Law Inc.
Website: http://www.nsimmigration.ca/
Address: 5475 Spring Garden Rd Suite 701
Contact Details: +1 902-446-4747
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Tuesday, Thursday to Friday: 9 AM–4 PM
- Wednesday: 9 AM–3 PM
North Star Immigration Law Inc. offers both temporary and permanent residence applications for business visitors, workers, and students.
We like that one of their lawyers is an authorized recruiter licensed by the Nova Scotia Department of Labour. This license lets them assist corporate clients in hiring temporary foreign workers.
We spoke with applicants whose temporary residence applications for students were processed efficiently.
The same applied to working visas, with several initially rejected applications being approved due to the firm’s strategic decisions, which we found impressive.
During the application process, we were told the firm remained supportive and ensured all necessary documents were ready for submission. Applicants were regularly updated and their questions were thoroughly answered.
However, we noted concerns regarding their handling of refugee cases. Some applicants reported past failures in securing residency for refugees and felt that the fees were too high, leading them to seek other immigration lawyers.
Pros
- Efficient processing for student and worker applications
- Experience in overturning rejected applications
- Supportive and communicative
Cons
- Past failures for refugee applicants
- High fees
Helpful and efficient processing led to faster approval
“Choosing NorthStar was one of the best decisions I have made this year. They helped with my bridging work permit and permanent residency, and both got approved much faster that I expected.
I mainly worked with Cameron and he has made the whole application process easy and helped me save so much time. Elizabeth was the first point of contact for me and her knowledge and efficiency were just impressive. Buki and Lan were also very kind and organized during our brief interactions. Overall, my impression of NS team was that they are a group of people who are well-balanced between professionalism and relatability. I will recommend their services to anyone! Wish you folks the best. Thank you!”
Sarah HE, Google Reviews
Professional, straightforward, and sincere
“They are the best office you can imagine, they provided me with all the information that I needed, they are very professional, straight forward and sincere! Elizabeth and Buki were the best and helped me so much! My most sincere, Thank you!”
Valdir Franco, Google Reviews
World Access Immigration Services
Website: http://www.waiscanada.com/
Address: Suite #255, Mumford Professional Center, 6960 Mumford Rd
Contact Details: +1 902-431-9577
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Friday: 10 AM–6 PM
World Access Immigration Services has been helping people move to new countries for over 12 years. They assist different types of applicants, like those starting businesses or studying abroad.
One thing they do well is helping skilled workers apply through the express entry program. If you score 67 points or more, you can get your visa faster through this pathway.
Before you apply, the firm checks your qualifications to avoid rejections and save you money. They also offer other ways to become a permanent resident, giving you options.
Most of the clients we spoke with were happy with the firm’s professionalism and speed.
But some have had problems with communication. This includes mistakes with paperwork and confusion about getting money back.
Pros
- Experienced in immigration services
- Handles federal skilled workers for express entry
- Pre-assessment to reduce rejection risk
- Advises on multiple residency pathways
Cons
- Miscommunication issues
- Botched document handling
- Problems with fee refunds
- Lack of responsiveness
Professional, supportive, and detail-oriented
“I had a great experience with WAIS team. Vivek sir and Simran both guided me through each step with clarity and precision. Their expertise, professionalism and dedication were instrumental in securing visa for both my parents and brother. They patiently answered all my questions and concerns I had along the way. They paid attention to each details to give the best possible outcome.
I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking assistance with their immigration journey.”
Barinder Kaur, Google Reviews
Responsive, knowledgeable, and professional
“My experience with Vivek sir and Simran was nothing but the best. They are very professional, and always responded promptly to my questions and concerns. I got my PR in just 6 months. I am glad that I have made the right decision by choosing them for my PR application. Highly highly recommended”
arshdeep kaur, Google Reviews
Grace Allen Immigration Law
Website: https://www.graceallenlaw.com/
Address: 1809 Barrington St Suite 1003
Contact Details: +1 902-329-4950
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM–5 PM
Grace Allen of Grace Allen Immigration Law holds a Master’s Degree in Human Rights.
Her main focus is on refugee applications, but she also handles temporary residence (visitors, students, workers), permanent residence through federal and provincial streams, and Canadian citizenship.
Speaking with applicants, we found Grace and her team to be very straightforward in assessing cases. They provide the good, the bad, and the ugly parts — allowing applicants to prepare for potential issues.
This transparency is refreshing and helps applicants navigate their application processes better.
Their fees are flat-rate, which helps ease financial concerns. Many applicants felt the rates matched the level of service they received.
However, we noted some concerns. Some applicants mentioned they never received callbacks after initial inquiries, and others felt they received minimal support despite partial payments.
Pros
- High qualifications
- Focus on refugee applications
- Transparent case assessments
- Flat-rate fees
Cons
- No callbacks
- Minimal support
Professional, responsive, and helpful
“Great service with excellent professionalism. I’m highly recommending if you need a lawyer. Grace and her team is working perfectly and following the process. She is promptly updating and informing the process in a same day. I’m so glad that Grace help me. If I have any question, she directly give a call and explain next steps. Thanks again her and her team.”
Baha Gul, Google Reviews
Informative, knowledgeable, and dedicated
“Grace helped my husband and I navigate the immigration process, which is very confusing. She kept us informed throughout the entire process and was always available when we had questions, she even stayed for an appointment although she was very unwell. She made the process less stre6. We highly recommend Grace for all your immigration needs.”
lillian Byfield, Google Reviews
Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc.
Website: https://www.terylscott.ca/
Address: 380 Bedford Hwy Suite 101
Contact Details: +1 902-706-5030
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Wednesday: 8 AM–5:30 PM
- Thursday to Friday: 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. has over 25 years of experience in law, including immigration law. We like their strong focus on temporary residency, permanent residency, and Canadian citizenship.
However, they lack emphasis on other areas like applications for federal skilled workers and Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). LMIA application processing is important for employers hiring foreign workers.
On a brighter note, we’re big fans of their pay-as-you-go services, which eliminate the need for a retainer and allow clients to manage their legal budgets better.
However, we’ve heard some concerns about their service quality. Some clients felt the lawyers seemed rushed and disinterested, with one person mentioning they were unprofessional and insensitive to her situation.
Pros
- Over 25 years of experience
- Strong focus on main immigration pathways
- Pay-as-you-go services and no retainer required
Cons
- Limited focus on other immigration pathways
- Lawyers seem rushed and disinterested
- Unprofessional and insensitive
Professional, knowledgeable, and supportive
“Lisa was very professional and knowledgeable, overall, she made me feel her services were money very well spent. She helped me prepare my case in a way I would have never considered. I felt very supported the entire time and felt I had a worthy coach in my corner. What I thought was extremely difficult before was made so much easier and I came through more easily and quickly than I ever expected. Lisa, thank you very much for your time and expertise.”
Sylvain Pelletier, Google Reviews
Personable, professional, and knowledgeable
“Lisa is extremely knowledgeable, professional and personable. She made the entire process as painless as possible and I felt very supported throughout. I would highly recommend Lisa’s services.”
Myra Davis, Google Reviews