Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use a lawyer?

The immigration process can be complicated and time-consuming. Canadian immigration officers can exercise a lot of discretion, even if you meet the minimum requirements for entry. If your application is lacking in any way, you can be denied a visa with no opportunity to present your case again.

We can ensure that your application is presented effectively and maximize your chances of success. If problems develop, we can deal with them on your behalf. We speak the same legalistic language as immigration officials. Let us handle the headaches so you won't have to. Only lawyers can offer the following:

• A conversation (or written communication) between a client and lawyer is privileged, meaning anything you say to a lawyer can not be disclosed without your consent.

• Lawyers are bound by a strict ethical code to act in the best interests of their clients.

• Lawyers are governed by law societies in each province that set strict practice rules and require all lawyers to purchase liability insurance.

• Lawyers are well-trained and spend seven years at university learning their profession, before writing intensive exams and working under strict guidance of a senior lawyer for an additional year before practising law.

• A lawyer can represent you at the Federal Court of Canada.
  

• You may have to hire a lawyer if your case becomes complicated.

An immigration consultant or a government official can offer none of the above. If you wish to verify Mr. Panusa's status as a lawyer, please contact the Law Society of British Columbia at (604) 669-2533 or visit their website at www.lawsociety.bc.ca to learn more about a lawyer's duties to his or her clients.

Why should I use PanCanadian over another law firm?

PanCanadian advises clients no matter where they intend to live in Canada, we offer the following advantages and services over other firms:

• We are a firm that provides personalized service. You can discuss aspects of your case with us at anytime. We respond to all e-mails within 1 business day (often within a few hours).

• We do not use paralegals or secretaries to handle the bulk of a client's work. A lawyer (usually Mr. Panusa) will handle your file from beginning to end.

• We charge a very competitive flat fee with no hidden or per hour charges.

• Our founder, Mr. Gianpaolo (John) Panusa, has a Master of Law degree from the University of Cambridge, a qualification that very few lawyers have obtained.

Ok, I'd like to use your services. How do we get started?

We'll ask you several detailed questions to determine your chances of success. If we determine that you have a reasonable chance of success at securing a visa, we will agree to represent you (we will not waste your time or your money if you have little or no chance of obtaining a visa). We will then send you a retainer letter by email, which will give you details about our fees and the services we will provide to you. After you receive it, you will sign it and fax (or email) it back to us. You may then pay your initial fee through this website (we use Paypal and other services to keep things safe for you -- we don't want you to send your credit card number over the internet to us). After that, we're all set to go. Contact us now.

How long will the process take?

This is a difficult question to answer. Depending on your circumstances, the immigration process can take between 6 months and two years or more. There are several provincial programs designed to speed up the process for certain workers. No matter how long the process takes, your fee will cover all of our work during that period (unless something very unusual arises, or if we are required to go to court on your behalf). Contact us for more information.

I've already started the immigration process on my own and I've run into problems - can you help me?

Yes. Although we typically see immigration files through from start to finish, we are available to assist you if you have started the process on your own and you are now experiencing difficulties with Immigration Canada. We will charge you on a per hour basis for these services. Our clients in this category usually send us a list of questions through e-mail, and we send back a detailed response.

Can you assist me in finding business opportunities, property or employment once I arrive in Canada?

Yes. We can assist in these areas through our many partners. We encourage our clients to stay in touch with us once they arrive, as we can be a valuable source of information in all aspects of Canadian law.

I am an immigration agent in a foreign country, would you be interested in assisting my clients immigrate to Canada?

Yes, we are always open to discussing arrangements with foreign agents. Contact us to discuss this further.

[Back to top]