H&C permanent residence lawyersRepresenting clients across Canada
No status, or no other path to PR? The H&C program could be your answer.
We help people without status, refused refugee claimants and families facing hardship become permanent residents through humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) applications, when no other immigration program fits.
- Immigration lawyers, not consultants
- Hundreds of successful H&C approvals for clients across Canada
- Strong applications built on evidence, often 200+ pages
- Help with removal dates and work permits along the way
Tell us about your situation
A lawyer will review your situation and tell you honestly whether an H&C application is right for you.
What our clients say
Real reviews from real clients
A second chance
When no other immigration program fits.
A humanitarian and compassionate application asks IRCC to let you stay in Canada permanently because of your personal hardship, your family ties, the best interests of children, or the risks you would face if you had to leave.
It's a powerful option for people who don't qualify for Express Entry, sponsorship or other programs. Your story is what matters most, and we help you tell it with the evidence to back it up, so it's right the first time.
Key H&C timing rules
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| After a refused refugee claim | 12-month wait (exceptions apply) |
| Refugee claim still pending | Can't be filed at the same time |
| Does filing stop removal? | No: a deferral or stay is needed |
| H&C refused: judicial review (in Canada) | 15 days |
| H&C refused: judicial review (outside Canada) | 60 days |
Not sure if a rule applies to you? Call us and a lawyer will check.
Lawyers, not consultants
Your future in Canada deserves a lawyer.
An H&C application is often your best remaining chance at permanent residence. If it's refused, only a lawyer can take it to the Federal Court.
The Government of Canada has proposed new penalties for immigration consultants who break the law (IRCC, 2023). Consultants are regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), which maintains a compensation fund to repay clients defrauded by consultants (CICC Compensation Fund).
If the system needs a repayment fund, you should ask: do you really want to be represented by someone whose industry expects misconduct? (IRCC rule changes)
We are Canadian lawyers who argue cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court every month.
Talk to a lawyer now✅ Lawgical lawyers
- Represent you in Federal Court
- Appear at the IAD, RAD and IRB
- Licensed by the Law Society
- A lawyer answers your call
Immigration consultants
- Regulated by the CICC
- Covered by a client compensation fund
- Cannot argue your case before a Federal Court judge
Your lawyers
Meet the lawyers who will handle your case
You deal directly with a lawyer who knows your file, from the first call to the final decision.
Sundeep S. Grewal
Barrister & Solicitor · Founder
Sundeep founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada. Having studied abroad and navigated another country's immigration system himself, he explains every option in plain language and gives you an honest assessment of your chances.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha
Barrister & Solicitor
Prabhpreet focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases. She has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference, and is a former board member of the South Asian Bar Association of BC.
Pardeep S. Grewal
Barrister & Solicitor
Pardeep is an immigration and estates lawyer with an Honours degree in Psychology. He is known for clear communication, practical strategy and compassionate service, so clients feel informed and heard at every stage.
Questions clients ask us
H&C questions, answered
What is an H&C application? (the "H&C" or "HNC" program)
An H&C application is a request for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. People often search for the "H and C program" or "HNC program". It isn't a separate program: it's an application that lets IRCC make an exception for you when the regular rules don't fit.
- Permanent residence from inside Canada
- For people with or without status
- Decided on your personal circumstances
- A strong option when Express Entry or sponsorship isn't
What counts as humanitarian and compassionate grounds?
Officers weigh everything about your life: what you would face if you had to leave Canada, and what ties you have built here. No single factor decides the case, so the whole picture has to be presented well.
- Hardship if you had to leave Canada
- Best interests of any children affected
- Your establishment: work, home, community
- Family ties in Canada
- Medical needs, family violence and risk in your home country
Can I apply with no status or out of status in Canada?
Being undocumented or out of status doesn't mean you have no options. Many of our H&C clients had no status when they applied, especially those with Canadian-born children or many years in Canada.
- Undocumented and out-of-status applicants
- Overstayed visitors, students and workers
- Temporary resident permits and work permits where possible
- Help if CBSA contacts you
Who can apply, and how do I apply for H&C?
Most people in Canada can apply, but there are rules. You generally can't apply within 12 months of a final refugee decision, and you can't have a refugee claim pending at the same time. We review your history, gather evidence, write your submissions and file the application with the required forms and fees.
- H&C requirements and eligibility
- The 12-month bar and its exceptions
- Best interests of the child
- Family violence considerations
- Evidence, forms and legal submissions
Can I apply after a refused refugee claim or PRRA?
A refused refugee claim or PRRA isn't always the end. H&C may be possible after the 12-month bar, or sooner where a child would be directly affected or where a lack of medical care would put a life at risk.
- After a refused refugee claim (RPD or RAD)
- After a refused PRRA
- Exceptions to the 12-month bar
- Stays of removal while the H&C is processed
Can I use H&C for my parents or grandparents?
When parent sponsorship isn't an option, an H&C application can be used for parents and grandparents. The standard is high, so the case needs detailed evidence of hardship, health needs or family dependence.
- Parents already in Canada
- Caregiving and family dependence
- Health and medical needs
- An alternative to the parent sponsorship lottery
What if my H&C application was refused?
If your H&C was refused, a judicial review at the Federal Court may be possible, and the deadline is short. We also look at whether a new, stronger application is the better route.
- Federal Court judicial review
- 15 days to file for decisions made in Canada
- Reapplying with stronger evidence
- Protecting you from removal in the meantime
Why work with an H&C lawyer?
H&C applications are won on evidence and argument. We build a complete submission around your story, and we can protect you in court if something goes wrong. Consultants can't represent you in the Federal Court.
- Lawyers, not consultants
- Hundreds of successful H&C approvals
- Federal Court stays and judicial reviews
- A lawyer answers your call
Can I stay and work in Canada while my H&C is processed?
It depends on your status. If you are a worker, student or visitor, you can stay under the terms of your status and should renew it before it expires if you are eligible. If you have no status, an H&C application doesn't by itself give you the right to stay or work. You may need a temporary resident permit, a work permit where eligible, or a Federal Court stay if you have a removal date.
How long does an H&C application take?
H&C applications aren't fast, which is why it matters to get yours right the first time. A poorly prepared application wastes time and risks refusal.
What documents do I need?
It depends on your story. Common evidence includes proof of how long you've lived in Canada, work and tax records, letters from family and community, school records for children, medical records, and evidence about conditions in your home country. We tell you exactly what to gather.
Can my family be included in my H&C application?
Your spouse or partner and dependent children can usually be included. We review who should be part of your application and how that affects your case.
What happens if my H&C is approved?
After approval and the remaining requirements, you and the family members included in your application can become permanent residents, with access to healthcare, the right to work and study, and the peace of mind of living without fear of removal.
Let's find your path to staying in Canada
Call or send us your details. A lawyer will review your situation and tell you honestly whether an H&C application is right for you.