Permanent residence, work, study, visits, family sponsorship, refusals and appeals, employer compliance, and Commissioner of Oaths services for Ontario. Licensed consultants, fixed written fees, and an honest answer before you spend anything.
Eight practice areas and more than forty services. Four questions and we will point you to the right one.
Affidavits and statutory declarations sworn for use in Ontario. Bring the document unsigned and photo identification.
Refusals, expired status, fairness letters. We order the officer's notes before advising on anything.
Canadian immigration is not one system. It is roughly a hundred distinct programmes, each with its own eligibility grid, its own deadlines, and its own way of quietly failing an applicant who chose the wrong door. Express Entry alone manages three programmes. Every province except Quebec and Nunavut runs its own nominee streams. Quebec selects independently. Family class operates on entirely different principles from economic categories, and temporary residence on different principles again.
The consequence is that the most valuable thing we do is rarely the application itself. It is the assessment that happens before it. People arrive convinced they need an LMIA when an exemption applies, or ready to re-apply after a refusal without knowing what the officer actually wrote, or about to pay a college deposit for a programme that will not lead to a work permit. Each of those is a costly, avoidable mistake made before a single form is filled in.
So we work across the whole journey rather than a single transaction. A visitor visa today may be a study permit next year, a post-graduation work permit after that, permanent residence three years later, and citizenship four years after that. Decisions made at each stage determine what remains possible at the next, and a consultant who only ever sees one stage cannot advise on that.
Alongside the immigration practice we hold an appointment as a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits in Ontario. It is a modest service that unblocks a surprising number of files: declarations of common-law union, translator affidavits, custodianship declarations for minor students, financial undertakings, and declarations explaining a name variation or an inconsistent date of birth. Rather than sending you elsewhere mid-application, we can swear it here.
Two commitments underpin all of it. Every fee is fixed and agreed in writing before work begins, separate from government fees which we never mark up. And we do not guarantee outcomes, because Canadian law prohibits it and anyone who does should worry you. What we do guarantee is an honest assessment before you spend anything, including telling you when the right answer is to wait, to improve a language band first, or not to proceed at all.
Every federal and provincial route to permanent status, assessed against your actual profile rather than the two or three programmes most people have heard of. We audit first, then build.
Work, study and visit. Most temporary applications are refused on a single question, whether you will leave at the end of your stay, and most files never engage with it directly. Ours do.
Reuniting families is the most personal work we do. We start with the sponsor rather than the applicant, because if a bar applies to you nothing else matters and the fee is not refundable.
A refusal is a decision on one application, on one day, by one officer, on the evidence in front of them. It is not a verdict. We read the officer's own notes before advising on anything.
We provide commissioning services for Ontario documents. A Commissioner for Taking Affidavits administers oaths and affirmations, and takes affidavits and statutory declarations. It is a small service that unblocks a great many immigration files.
Swearing a false affidavit or statutory declaration is a criminal offence, and in an immigration context it can also result in a finding of misrepresentation carrying a five year bar from Canada. Read what you sign, and tell us if anything in it is not accurate.
Full details and the comparison table →Hiring internationally is a compliance exercise as much as a recruitment one. Employers carry obligations that survive long after the worker arrives, and inspections are real.
Where we act for both an employer and a worker on the same matter, that is disclosed to both sides in writing before any work begins.
Four questions and we will point you to the right practice area and the right page.
Nobody can guarantee you a visa. Anyone who does is telling you something else about themselves.
Canadian law prohibits guaranteeing an immigration outcome, because the decision belongs to IRCC, a province, or a tribunal. The same applies to anyone selling a job offer or an LMIA, which is unlawful and produces a five year misrepresentation bar. Only lawyers, Quebec notaries, and licensed RCICs may represent you for a fee. Check your representative's licence before you pay anyone anything.
Fifteen dedicated pages, each kept current with the programme it covers. Four were added recently as the rules shifted through 2026.
Every federal and provincial route to permanent status, through to the residency obligation and the oath.
Learn more →Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades, plus the category-based draws.
Learn more →An enhanced nomination adds 600 points. We assess you against every open stream across the provinces.
Learn more →A designated employer in the four Atlantic provinces, and no labour market impact assessment.
Learn more →Fourteen participating communities, including our own in Sault Ste. Marie.
Learn more →Six francophone communities outside Quebec, for French-speaking candidates.
Learn more →A separate system with its own selection grid and its own programs. French runs through nearly all of it.
Learn more →Build, buy or relocate a business. The federal routes closed in 2025, so the provinces now decide this.
Learn more →Wage thresholds, closed cities, work site caps, and four routes that need no assessment at all.
Learn more →Most people assume they need an assessment. Very often they do not. We test every exemption first.
Learn more →An acceptance letter is not a study permit. We verify the institution, the attestation and the work rights.
Learn more →We start with the sponsor rather than the applicant, because if a bar applies nothing else matters.
Learn more →Refused more often than any other document, and almost always on one question.
Learn more →We order the officer notes, then answer what was actually written rather than what you were told.
Learn more →Statutory declarations, affidavits and certified true copies, commissioned in Ontario.
Learn more →Claiming protection in Canada, from the eligibility interview through to the Refugee Protection Division hearing and the evidence that decides it.
Learn more →Private sponsorship, Groups of Five, sponsorship agreement holders and the government assisted stream. We prepare undertakings that hold up.
Learn more →An application on H&C grounds when no other route is open. Establishment, hardship and the best interests of a child, set out properly.
Learn more →Criminal, medical, misrepresentation and financial inadmissibility. Temporary resident permits and criminal rehabilitation applications.
Learn more →Practical support after you land. SIN, health card, banking, schools and housing, plus paid airport pickup and a first grocery run.
Learn more →Turn a Canadian credential into three years of open work authorisation, then into permanent residence. Run the eligibility checker before the 180-day clock runs out.
Learn more →Four questions, no email required. You will see the practice area that fits, how urgent your situation is, and a link straight to the relevant page.
General guidance only. This is not legal advice and does not create a consultant client relationship. Programme criteria, deadlines and eligibility rules change frequently. Confirm your position with a licensed representative or with IRCC.
A Commissioner for Taking Affidavits administers oaths and solemn affirmations, and takes affidavits and statutory declarations for use in Ontario. Here is exactly what that covers, what it does not, and what to bring.
Commissioner of Oaths or Notary Public? What each can do
| I need someone to… | Commissioner of Oaths | Notary Public |
|---|---|---|
| Administer an oath or solemn affirmation | Yes | Yes |
| Take an affidavit for use in Ontario | Yes | Yes |
| Take a statutory declaration for use in Canada | Yes | Yes |
| Witness your signature on a sworn document | Yes | Yes |
| Certify a photocopy as a true copy of an original | No | Yes |
| Notarise a document for use outside Canada | No | Yes |
| Authenticate or legalise a document for a foreign government | No | No |
| Give you legal advice about what the document means | No | No |
Documents we commission most often
What to bring
Do not sign the document before you arrive. The whole purpose of commissioning is that you sign it in the Commissioner's presence, having sworn or affirmed that its contents are true. A pre-signed document generally has to be re-executed.
A Commissioner for Taking Affidavits is appointed under Ontario's Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act and the appointment is limited to Ontario. Commissioning is not legal advice and does not verify that the contents of your document are true or that the document is suitable for its purpose. Swearing a false affidavit or statutory declaration is a criminal offence, and in an immigration context can also result in a finding of misrepresentation carrying a five year bar from Canada. Where your document requires a true copy certification or notarisation for use outside Canada, we will tell you and refer you to a notary public.
No surprises, no hidden fees, and no guarantees we are not permitted to make. Here is exactly how an engagement runs.
30 minutes | No obligation | No fee
Thirty minutes, at no cost, with no obligation to proceed. Bring whatever you have: a refusal letter, an offer of employment, an acceptance letter, your test results, or simply a question you have not been able to get a straight answer to.
The purpose is not to sell you a service. It is to establish whether you have a viable route, which one it is, and what it would realistically take. Sometimes the honest answer is that you should improve a language band first, or wait for an intake window, or that no route is currently open. We say so, because a client who files a doomed application is worse for us than a client who waits six months and files a strong one.
Fixed fee | Agreed in writing first
Before any work begins you receive a written retainer agreement setting out exactly what we will do, exactly what it costs, and what is excluded. The professional fee is fixed and separate from government fees, which are payable to IRCC or the province and which we never mark up.
There are no hidden charges and no fees that appear later in the process. If the scope of your matter changes materially, for example because a refusal turns into an appeal, we agree a new scope and a new fee in writing before proceeding.
Where cases are won | Document heavy
This is the substance of the work and the part that determines the outcome. Applications are not won by arguments, they are won by documents that substantiate every claim made. An application that asserts something the evidence does not prove will have that point removed, and in a points-based system that can drop you below the threshold entirely.
We prepare the submission, draft or restructure reference letters and personal statements, source and explain financial evidence, arrange translations, and address every foreseeable concern directly rather than hoping it is not noticed. Where a difficult fact exists, we surface it and explain it, because officers discovering something you concealed stop assessing your application and start assessing your credibility.
We hold the deadlines | Client portal
We file the application, act as your representative on record where appropriate, and handle correspondence with IRCC or the province. Additional document requests arrive with firm deadlines and no guaranteed extensions, so having someone monitoring the file rather than an inbox you check occasionally genuinely matters.
You have access to a secure client portal for documents, and you are told what stage your file has reached rather than having to ask. Expiry dates, invitation windows and response deadlines are diarised on our side, not left to you.
Approval or appeal | The next stage
On approval we take you through landing or activation, the practical first steps, and the timeline for whatever comes next. Very few immigration matters are genuinely finished at approval. A work permit leads to Canadian experience, which leads to permanent residence. Permanent residence leads to a residency obligation and eventually to citizenship.
On refusal, we order the GCMS notes and tell you honestly whether reconsideration, a rebuilt application, an appeal, or Judicial Review is the right route, including when the answer is that the case should not be pursued further. We take our own refusals to appeal.
The same four steps on every matter, whether it is a commissioned declaration or a Federal Court application.
A free thirty minute consultation in your own language. We establish whether a viable route exists, which one, and what it realistically takes.
A written retainer with a fixed professional fee, separate from government fees. You know the cost and the scope before any work begins.
Submissions drafted, evidence sourced and explained, translations and commissioning arranged, and every claim traced to a document you can produce.
We file, act as your representative, hold every deadline, and stay with you through the decision and whatever stage comes after it.
The name is not decoration. Ubuntu is the idea that a person is a person through other people, and it is a reasonable description of what immigration actually is: families carrying each other across borders. Your case is not a file number to us. It is a career, a marriage, a childhood, being rebuilt somewhere new.
Ubuntu World Wide Immigration Consulting Inc. works with Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) who are in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). We also coordinate with licensed immigration counsel for Federal Court matters.
Only authorized representatives, including lawyers, Quebec notaries, and RCICs, may provide paid immigration representation within the scope permitted by Canadian law. At the beginning of your matter, you will be told who is responsible for your file, and that person will remain your primary point of contact throughout the process.
The initial consultation is free and carries no obligation. If you proceed, you receive a written retainer outlining the professional services and fixed professional fee before any work begins. Government fees are separate and are not marked up by us.
We do not guarantee immigration outcomes. Be cautious of anyone who promises guaranteed approval. Immigration decisions are made by IRCC, provincial authorities, or the appropriate tribunal, not by your consultant.
Our commitment is to provide an honest assessment before you spend money or begin the process, including telling you when we believe you should wait, gather additional evidence, or change your strategy.
A Commissioner for Taking Affidavits, commonly called a Commissioner of Oaths, is authorized under Ontario law to administer oaths and solemn affirmations and to take affidavits and statutory declarations for use in Ontario.
You may need a Commissioner when an immigration document must be sworn or solemnly declared rather than simply signed. Examples can include common-law declarations, translator affidavits, custodianship declarations for minor students, financial undertakings, and declarations explaining discrepancies such as variations in names or dates of birth.
A Commissioner of Oaths does not perform every type of notarial service. For example, certifying certain documents as true copies or notarizing documents for use outside Canada may require a notary public. If you require a service outside the Commissioner’s authority, we can advise you on the appropriate option.
No. If a document needs to be commissioned, you should generally sign it in the presence of the Commissioner after taking the required oath or affirmation.
Bring the unsigned document, valid government-issued photo identification, and any exhibits or supporting documents referenced in the document.
If multiple people are required to swear or affirm the same document, they may all need to participate in the commissioning process. Remote commissioning may also be available in circumstances permitted under Ontario law.
Yes. Refusal cases are an important part of our practice.
We recommend that you do not simply submit the same application again. A new application should identify and address the concerns that led to the original refusal.
The refusal letter may provide only standardized reasons. GCMS notes can sometimes provide additional insight into the immigration officer’s assessment and the concerns considered during the decision-making process.
After reviewing the circumstances, we can advise whether the appropriate strategy may involve reconsideration, a new and substantially improved application, an appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division, or Judicial Review. Because some immigration remedies have strict deadlines, it is important to seek advice promptly after receiving a refusal.
Yes. We work with clients both inside and outside Canada. Many Canadian immigration applications are submitted electronically, allowing clients to work with us remotely.
Consultations can be conducted by video or telephone, documents can be exchanged through a secure client portal, and where authorized, we can act as your representative in dealings with IRCC.
Commissioning services are different. An Ontario Commissioner for Taking Affidavits generally exercises their authority within Ontario. If you are outside Canada and need a document sworn or notarized, we can explain the appropriate options available in your location.
No. You should be extremely cautious.
A genuine Canadian job offer should not be something that a worker purchases. In an LMIA application, the employer is generally responsible for the applicable LMIA processing fee.
Paying for a fraudulent job offer can result in significant financial loss and serious immigration consequences. Misrepresentation in an immigration application can lead to inadmissibility and a ban on entering Canada.
If someone offers to sell you a job offer, LMIA, visa, or guaranteed immigration outcome, do not proceed simply because they claim to have connections with an employer or immigration authorities. Seek professional advice before providing money or submitting documents.
The timeline depends on the specific immigration category and circumstances of your case. Processing times can change based on application volumes, government priorities, program capacity, provincial processing, and other factors.
Some immigration pathways also involve multiple stages, for example a pool or invitation stage followed by a provincial process and then a federal application.
We provide a realistic estimated range for your particular pathway rather than promising the shortest possible timeline. We also explain which parts of the process you can control, such as preparing documents early, and which depend on government or provincial decisions.
Yes. We assist employers with immigration matters involving foreign workers, including LMIA applications, recruitment strategies, Employer Portal submissions, applicable compliance requirements, prevailing wage considerations, and NOC classification.
Employer responsibilities can continue after a foreign worker arrives in Canada, and employers may be subject to compliance reviews or inspections. Proper preparation can therefore help protect both the employer and the worker.
Where we are asked to act for both an employer and a worker in the same matter, the arrangement and respective interests should be clearly disclosed to both parties before work begins.
Our team serves clients in more than 25 languages, including Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, French, and many others.
Language accessibility can be particularly important when discussing complex immigration matters such as refusals, statutory declarations, personal histories, and supporting evidence. Being able to explain your circumstances clearly can help ensure that important details are not overlooked.
Tell us your preferred language when booking your consultation, and we will work to match you with the appropriate language support.
Documents submitted to IRCC generally need to meet IRCC's language requirements. Documents that are not in English or French may require an appropriate translation and supporting documentation. We can help coordinate translation and commissioning requirements where needed.
Thirty minutes, free, in the language you think in. Bring whatever you have: a refusal letter, a job offer, an acceptance letter, or just a question nobody has answered properly. You will leave knowing your options and your deadlines, whether or not you retain us.
Serving clients in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and across Canada · Based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
info@ubuntuwic.ca
Content on this page is general information and not legal advice. Commissioner for Taking Affidavits appointment is limited to Ontario. Programme criteria and processing times change frequently.
Information sessions, citizenship celebrations, community events and the everyday work of settling in. Hover to pause, click any photo to open it full size.
Policy changes, draw results and processing shifts as they happen. Follow our journal so nothing catches you mid-application.
Work permit holders can now study for six months without a study permit. The Hong Kong PR pathways closed on August 31. Eleven Express Entry rounds and not one of them general. Everything that changed, with dates and exact numbers.
A temporary public policy now lets valid work permit holders take a course of six months or less without a study permit. Here is exactly who it covers, what it does not do, and the mistake that could cost someone their status.
Applying for permanent residence does not let you keep working automatically. Which permit you can get depends on your pathway, your nomination and your stage. A licensed RCIC explains BOWP, RCIP, FCIP and employer-specific permits.
