
Canadian Immigration Lawyers for Refusals,
High-Stakes and Complex Cases
Whether you are planning to live, work, study, visit or reunite with family in Canada, the immigration process can be difficult to navigate alone. Matkowsky Immigration Law has been providing experienced legal guidance since 2017.
- Every case prepared by a lawyer
- Federal Court and appeal experience
- Serving clients worldwide
- Flat and transparent fees
Fighting Immigration
Denials Since 2017
Moving to Canada or the U.S. is a life-changing dream, but the immigration process can often be confusing, challenging and stressful. At Matkowsky Immigration Law, we believe you deserve skilled legal representation to guide you on this path.
Based in Toronto, Canada, we are a compassionate team of U.S. and Canadian immigration lawyers dedicated to keeping families together and helping professionals build their futures. Whether you've received a confusing government letter, are stuck with a delayed application, or are looking to appeal a refusal — we are here for you. We pride ourselves on stepping in when things get difficult, fixing complex problems, and finding a clear path forward for you and your loved ones.
Your Case Is Led by an Immigration Lawyer
At Matkowsky Immigration Law, our lawyers handle your case directly. Unlike other firms where legal assistants do most of the work, our attorneys personally develop the strategy, prepare the legal arguments, and manage the substantive details.
Only licensed immigration lawyers have the extensive university and law school education required to represent you at both the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) and the Federal Court of Canada. In contrast, immigration consultants only take a short course of a few months, are not allowed to represent you in Federal Court, and belong to an organization that is widely criticized for not protecting clients properly.
ServicesHow Can Our Canadian Immigration
Lawyers Help?
Every immigration matter is different. Whether you are preparing your first application or trying to resolve an existing problem, our team can help you understand the options available.
Permanent Residence
Explore pathways for making Canada your permanent home. Our lawyers assist with permanent residence applications, including Express Entry, provincial programs, and other available immigration options.
Family and Spousal Sponsorship
Bring your family together in Canada with help preparing a clear and well-documented sponsorship application. We assist with matters involving spouses, including same-sex partnerships, common-law partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents.
Work Permits
Get legal guidance on Canadian work permit options and application requirements. We can help prepare your application, identify potential concerns, and explain the conditions connected to working in Canada.
Study Permits
Prepare a study permit application that clearly presents your education plans, financial information, and reasons for studying in Canada. We also help students understand their options after a refusal.
Visitor Visas
Get help applying to visit family, attend an event, conduct business, or travel in Canada. Our lawyers also assist people who have previously been refused a visitor visa.
Business Immigration
Understand the Canadian immigration options that may be available to entrepreneurs, investors, business owners, and companies seeking to bring talent into Canada.
Canadian Citizenship
Get lawyer-led guidance on Canadian citizenship eligibility and applications, including physical presence, language and testing requirements, complex application histories, and criminal prohibitions that may affect your eligibility. Canadian citizenship applicants can face prohibitions related to certain charges, convictions, sentences, probation, or parole.
Delayed Immigration Applications
When an immigration application faces an unreasonable delay, our lawyers can assess whether a Federal Court mandamus application may be appropriate. This process asks the Court to require IRCC to make a decision on the application. In some cases, filing a mandamus application may prompt action within 30–90 days, but timing depends on the circumstances and cannot be guaranteed.
Refusals, Appeals, and Complex Cases
A refusal or legal complication does not always mean that you are out of options. Our lawyers handle refused applications, sponsorship appeals, inadmissibility matters, procedural fairness letters, removal orders, and Judicial Reviews at the Federal Court.
Success Stories
Choosing the right lawyer is a big decision, and one you want to get right. While all lawyers must meet certain professional standards, not all law firms are the same.
Refusal overturned for Iranian PhD student
Visa officer's refusal set aside on judicial review; client returned to studies within 90 days.
Spousal sponsorship appeal won on credibility
Reversed a refusal grounded in alleged marriage-of-convenience after full hearing.
L-1A Approved for Fintech Executive
Cross-border transfer from Toronto HQ to Boston office with new-office L-1A.
Why Choose
Matkowsky Immigration Law
Choosing the right lawyer is a big decision, and one you want to get right. While all lawyers must meet certain professional standards, not all law firms are the same.
Built for appeals
We regularly appear before the IRB and the Federal Court on refused and complex files, so we know how to build a strong case.
Truly cross-border
Practice exclusively immigration law and licensed in Canada and the United States. One firm for both sides of the border, with no handoffs.
Flat, transparent fees
Quoted upfront at your consultation. No hidden fees and no hourly surprises.
Direct counsel
From your first consultation you work with a licensed lawyer, never a sales rep, and you stay informed throughout.
Hard cases welcome
Refusals, inadmissibility and complex corporate mobility are our focus, not the files we turn away.
Stress-free
Hiring a lawyer dramatically decreases your chances of denial — so you can focus on your life, not your file.
Meet Our Attorneys
When you hire an immigration lawyer at our firm, you get exactly that — a lawyer. Unlike many immigration law firms where paralegals or assistants handle the substantive work, our Toronto-based immigration analysts focus strictly on document organization, so our lawyers can dedicate 100% of their attention to building a winning immigration case for you.

Sonia Akilov, B.A. (Hons.), J.D.
Senior Managing Lawyer · Member, Law Society of Ontario · Member of the Massachusetts Bar · Osgoode Hall Law School
Sonia has extensive experience litigating complex immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and the Federal Court, and assists corporate clients with work permits for foreign workers. Before founding the firm she practiced at Green & Spiegel and KPMG Law. Her Federal Court win in Toki v. MCI established new law in Canada.

Natalie Domazet, B.A (Hons.), LL.B
Natalie practices in all areas of immigration and refugee law, specializing in litigation at the Federal Court and IRB — admissibility hearings, sponsorship and removal appeals, detention reviews, refugee hearings, and judicial review. Former CBSA Minister's Counsel with over a decade at Pearson and Enforcement.

Gina You, B.Sc (Hons.), J.D.
Gina leads the firm's associate lawyers and represents clients in immigration appeals, CBSA removal orders, criminal/medical/misrepresentation inadmissibility, family sponsorships, economic immigration, study permits, and LMIAs & work permits. Windsor Law graduate.

Shameika Hue, B.A (Hons.), J.D.
Osgoode Hall J.D. with experience litigating at the IRB and Federal Court. Helps clients with refugee matters, judicial reviews, temporary and permanent residence applications, H&C applications, and spousal sponsorships.

Ali Abdulreda, B.A. (Hons.), J.D.
Windsor Law J.D. practicing across temporary and permanent residence, sponsorship, procedural fairness letters, humanitarian and compassionate considerations, and Judicial Review at the Federal Court. Collaborative approach to ensure clients understand every option.

Rylee Raeburn-Gibson, B.A. (Hons.), J.D.
University of Toronto J.D. and former student caseworker at Downtown Legal Services. Extensive experience before the IRB and Federal Court — refugee matters, immigration appeals, judicial reviews, H&C applications, spousal sponsorships, and complex inadmissibility files.

Mackenzie Stern, B.Sc. (Hons.), J.D.
Osgoode Hall J.D. with broad experience across study permits, LMIAs, work permits, spousal sponsorship, citizenship, temporary and permanent residence, procedural fairness responses, and judicial review. Focused on helping clients make well-informed decisions throughout the process.

Clarissa Ratjen, B.Sc., J.D.
University of Toronto J.D. who worked in the Refugee and Immigration Division at Downtown Legal Services on constitutional challenges at the Federal Court. Practices across study and work permits, TRPs, family sponsorships, citizenship, criminal rehabilitation, H&C, and judicial review.
What our clients say.
AI-generated review summary
Clients consistently mention clear communication, responsiveness and practical guidance.
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“They helped me through the process of filing a reconsideration request and JR after my PGWP got refused for having a part-time term during my undergraduate degree. Clarissa in particular was my point of contact and she helped me throughout the whole ordeal in a timely and professional manner. She answered all the questions I had and made the situation pretty clear from the start. The reconsideration request letter written by the firm was very impactful and helped me to get IRCC to reopen my PGWP application and eventually approve it.”
“If you ever dreamed or have plans on moving to Canada to work or study, and you are absolutely clueless on where to start or you have tried and we’re denied, then look no further kindly employ the services of Matklosky immigration services, they have some of the most seasoned professionals in the business. Using my case as a reference, all the odds where really stacked against me, but by the time Natalie was done reviewing my situation and deployed the strategy we were going to use, not long we saw changes she chased down every lead until my application was approved.”
“At the beginning I had spoken to a couple of places, but their answers felt pretty general. Here, they actually took the time to look at the details of my case and explain things clearly, which made a big difference. They were also quite careful with the process — not rushing, making sure everything was prepared properly before submitting anything. That gave me a lot more confidence. Overall, it was a stressful situation for me, but they handled it in a very steady and professional way. I appreciate their help.”
“My wife and I are deeply grateful to Natalie for her exceptional professionalism, integrity, and unwavering commitment throughout my Canadian Permanent Residency journey. The final issuance of my PR visa on my passport is not just a legal success, it is the fulfillment of a promise made and honored over five years of persistence and trust.”
Get Clear Answers About Your Immigration Matter
Your $250 consultation gives you time with an immigration lawyer who will review your circumstances, answer your questions, and explain the next steps that may be available. If you retain the firm for your case, the $250 consultation fee will be credited toward your legal fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Immigration consultants are trained through short certificate programs designed only for basic, uncomplicated applications. Their licensing body faces frequent public criticism over weak consumer protection, and consultants are not trained to handle legal obstacles. If your application gets complicated or is refused, they legally cannot represent you in Federal Court. Immigration lawyers undergo years of rigorous law school and courtroom advocacy training. We do both: we efficiently process simple, everyday applications, and we have the advanced legal expertise required to handle highly complex files. If your case faces a roadblock, a lawyer can take your case the whole way—arguing your appeal at the Immigration Appeal Division or aggressively fighting a refusal at the Federal Court. We are fully licensed and strictly regulated by the Law Society of Ontario.

