We are Lawyers for Migrant Communities

Forward-looking,
Full-service Canadian
Immigration, Refugee, and
Citizenship Law Firm

Forward-looking, Full-service Canadian Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Law Firm

Consultation
Our Story

Judicial
Reviews

We challenge the reasonableness and procedural fairness of negative immigration decisions at the Federal Court.

Immigration
Appeals

We litigate residency obligation, sponsorship, criminality, and removal order appeals with the Immigration Appeal Division.

International Students and
Foreign Workers

We assist and advise on complex study permit, post-graduate work permit, immigration compliance, and work permit issues.

Family Class
Sponsorship

We specialize in spousal sponsorships, dependent child sponsorships, parent and grandparent sponsorships, and complex family reunification matters.

Permanent Residence and
Citizenship

We submit and review applications for clients seeking permanent residence and citizenship in Canada

Refused Applications, Procedural
Fairness Letters, & Reconsideration

We help you navigate best available remedy options when your immigration application is delayed, refused, or challenged.

Refugees / Humanitarian and
Compassionate Grounds

We take an informed and research-based approach to refugee and H&C applications.

Strategic Litigation / Community
Lawyering

We are racialized community members that bring our lived experience, and a critical/intersectional approach to our advocacy efforts in support of systemic change.

About Heron Law Offices

We are a forward-looking full-service Canadian Immigration,
Refugee, and Citizenship law firm based in the Greater Vancouver
area and serving clients across Canada and Globally.

Our focus is in the representation of families (sponsors/applicants), international students/designated learning institutions, and temporary workers with complex immigration applications and litigation. Our immigration litigation work focuses on Immigration Appeals before the Immigration Appeal Division, Inadmissibility matters before the Immigration Division, and Judicial Reviews before the Federal Court of Canada. We actively engage in strategic litigation and community lawyering.

Our dedication and focus on our craft enables us to assist you and your loved ones. Canadian immigration is not an easy process, but we are here to be your trusted advisors in your time of greatest need. We take care of your best interests and at the same time work to break down systemic barriers, help change law and policy, and advocate for Indigenous sovereignty.

We want to be the Lawyers for the Migrant Communities that built us. We are growing, expanding, and dreaming of a brighter tomorrow.

We are fluent and/or professionally competent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Farsi, Pashtu, Punjabi, Hindi and the German languages. We also work with top certified interpreters/translators to assist our clients as often required by Canadian immigration and refugee law.

Consultation

Our Team

Experienced and Compassionate Immigration,
Refugee & Citizenship Lawyers

Will Tao (he/him)

Co-founder / Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer

Will has a focus on complex refusals, re-applications, and judicial reviews, dedicated to providing spcialized immigration advice, advocacy, and representation while applying a compassionate, empathetic, race equity lens to his work. He is currently exploring in the impact of AI in Canadian immigration. (see more)

Jessye Kilburn (she/her)

Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer

Jessye practices immigration and refugee law from Vancouver B.C., on the traditional, unceded territories of the Coast Salish – sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations. She brings a federal Court litigation focus of her work on complex applications. (see more)

Katie Lay (she/her)

Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer

Katie joined Heron Law Offices in September 2022 as a Canadian immigration and refugee lawyer, with a focus on migrant workers and international students. She lives and works on the unceded territories of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (see more)

Our Support Team

Laura Schemitsch (she/her)

Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer

Laura joined Heron Law Offices in June 2023 as a Canadian immigration and refugee lawyer. She is a proud resident of Squamish, B.C. with ties to Whistler. B.C. and lives and works on the unceded territories of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (see more)

Our Support Team

Azza Omer Alyas (she/her)

Administrative Assistant – Part-Time Contractor

Azza (she/her/hers) is a current international student at the University of Victoria who lives, works, and studies on the unceded and ancestral territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen), Songhees (see more)

Candy Hui (she/her)

Case Manager / RCIC

Candy received her immigration education from the University of British Columbia’s Certificate in Immigration Laws, Policies, and Procedures (CILPP) program. (see more)

Tobie Lin (she/her)

Case Manager

Tobie joined Heron in October 2022 as a Case Manager. She brings with her 10 years of work experience in Canadian Immigration, with a solid understanding of immigration application and litigation processes. (see more)

Xiaoyi Zhu (she/her)

Operations Coordinator / Case Manager

Xiaoyi is an immigrant, former international student, and proud community builder. Her own migration journey and community work inspired her to pursue a career in Immigration. (see more)

Edris Arib
On Leave – Completing PhD (he/him)

Co-founder / Director of Operations

Edris Arib is a law and public policy professional with experience in international and civil society organisations. He specializes in public and nonprofit management. (see more)

Our Support Team

Edris Arib
On Leave – Completing PhD

Co-founder / Director of Operations

Edris Arib is a law and public policy professional with experience in international and civil society organisations. He specializes in public and nonprofit management. (see more)

We represent clients across Canada and from all over the world.

Help us fill out our map. If you are a citizen of a country we have not yet represented, we welcome you to contact us. We travel through our work, learning from our clients and their rich cultural and diasporic histories, and sharing our own experiences. We look forward to this journey together.

What People Say About Us

Hubert R.
☆☆☆☆☆
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My wife and I had been denied a PR immigration application and were in need of a lawyer to help us appeal our case. After my first meeting with Will Tao I immediately knew that he was the man for our situation. Over the course of getting to know Will it became obvious that he was not only a top-notch lawyer but an amazing person. For Will, being a lawyer is not just a job but a calling. His numerous involvements in the community speak to that. Not only was Will always prepared and on top of our case but it was clear that he genuinely and sincerely cared about helping us. Each and every step of the way Will was open and forthright, clearly explaining the procedures involved moving forward. Will was always available to answer questions or give relevant advice and we were consistently impressed with his honest and ethical approach. Will intelligently, thoughtfully and systematically presented our case with passion and zeal. Despite numerous obstacles along the way we prevailed and our appeal was eventually successful. There is no doubt in my mind that Will’s diligence was a huge reason for this and we cannot recommend him highly enough, not only as a lawyer but as a person. SIX stars!!
Vicky W.
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Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value I was referred to lawyer Will Tao by an immigration consultant in Saskatoon who had attended one of his seminar. My mother’s case involved her failing to meet her 2 year residency obligation, and immigration denied her PR. My mom's case complicated by our recent move to Vancouver that our inability to set down community roots thus far. When I met Will I quickly decided he was the right person to go for my mom’s case. After working with Will, I find he is a very thoughtful and compassionate person. His assistant, Edris, also is very nice. I felt so much trust, and was very comfortable to work with them. We were assigned a very critical the minister's councel for the hearing. But with Will’s effort, my mom’s case got approved after all. Will is really the best immigration lawyer I ever seen. I will definitely recommend him to people who face a challenging immigration issue. We are forever grateful.
Nina T.
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I had a very positive and successful experience working with Will Tao. He is a genuinely kind person and did everything in his ability to advise me through a difficult immigration process applying for a Post Graduation Work Permit, which ended successfully! I would not be surprised if Mr. Tao is the most up-to-date and friendly immigration lawyer in Vancouver.
Umer S.
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Read More
Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value Will Tao is hands down the best lawyer I came across. I got my PGWP rejected and being a recent graduate I was low on cash. Will not only did his best to work within my budget but also his advice got my work permit approved in only 7 days!! I have recommended all of my friends to go to Will Tao and I will 100% recommend everyone to go to Will for any immigration related issue!
Nina U.
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I’m so grateful that I made decision to switch to Will Tao at the last moment for my PR application. Spent tons of money to another lawyer and he couldn’t help me out but Will solved my application with an ease. Will Tao honestly the best I’ve ever worked with. I received my BCPNP nomination within 2 weeks and after one year I got my PR which is super fast even in COVID time. I feel really confident and safe when I were working with Will because he is very resourceful, responsive, genuine and knows the law very well. Also, he is really keen and careful each of every details. Thank you Will for providing me wonderful legal service.
Zhang A.
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I was denied a renewal of my PR card because I went to school abroad and didn’t spend enough time in Canada. Will Tao helped me thoroughly with this case. We spent a lot of time preparing and he’s good at what he’s doing. He’s alaways ready to answer my questions and walked me through what could happen. He works very hard and wants to be as prepared as possible which in hindsight saved me a lot of trouble. The hearing went smoothly and my appeal was approved.
Ian M.
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Read More
Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value I had a very positive and successful experience working with Will Tao. He is a genuinely kind person and did everything in his ability to advise me through a difficult immigration process applying for a Post Graduation Work Permit, which ended successfully! I would not be surprised if Mr. Tao is the most up-to-date and friendly immigration lawyer in Vancouver.
Yue L.
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Dr. Will Tao is professional and enthusiastic. He has keen observation and deep insight in visa application, especially post-graduate ones. I was lucky to get help from him.
Susana C.
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Will Tao is one of the best Lawyers my family has every worked with. He genuinely cares for each case he has and puts his work, energy and heart to it. He is a very smart and dedicated person, and no matter how hard the case is, or how many papers you need Will is the type of person that will do the impossible. I was just moving to Canada with my family (my mom and siblings) and our status was difficult and no lawyer would take my moms case because it was “impossible” but Will make it look very smooth. My family and I will always be grateful for him .

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