Giving you advice that matters

Refused Applications,
Procedural Fairness
Letters, &
Reconsideration

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We help you navigate best available remedy options when your immigration application is delayed, refused, or run into challenges that require legal intervention.

What is Request for Reconsideration?

A request for reconsideration is an informal request that can be submitted to the decision maker of a refused application after the refusal decision is received. It is an opportunity for an applicant to either point out a mistake or oversight committed by the decision maker, or advise the decision maker of the new evidence which was not available at the time when the refusal was made.

The authority to request reconsideration, and have your request considered by a visa officer or the decision maker comes from the case Kurukkal v. Canada (MCI) 2010 FCA 230.We help our clients submit requests for reconsideration by reviewing previous submissions on file, procedural fairness letters (if any), and working with our clients to put forth the right affidavits, supporting evidence, and legal submissions to try and seek positive discretion to have a decision overturned. Whether it was administrative oversight, a mistake in fact or law, or a major change in circumstance – these are factors we help highlight in your reconsideration requests.

What is Procedural Fairness?

Procedural fairness means acting fairly in administrative decision-making. It relates to the fairness of the procedure by which a decision is made, and not the fairness in a substantive sense of that decision.

A person may seek judicial review of an administrative decision on the basis that procedural fairness has not been observed.

A procedural fairness letter is an email or letter electronically sent by an immigration officer, to notify the applicant of a concern and allow the applicant to respond. The officer typically gives a specific amount of time to reply, such as seven days or 30 days. A comprehensive response – which includes the relevant law/policies, case precedents, and facts corroborated by evidence – is essential to decrease the chance of refusal or increase the chance of success when challenging a refusal at the Federal Court.

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!!
Rayzel
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We are now Permanent Residents. Thanks to Will Tao, Candy and the rest of the Heron Law team our Canadian dream continues. Our case was complex and somehow hopeless. Prior to finding Will, our initial application was rejected. The next one took forever to be processed, while my application for extension of work permit was denied. Then my husband sent his own application which was also denied. We lost our status and ended up receiving the most devastating letter from IRCC, we were asked to leave Canada ASAP. Our previous immigration consultant gave up on us and recommended finding an immigration lawyer because our case was very complicated to handle. We wasted our time and money with other immigration lawyers who did not even help us at all. Thankfully, we found Will, who genuinely care for immigrants like us who are struggling with status and Permanent Residency application. The first thing Will told me was, “I want to help you and your husband.” When you were hitting rock-bottom and you heard those words, it felt like a heavy load was lifted off my chest. With Heron Law, there are no hidden charges, no false promises. Will and his team are very transparent. They made sure that we understood every detail they provided. We never felt we were taken advantage in any way, especially monetarily. My application was stagnant for 2 years. When Heron Law took over our case, there was a significant movement with our application even if it was during the pandemic. Will and Candy worked meticulously to correct all the errors that were made on our applications. A few months later immigration officer called me and issued our work permit. My husband’s application was reopened and there was positive progress. In less than a year after that, through my husband’s application we were granted Permanent Residency. Heron Law works like magic. I cannot even fathom how our situation was flipped over. Truthfully, Will, Candy and the rest of the team work hard to achieve our goal. They are knowledgeable, proficient, detail-oriented and dedicated in helping their clients in the best possible way. I would recommend Will and his team in a heartbeat.
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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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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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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