By Joseph Mayo, Principal Lawyer at Mayo Law (Ontario + New York licensed) Published: May 4, 2026 | Last updated: May 4, 2026 | 12 min read
You’re about to book a free consultation with an immigration lawyer in Toronto, and you’re not sure what’s supposed to happen. Will they ask for documents? Will they tell you what your case is worth? Will they push you to sign? Will they actually help, or is it a sales call dressed up as legal advice?
You’re not alone in those questions. Immigration matters — whether you’re applying for Canadian PR, an H-1B, an E-2 investor visa, or trying to figure out which country you should even apply to — are stressful, expensive, and unforgiving of small mistakes. The free consultation is supposed to help you decide whether you even need a lawyer and, if you do, whether this particular lawyer is the right one. Used well, it’s worth far more than the 30 minutes it takes.
At Mayo Law, we offer free initial consultations for immigration matters across Toronto, the GTA, and cross-border between Canada and the U.S. Joseph Mayo is licensed in both Ontario and New York, which means clients facing both Canadian and U.S. immigration questions can often get answers in one conversation rather than two. This guide walks through what an immigration lawyer free consultation in Toronto actually covers, what to bring, what to ask, and how to spot a consultation that’s worth your time.
TL;DR: A free consultation with a Toronto immigration lawyer typically lasts 15–30 minutes and covers an initial case assessment — not full legal advice. Bring your passport, current immigration status documents, and a one-page summary of your situation. Ask about experience with your specific visa, who handles your file, the fee structure (flat vs. hourly), and realistic timelines. Avoid lawyers who guarantee outcomes — that violates Law Society rules.
What a free consultation actually is — and isn’t
Most immigration lawyers in Toronto offer some version of a free initial call: 15 to 30 minutes, by phone or video, sometimes in-person. The purpose is mutual evaluation. The lawyer is figuring out whether your case fits their practice and is winnable. You’re figuring out whether this person is competent, transparent, and someone you can work with for the months (or years) the matter will take.
A free consultation generally does include:
- A quick overview of your situation
- An initial sense of whether your case is straightforward or complex
- A general indication of which visa or program might fit
- Discussion of the lawyer’s typical fee structure
- A clear next step (engagement letter, follow-up call, referral)
It generally does not include:
- A full legal opinion on your case
- Document review
- Specific filing strategy
- Any guarantee of outcome (which would actually breach Law Society of Ontario advertising rules)
Treat it as a screening call, not a substitute for paid legal work. If a lawyer offers to “handle everything” for free, something is off.
What to bring (or have ready) for your free consultation
The 15–30 minutes goes faster than you’d expect. Walk in prepared and you’ll get more out of it than the next caller will.
Identification and current status documents:
- Passport (valid)
- Any current immigration status — work permit, study permit, visa stamp, PR card, status document, refugee claim documents
- Most recent entry/exit stamps relevant to your case
Background facts on a single page: A short timeline of your immigration history works better than a verbal essay. Date of first entry to Canada or the U.S., status held, any prior applications (approved, refused, pending), any criminal record (including arrests without conviction), any prior refusals or admissibility issues.
Specifics on your goal: Are you trying to stay in Canada? Move to the U.S.? Bring a spouse? Open a business under an investor visa? Renew a status? Respond to a refusal? The clearer your goal, the more useful the lawyer’s assessment.
For business or investor visa cases (E-2, L-1, EB-5, NIW, business immigration): Be ready to describe the business briefly — sector, revenue, employees, your role — and how much capital you can demonstrate. The U.S. State Department’s E-2 visa guidance and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Start-up Visa Program outline the eligibility criteria worth reviewing before the call.
For family-based cases: Marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates, evidence of relationship, sponsor’s status documents.
For refusal-response cases: The refusal letter and your full original application package.
You don’t need to provide all of this in advance — most lawyers will ask you to email a summary or fill out a short intake form before the call.
Questions worth asking the immigration lawyer
The free consultation is your chance to evaluate the lawyer as much as for them to evaluate your case. The following questions tend to separate a useful lawyer from one to skip:
“How many cases like mine have you handled in the past two years?” Direct experience matters more than years of practice in general. An immigration lawyer with 50 E-2 cases under their belt is different from one with 50 PR applications and one E-2 case.
“Will you personally handle my file, or will it be handed to a paralegal or junior associate?” Both models are legitimate, but you should know which one applies and what the supervision looks like.
“What’s your fee structure — flat fee or hourly?” Most Toronto immigration lawyers use flat fees for defined applications (work permit, PR application, visa filing). Hourly tends to apply for litigation, complex appeals, or refusals. Ask for a written fee quote.
“What government fees apply on top of your legal fee?” IRCC and USCIS charge their own filing fees, biometrics fees, and processing fees that are separate from what the lawyer charges. A complete Canadian PR application can carry $1,500–$2,000 in government fees alone before any legal work.
“What’s a realistic timeline for my type of case?” A good lawyer will quote ranges from official government sources (IRCC publishes processing times; USCIS publishes its case-processing times). A lawyer who says “three weeks” without referencing actual current processing times is either not paying attention or being optimistic to win the engagement.
“What’s the most common reason a case like mine gets refused?” This question filters fast. A lawyer with real experience can answer it specifically; a generalist will speak in vague terms.
“What are the chances of approval?” Lawyers in Ontario cannot ethically guarantee outcomes — but a competent one can give you a candid sense of strengths, weaknesses, and likely friction points. If you get a “100% approval guaranteed,” walk away.
Canadian immigration lawyer vs. US immigration lawyer in Toronto: which do you need?
This is one of the most common points of confusion at the consultation stage.
A Canadian immigration lawyer in Toronto handles applications under Canadian immigration law: work permits, study permits, PR applications (Express Entry, PNP, family sponsorship), citizenship applications, refugee claims, and Canadian visa matters. They are licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (or another provincial law society).
A U.S. immigration lawyer handles applications under U.S. immigration law: H-1B, L-1, E-2, EB-5, O-1, TN (under USMCA), green cards, and consular processing. They are admitted to a U.S. state bar — most commonly New York for Toronto-based cross-border practitioners. U.S. immigration law is federal, so a lawyer admitted in any U.S. state can practise it from anywhere.
A cross-border immigration lawyer holds both. This matters when:
- You’re moving from Canada to the U.S. (a TN visa, an E-2, or a green card based on Canadian background)
- You’re moving from the U.S. to Canada (PR application after holding U.S. status)
- You hold one status and want to maintain the other (dual intent issues, simultaneous Canadian PR + U.S. work visa)
- You’re a business owner with operations on both sides
Mayo Law works with clients across the GTA and on cross-border matters. Joseph Mayo is licensed in both Ontario and New York, so clients facing both Canadian and U.S. immigration decisions can coordinate their legal work in one place rather than juggling two firms.
Immigration lawyer Toronto fees — what’s typical after the free consultation
Once you move past the consultation and into actual representation, fees become structured. Typical 2026 Toronto market ranges:
Canadian applications (flat fees, government filing fees additional):
- Work permit application: $1,500–$3,500
- Study permit: $1,200–$2,500
- Express Entry / PR application: $3,000–$6,500
- Spousal sponsorship: $3,500–$6,000
- Citizenship application: $1,500–$3,000
- Refusal response / Federal Court judicial review: $5,000–$15,000+
U.S. applications (flat fees, USCIS fees additional):
- TN visa: $1,500–$3,000
- L-1 visa: $4,000–$8,000
- E-2 investor visa: $7,500–$15,000+
- H-1B (employer-sponsored): $3,000–$6,000
- EB-5 investor green card: $15,000–$50,000+
- O-1 extraordinary ability: $6,000–$12,000
These ranges depend heavily on case complexity. A straightforward visa renewal sits at the low end. A case with prior refusals, criminal admissibility issues, or unusual circumstances climbs quickly.
Always ask what’s included and what’s not. A common gap: the legal fee for filing the application is quoted, but the legal fee for responding to a request for evidence (RFE) or procedural fairness letter is separate. Get the full picture in writing.
Red flags to watch for in a free consultation
Some signals to take seriously:
Outcome guarantees. “I can guarantee your visa.” This breaches Law Society of Ontario Rule 4.2 and similar U.S. state bar rules. A lawyer willing to break those rules verbally will likely break others.
Pressure to sign immediately. A reputable lawyer will let you think it over. High-pressure same-day signing is a warning sign.
Vague fee answers. “Don’t worry about the cost, we’ll figure it out as we go” almost always becomes an unpleasant invoice surprise.
No verifiable credentials. Anyone can put up a website. Verify Ontario lawyers in the Law Society of Ontario directory. Verify U.S. lawyers via the relevant state bar (New York lawyers via the NY State Unified Court System attorney search). For Canadian immigration, only lawyers and licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) can charge for representation — be wary of anyone outside those categories.
A consultant claiming to be a lawyer. Immigration consultants are not lawyers and operate under a different (and more limited) scope. Both can legitimately represent you in many matters, but the credentials are different. A consultation with an immigration consultant is not a “free immigration lawyer consultation.”
Frequently asked questions
Are immigration lawyer free consultations in Toronto really free?
Yes — most reputable Toronto immigration lawyers offer a genuinely free initial call (15–30 minutes). It’s screening, not full legal advice. Some firms charge for longer in-depth strategy sessions; ask before booking.
Can a Toronto immigration lawyer help with U.S. visa applications?
Only if they hold a U.S. bar admission. A lawyer licensed only in Ontario can advise on Canadian immigration but cannot represent you on U.S. immigration matters. Cross-border practitioners are typically admitted in both Ontario and a U.S. state (often New York).
How long does the immigration process take after the free consultation?
Highly variable. Canadian Express Entry can finalize in 6–12 months under typical conditions; spousal sponsorship runs 12–24 months; U.S. EB-5 can take 3–7+ years depending on country of birth. Always check current government processing times rather than relying on outdated estimates.
What’s the difference between an immigration lawyer and an immigration consultant?
An immigration lawyer is a member of a provincial law society (in Ontario, the Law Society of Ontario). An immigration consultant is a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Both can charge for representation in Canadian immigration matters; only lawyers can represent clients in Federal Court appeals or U.S. matters.
Should I pay for a longer consultation instead of taking the free one?
For complex cases — prior refusals, criminal admissibility, multi-country planning — a paid 60-minute strategy session ($300–$750) is often a better investment than a free 20-minute call. Use the free consultation to decide whether to escalate to that.
After the free consultation: what comes next
If the consultation goes well, the lawyer will follow up with an engagement letter (also called a retainer agreement) outlining scope, fees, and timeline. Read it carefully. The engagement letter, not the consultation, is what governs the relationship.
If the consultation didn’t go well — confusing answers, no verifiable credentials, pressure to sign — book another consultation with another lawyer. Most immigration matters allow time for a second opinion.
Mayo Law serves clients across Toronto, the GTA, and on cross-border matters between Canada and the U.S. To discuss your immigration situation, book a free consultation at mayo.law.
Related articles:
- US Immigration Lawyer Toronto: When You Need a Cross-Border Practitioner
- Immigration Lawyer Toronto Fees: A 2026 Pricing Guide
- E-2 Investor Visa Lawyer: A Practical Guide for Canadian Entrepreneurs
