Updated on August 24, 2026 by canadian immigration experts
Quick answer
Yes — a student or graduate in London, Ontario can work with a specialist immigration team without a local office. Canadian Immigration Experts advises London clients from our North York base by phone, email and secure videoconference, focusing on study permits, post-graduation work permits, the student-to-PR path, and mandamus when a study or PR file stalls.
Do you need a London immigration lawyer for a study permit?
You do not need a lawyer to apply, but London’s large international-student population means small mistakes get repeated at scale — and a refused study permit can derail a year of tuition and planning. Whether you are heading to Western University, Fanshawe College or another designated learning institution, your proof of funds, attestation letter and study plan decide the outcome. We serve London and its neighbourhoods — Masonville, Old North, Wortley Village and the downtown core — remotely, because immigration is federal and your file is handled the same way from North York.
What does a London study permit application need in 2026?
A study permit needs an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution, proof that you can cover tuition and living costs, and — in most provinces — a provincial attestation letter or equivalent. Rules changed across 2024–2025, including study-permit caps and attestation requirements, so check current eligibility before you apply. If you plan to study in Canada at Western or Fanshawe, your acceptance and funding evidence must line up with a credible plan to study, not to work — a weak study plan is one of the most common refusal reasons we see.
| Requirement | What it means | Common pitfall |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of acceptance | From a designated learning institution (Western, Fanshawe, etc.) | Program not DLI-eligible for a PGWP |
| Proof of funds | Tuition plus living costs for you and any dependants | Unexplained or recently deposited funds |
| Attestation / PAL | Provincial attestation letter where required | Applying before the attestation is issued |
| Study plan & ties | Credible reason to study and return options | Plan reads as a work or migration route |
How does a Western or Fanshawe student move from study to PR?
The usual route is study permit, then post-graduation work permit, then permanent residence through Canadian work experience. PGWP field-of-study eligibility tightened in 2024, so a program that qualified a few years ago may not today.
- Study permit — enrol at a designated learning institution such as Western or Fanshawe and complete an eligible program.
- Post-graduation work permit — apply after graduation; the permit length is tied to your program length, and you use it to gain skilled Canadian experience.
- Canadian experience — work in a skilled occupation that supports the Canadian Experience Class.
- Permanent residence — enter the Express Entry pool or pursue an Ontario nomination, which adds 600 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System score.
A valid job offer can help your eligibility and support a provincial nomination, but LMIA-based arranged-employment CRS points were discontinued in 2025 — do not assume a job offer alone adds points. We do not quote a current CRS cut-off, because it changes every draw; check the latest draw.
What if your study permit or PR application is delayed?
If IRCC has gone silent well past its posted processing time and your file is simply not being decided, a writ of mandamus in Canada may be available. Mandamus is a Federal Court order compelling IRCC to decide your application — it does not force IRCC to approve it. For a student whose term start date is slipping away, the difference between a slow file and an unreasonably delayed one is critical, and security screening is the most common cause. Before filing we send a formal demand and confirm the delay is genuinely unreasonable; check current IRCC processing times first, because a merely slow file is not yet a mandamus case.
What if your study permit is refused?
A refusal is not the end of the road, but the right response depends on why it happened. Sometimes a stronger reapplication with better funding evidence or a clearer study plan is the practical fix; where the decision itself is flawed, a Canadian immigration litigation route — an application for leave and judicial review in the Federal Court — is the better challenge. Judicial review does not substitute a new decision; it asks the court to quash an unreasonable one and send it back. We read the officer’s notes and tell you whether reapplying or challenging fits your facts. If a family move is part of the plan, we can also layer spousal sponsorship in Canada onto a graduate’s path.
Serving London and nearby cities
If you are outside London, see our pages for immigration lawyer in Kitchener–Waterloo, immigration lawyer in Hamilton and immigration lawyer in Ottawa. Program rules come from IRCC, and study-permit refusals and delays are challenged in the Federal Court.
Talk to a study-and-PR immigration team
Get a clear read on your study permit, PGWP or student-to-PR options — and a written quote before any work begins, because fees vary by matter. We serve London, Ontario remotely from North York.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to travel to your Toronto office to handle a London study-permit file?
No. Immigration is federal, so we handle London files entirely by phone, email and secure videoconference from our North York office at 1110 Finch Ave W #406. You are welcome to meet in person, but it is never required.
Will my Western or Fanshawe program qualify me for a post-graduation work permit?
Many do, but not all. PGWP field-of-study eligibility tightened in 2024, and the permit length is tied to your program length. Confirm your specific program still qualifies before you enrol, so your study-to-PR plan holds together.
My study permit for London was refused — can I just apply again?
Sometimes. If the refusal turned on fixable evidence, such as proof of funds or an unclear study plan, a stronger reapplication may be best. If the decision itself was unreasonable, an application for leave and judicial review in the Federal Court can be the better route. We review the officer’s notes first.
My study permit is stuck well past the processing time — what can I do?
If the delay is genuinely unreasonable and there is no decision, a writ of mandamus can compel IRCC to decide — it cannot force an approval. Security screening is the usual cause. We start with a demand letter and confirm the delay qualifies before filing in the Federal Court.
Can international students in London bring a spouse or partner?
It depends on your study level and current rules, which changed in 2024–2025 for spousal open work permits. Once you move to a post-graduation work permit and skilled work, a family move can also be structured through spousal sponsorship.
Which nearby cities do you cover?
We serve Southwestern Ontario and beyond, including Kitchener–Waterloo, Hamilton and Ottawa, plus London neighbourhoods such as Masonville, Old North and Wortley Village — all remotely from North York.
Disclaimer: This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and procedure, current as of 2026. It is not legal advice and no solicitor-client or representative-client relationship is created by reading it. Rules, deadlines and requirements change; the right pathway depends on the facts of your case. Speak to a qualified immigration professional about your own circumstances before acting. Jane Katkova & Associates has advised clients on Canadian immigration matters since 1995.
