Question 1

What is a Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application?

Accepted Answer

According to the Government of Canada, Section A25(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) allows foreign nationals who are inadmissible or who are ineligible to apply in an immigration class, to apply for permanent residence, or for an exemption from a requirement of the Act, based on humanitarian and compassionate considerations.

Question 2

When should somebody consider filing an H&C application, and can a person do it on their own?

Accepted Answer

An H&C application should be considered when somebody, typically a failed refugee who has had their refugee claim denied by the Refugee Protection Division (RPD), and the Refugee Appeals Division (RAD), and had a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) denied, and has already received an official Canadian order or removal, wants to remain in Canada because of potential hardship they may face in their home country, while also believing they have established themselves in Canada.
 
When it comes to what constitutes hardship, some examples include, but are not limited to, a fear of violence from a domestic partner, from their own government, or other external sources in their home country. Other factors that could be considered valid reasons to submit an H&C application include medical reasons, the best interest of the child (BIOC), and more.
 
While a person can file an H&C application on their own, it is highly recommended to not do so, but to instead secure the services of an immigration lawyer or licensed immigration consultant. H&C applications are complicated, and misunderstanding of certain requirements or the omission of important information could have a substantial impact on the application’s results, so it is better to obtain the services of a reputable and licensed professional.

Question 3

Do you work with H&C Applicants directly?

Accepted Answer

No, I do not. I only work with immigration lawyers and consultants who hire me to formulate a cohesive, persuasive, and thoroughly researched narrative based on the information and documents provided by the H&C applicant(s).

Question 4

Do you work with immigration lawyers and consultants directly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I work directly with immigration lawyers and consultants on a subcontracted basis. After I have combined the documentation given to me by an H&C applicant’s representation with my own research, resulting in the completion of a clear and convincing narrative, I return what I have written to the lawyer or consultants, who then follows all of the necessary legal steps on their client’s behalf.

Question 5

Why is a detailed and persuasive narrative such a critical component of an H&C application?

Accepted Answer

An H&C application is a last resort for an applicant who wants to remain in Canada. The majority of applicants already have official orders of removal by the time they file an H&C (which are still enforceable while the applicant awaits the result of their application). As a result of these circumstances, having an application that tells a passionately written, thoroughly researched, and compelling story that reflects the raw reality of an applicant’s life is far more effective than a disjointed collection of statistics and dry legal precedents.
 
Immigration officers are human beings, and while they perform their duties as impartially as any human being can, the fact is, a person is far more attentive – and thus more empathetic – with a clearly written and relatable story than they are with a mundane document that lacks the influence of an engaging narrative.

Question 6

Why should immigration lawyers and consultants hire you to assist in H&C applications?

Accepted Answer

For the last six years, I have worked on over 100 H&C applications for individuals, couples, and families, and for those that have already yielded decisions, 72% of them have been successful, and the applicants have received Canadian permanent residence. That figure is substantially higher than the national average success rate of H&C applications. I believe that high success rate is a direct result of creating a narrative that both humanizes the applicant through personal details and pertinent anecdotes and informs the immigration officer about the circumstances of that applicant’s home country. I also incorporate other important factors through relevant news articles, academic papers and statistics, and any other sources that I believe strengthen the arguments I have embedded in each and every individualized narrative.
 
I believe that to create sincere and cogent narratives, possessing both the skill and passion for detailed research is essential. Fortunately, with over 10 years experience as a professional writer, that skill and passion is ingrained in my work process. As a result, I only utilize trustworthy sources for every fact and figure used. I also consistently keep abreast of current events around the world, a habit that I’ve developed over 20 years ago, when I first started visiting, and living, in various countries, many of which are the same countries several H&C applicants originally come from. This personal experience has enabled me to create much richer, and more detailed, narratives.

Furthermore, as a published author of several books, both fiction and nonfiction, I take great pride in making sure every narrative is expertly edited in order to ensure both clarity and professionalism in every page.

Finally, I have never used generative artificial intelligence programs for any H&C applications that I have worked on – or any other writing I’ve done for that matter – and never will. This is extremely important considering the Canadian government’s evolving efforts at detecting and flagging AI generated applications.

Question 7

What does working with you on an H&C application look like?

Accepted Answer

I will first have an initial consultation call, or in-person meeting with an applicant’s representation in order to establish a working relationship that could be based on a per-application basis, or something more long-term. Following that initial call or meeting, I will provide a price quote based on the scope of the project.
 
For individual applications, I require relevant documentation that would include, but is not limited to, a biography of the applicant describing their life prior to coming to Canada, why they came to Canada, what they’ve been doing in Canada since their arrival, and why they fear returning to their country of origin, legal identification from the applicant’s home country, letters of employment and volunteering, tax assessments, bank account information, education credentials, reference letters, any affidavits or other legal documents that are relevant to the application, and any other documents that would strengthen the narrative.
 
After receiving that documentation, I start working on the narrative, and have it completed and fully edited in approximately 1 week, depending on how much documentation I receive. Each narrative will also include all documents, articles, academic papers, etc. that I used, all of which will be precisely organized and numbered, and illustrated in a table of contents.
 
The completed package will be done and sent digitally. However, if physical documents are preferred, that can also be provided, at additional cost.

Question 8

How long does it take for you to complete an H&C application?

Accepted Answer

I have maintained a consistent writing pace for over a decade. As a result, I am able to complete H&C narratives in approximately 1 week from the time I receive the applicant’s relevant documentation. While this isn’t an exact timeline, it is a reliable average and is based on how much documentation I receive from an H&C applicant’s legal representation.

Question 9

How much does your assistance in an H&C application cost?

Accepted Answer

A price quote will be provided following an initial consultation meeting, which can be held via phone, online, or in-person. I typically work on a per application or per hour basis.

Question 10

Do you provide workshops for how to best construct effective H&C application narratives?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I do. For more information on my narrative workshops that are geared toward immigration lawyers and consultants, please contact me via contact form.

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