Why Hire A Calgary Business Immigration Lawyer?
Local Knowledge, National Experience
Canada is proud of our immigration policies which
- Contribute to the country's economic progress
- Bolster an aging labour force
- Assist local companies in expanding their operations and recruiting qualified, trained, and educated foreign personnel
Ackah Business Immigration Law was founded in Calgary in 2010 by immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah. As a small business owner and an immigrant, Evelyn understands firsthand why the choice of immigration lawyer is so important for businesses and entrepreneurs to achieve their goals and grow their business:
At Ackah Business Immigration Law, we have extensive expertise in immigration law, IRCC requirements and processes including
- Federal and Alberta immigration programs
- Labour market impact assessments (LMIAs) and LMIA-exempt permits
- Business immigration programs
- Entrepreneur and investor immigration programs
- Express Entry federal and provincial programs
We are committed to ensuring that all necessary procedures are carried out with accuracy and expediency. Whether for a business or an individual, our team provides the guidance and assistance you need to make the process of obtaining a visa or permit as straightforward, hassle-free, and cost-effective as possible.
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Hiring foreign workers:
Coordinating work permit and temporary or permanent residence applications for incoming or transferring cross border personnel.
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Canada immigration programs:
With the many federal and provincial programs available from both federal and provincial/territorial governments and the frequent program changes, a business immigration lawyer must have a thorough understanding of the available programs to ensure that business applications have the best chance for approval.
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Business growth and entrepreneurship:
Canada welcomes foreign workers to help the economic recovery and replace an aging workforce, yet immigration is a highly complex and regulated system where simple mistakes can cost money and time, and delays and denials.
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Proactively identify and resolve issues:
From issues with crossing the border to compliance audits to HR and employment law, our business immigration lawyers advise business owners and entrepreneurs on how to protect their investment, save time and save money while remaining compliant with all IRCC and government regulations.
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Hiring our Calgary business immigration law firm can provide your business or startup with many advantages:
- Our lawyers are experienced in local immigration programs and business needs and have contacts and expertise which can be beneficial to local businesses and foreign entrepreneurs, executives and investors in settling in, obtaining residency or even citizenship in Canada.
- We will guide and advise you on the various immigration pathways available for your specific situation.
- We proactively troubleshoot and prevent potential immigration problems.
- We exclusively practice immigration law.
- Ackah Law Founder Evelyn Ackah has over 20 years of immigration law expertise, and 50+ years of combined experience. That means we are never caught unprepared or
- Our flat-fee pricing means you are never surprised or unprepared for your bill.
- We use cutting-edge technology to maximize cost-effectiveness and minimize missed opportunities and wasted time.
- We provide our corporate clients with compliance support and can help you prepare for a Compliance Review/Inspection and ensure that your organization complies with IRCC Temporary Foreign Worker Program (LMIA) and the International Mobility Program (LMIA exempt) requirements.
- Ackah Law provides advice on employment-related matters including Recruitment and Hiring Practices, Termination and Severance, Workplace Investigations, Employment Policies & Practices, Privacy Obligations, Human Rights Requirements and Absence & Disability Management.
- Ackah Law offers 24/7/365 support so when you need to cross a border, we can help and provide guidance.
Ultimately, hiring an immigration lawyer can increase your chance of approval and successful settlement in Canada, according to the Toronto Star.
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AAIP PNP: Alberta Advantage Immigration Program Provincial Nominee Program
Each province or territory has its own specific immigration procedures. The Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (AAIP PNP) is a pathway for individuals seeking to settle in the province.
Alberta welcomes talented immigrants and job-creating entrepreneurs who will move to, live and work in Alberta. Alberta offers 3 pathways for immigrant entrepreneurs.
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Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
The Graduate Entrepreneur Stream allows the AAIP to nominate qualified international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to establish or operate a business in Alberta to apply for permanent residence.
Applicant requirements include- must have completed at least two years of full-time education, resulting in a degree or diploma from an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution.
- must establish a new business or buy an existing business in Alberta with a minimum 34% ownership
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Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is an economic immigration program for qualified foreign-educated graduates from outside of Canada who want to launch start-up enterprises and innovative businesses in Alberta.
Applicant requirements include:- Minimum of 6 months full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalent.
- A business plan with projected financials.
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Rural Entrepreneur Stream
The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is an economic immigration program. Entrepreneurs who want to start a business or buy an existing business in a rural Alberta community can submit an Expression of Interest.
Applicant requirements include:- Either a minimum 3 years of experience as an active business owner/manager or a minimum of 4 years of experience as a senior manager within the past 10 years.
- Minimum net worth of $300,000. All assets must be the candidate’s own personal holdings or spouse's or common-law partner’s.
- Minimum investment of $200,000 from the candidate’s own (and/or spouse/common-law partner) equity. Higher levels of investment will be awarded more points.
- Minimum ownership of 51% for a new business. Business Partners must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents. OR 100% ownership for business succession

Cross border paperwork, business and travel are challenging and frustrating, yet are critical to the smooth operations of a business. Ackah Law provides Canadian and American business immigration immigration services.
Evelyn Ackah, Founder and Managing Lawyer of Ackah Business Immigration Law has exclusively practiced immigration, NAFTA, and cross border business immigration law for over 20 years. Our firm was founded in Calgary, and our experienced immigration lawyers and consultants can provide you with the assistance and guidance necessary to manage complex and ever-evolving Canadian and U.S. immigration laws.
Our comprehensive legal services provide business owners, investors and entrepreneurs with confidence their business immigration needs are timely, cost-effective and proactive.
Award Winning Immigration Law Firm Transforming Lives Since 2010
Business Immigration to Calgary, Canada
Opening a business in Canada
Investing in a local business
Moving foreign workers to Canada
It is essential to retain a local immigration lawyer who comprehends Canadian business immigration requirements prior to submitting an application so that you have the highest possibility of success and achieving your goals.
Our innovative legal practice combines professional knowledge, personal attention and supportive advice to proactively solve your immigration problem as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
Immigration law is becoming more complex and challenging every day, and there are many backlogs and delays that cause frustration and missed opportunities. Immigration applications can be refused due to minor oversights and omissions that can delay or negatively impact your business. By not using a knowledgeable local lawyer you can be putting your business at risk.
Business Travel to Calgary, Canada
International business travelers come to Canada for many professional and business travel reasons:
Professional conferences or meetings
Educational opportunities
Exploring new business opportunities in Canada
Visiting Canada-based locations or offices
When you travel to Calgary, Alberta on business, your citizenship and how you cross borders into Canada (plane, car, boat, train) determine whether you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). The reason for your visit determines the required documentation enter Canada as a business visitor, or if you qualify for a Work Permit Exemption.
Business Immigration to Calgary, Canada
Opening a business in Canada
Investing in a local business
Moving foreign workers to Canada
It is essential to retain a local immigration lawyer who comprehends Canadian business immigration requirements prior to submitting an application so that you have the highest possibility of success and achieving your goals.
Our innovative legal practice combines professional knowledge, personal attention and supportive advice to proactively solve your immigration problem as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
Immigration law is becoming more complex and challenging every day, and there are many backlogs and delays that cause frustration and missed opportunities. Immigration applications can be refused due to minor oversights and omissions that can delay or negatively impact your business. By not using a knowledgeable local lawyer you can be putting your business at risk.
Business Travel to Calgary, Canada
International business travelers come to Canada for many professional and business travel reasons:
Professional conferences or meetings
Educational opportunities
Exploring new business opportunities in Canada
Visiting Canada-based locations or offices
When you travel to Calgary, Alberta on business, your citizenship and how you cross borders into Canada (plane, car, boat, train) determine whether you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). The reason for your visit determines the documentation you require to enter Canada as a business visitor, or if you qualify for a Permit Exemption.
Award-Winning Excellence
Evelyn Ackah and the Ackah Business Immigration Law team are proud of our success rate, client testimonials and our many awards and recognitions.

- 2022: 3 Best Rated Immigration Lawyers In Calgary
- 2022: Finalist for 2022 Immigrants Of Distinction Awards: Entrepreneurship & Innovation
- 2021: Named Alberta’s Leading Immigration Law Specialist of the Year by Acquisition International
- 2021: Winner 2021 Gold CommunityVotes Calgary Immigration Lawyer and Lawyers
- 2021: Ackah Business Immigration Law Voted Top Choice Immigration Law Services of 2021 in Calgary
Business Immigration Legal Services In Calgary, Alberta
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Ackah Business Immigration Law assists
- business owners who want to hire talented foreign workers and move them to Canada
- investors who want to invest in an existing business
- foreign entrepreneurs who want to move to Canada and launch a new business or startup
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Ackah Law Compliance and HR services can help Canadian businesses prepare for Compliance Reviews and Inspections and ensure that their organization's work permits comply with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (LMIA) and the International Mobility Program (LMIA exempt) requirements.
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Ackah Law helps businesses move their global talent across borders.
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Our immigration services help global executive search companies hire foreign workers and provide expatriate management services.
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Ackah Law assists relocation companies and foreign law firms in getting work permits and visas and other required documentation to move expats to new assignments in Canada or the United States.
- Business Travel to Canada
- Compliance and HR Audits
- Canada Work Permits
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Canada Permanent Residence
- Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Worker
- Federal Skilled Trades
- CEC Applications
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Self-Employed Applications
- Entrepreneur Applications
- Start-Up Visa Program
- Home Caregiver / Support Worker
- Quebec Immigration: QEP
- Quebec Selection Certificate: CSQ
- Quebec Acceptance Certificate: CAQ
- Inadmissibility Issues and Waivers
- Temporary Foreign Worker
- Business Immigration to Canada
More About Business Immigration To Calgary, Canada:
FAQs About Immigrating To Calgary
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1. Do I Need an Immigration Lawyer when Migrating to Calgary?
You need to know that immigration authorities do not require that you have an immigration lawyer in Calgary before you can apply for Canadian immigration. However, employing immigration lawyers in Calgary offer you certain benefits. Experienced immigration lawyers can guide you through the immigration journey, making it a seamless process for you.
Canadian immigration law changes from time to time. It is beneficial to have the efforts of an immigration lawyer in Calgary to navigate through the immigration process without any unnecessary problems that cause delays or denials.
While the Canadian immigration process may appear simple, the legal considerations and ramifications are highly complex. Not getting it right the first time can result in costly delays and negative consequences that can be avoided by an experienced Canadian immigration lawyer. The entire process of obtaining permanent residence is a long and stressful process, and ideally, you want to avoid dealing with it all alone.
Knowing where to file, what documents are needed, and how to respond to government requests is part of the process, and is best handled by an immigration lawyer. From your PR application to calculating your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and checking your documents, our team will make your immigration process easier and more convenient.
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2. How Do I Apply for A Permanent Residency Card?
Every immigrant who is now a permanent resident of Calgary must have a PR card. This card is the official proof confirming their ability to reside indefinitely in Calgary even as non-Canadian citizens.
For new permanent immigrants, the Canadian immigration authorities automatically give you a PR card without applying for one. The reason for this is that its part of the immigration process carried out by the immigration and refugee board.
You may not get your permanent residence card immediately when you arrive in Calgary. It typically takes three to four months before it arrives in your mail. Most of the time the processing time is always indicated on the board's website.
On the other hand, you may need to renew your PR card. This might be as a result of a change of name, change of location, or a damaged or lost card. In this case, you will have to apply through the board website.
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3. Can a Student or a Worker Obtain a PR Visa?
The Permanent Resident Visa is only given to foreign nationals. It offers them a one-time entry into Canada with a validity period within which they are expected to land in Canada. Students, workers, and foreigners who want to visit Canada are not entitled to receive a Permanent Resident Visa. Instead, a student will get a student visa, workers will get workers' permits and visitors will be given visitor visas.
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4. What is the Legal Process Like for Obtaining Permanent Residence Status?
Aside from visiting Calgary as a student, worker, or visitor, you can choose to migrate as a permanent resident. The Canadian government has a series of programs it uses to admit foreign nationals into Canada.
- The first of these programs is known as Express Entry which is the most common and has the quickest and the most seamless processing.
- There is also a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) which is targeted at skilful foreign nationals.
- The federal skilled trades program is also another means of obtaining permanent residence.
Other immigration opportunities are Atlantic Immigration Pilot, Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, Family Sponsorship, Start-up Visa and Quebec Selected Skilled Workers. You can get a full understanding of all these programs and their requirements by consulting an experienced immigration lawyer at a Calgary immigration law firm.
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5. What are the Requirements to Become A Canadian Citizen?
IRCC requirements for Canadian Citizenship has requirements:
- The first requirement is permanent residency status—only permanent residents can become Canadian citizens.
- Secondly, your tax form must have been filled out for three consecutive years.
- Also, you will be required to take a Canadian citizenship test which you must pass.
- Language skill proficiency in either English or French is also a requirement.
- Finally, you can not have a criminal record either in Canada or in your home country.
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6. How Do I Apply for Canadian Citizenship?
Once you are eligible to become a Canadian citizen, the next step is to go through the application process. The entire process is a complex one and may require the effort of an extremely experienced immigration lawyer. You can then choose to employ immigration consultants or immigration lawyers from a Canadian immigration law firm.
- The application process starts with calculating your staying time in Calgary.
- If eligible then you can proceed to download and fill out the application form.
- Please note you will be required to pay the application fee, submit your application test, and take the citizenship test.
- Finally, you will be invited to attend an interview and also to take the oath of citizenship.
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7. What is the Express Entry Program?
The Express Entry Program is one of the easiest programs an immigrant can use to migrate to Calgary. It is an online application where skilled immigrants can apply to become a Canadian permanent resident. Each applicant is assigned an Express Entry profile which serves as a ranking tool for admission. Your rank then allows you to apply for admission programs such as Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program or the Canadian Experience Class Program.
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8. How are Express Entry Points Calculated?
The Express Entry Programs assess applicants based on several qualifying factors and assign a point to each one. Consequently, the point is used for ranking and determining the most suitable of the three programs as highlighted above.
Free Express Entry Score Calculator
Calculating points is based on the following;
- Skills
- Education
- Language
- Work experience
You can get up to 1200 points and there is a benchmark for admission into each program.
It’s possible to claim additional points if you
- have a sibling in Canada
- speak a high level of French
- receive a job offer in the country
- secure a nomination from a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
This is immigration program is for workers who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory and have ambitions to live in that province and eventually become permanent residents of Canada.
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9. How Do I Work as an Immigrant in Canada?
Working as an immigrant in Canada is based on certain factors. You might need to consult immigration lawyers to ascertain whether you can work in Canada or not. As a foreign national, you will need a work permit to work in Calgary. The work permit can either be an open or closed permit. The open permit allows you to work for any employer in Calgary while the closed permit has certain restrictions.
Students with student visas may also be eligible to work depending on the clause stated on the study permit. Generally, you can apply for work in Canada through the International Experience Canada option.
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10. How can a Permanent Resident Search for a Job in Calgary?
Permanent residents are eligible to work for any employer within Calgary. Making use of an immigration lawyer in Calgary is the best way to ensure you are qualified for employment and have all the required documentation.
You can make use of job websites, networking, volunteering, immigrant-serving organizations, employee agencies and recruiters to get a job as a permanent resident.
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11. What is the difference between a Permanent Canadian Resident and a Canadian Citizen?
Permanent residents have the right to stay in Canada for as long as they live. Once granted permanent resident status, they must live in Canada for at least two out of every five years.
While Canadian Permanent Residents obtain the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, they do not have the right to vote, nor do they carry a Canadian passport.
On the other hand, Canadian citizens acquire the right to vote, participate in political activities, and run for office. They may also apply for a Canadian passport.
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12. How much money do I need to move to Canada?
The cost of applying for immigration for an individual to move to Canada varies considerably depending on what immigration program you apply for and who is sponsoring your immigration application. Included in application costs is proof of funds that show you have enough money to settle in the country.
The estimated required money to move to Canada varies greatly depending on your type of immigration application and the number of family members joining you, if any. It also excludes the cost of your flight, accommodation, and other living expenses.
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13. How long does the application process take?
Because every case is different, we can’t predict an exact processing time for your specific application. Some visas have an option for priority, fast-turn around processing.
Processing time depends on IRCC’s visa office resources and the number of applications currently being processed and the immigration paperwork backlog. Your country of residence and application type also impacts processing time.
Ackah Law works closely with our clients and we do our best to ensure your application is processed as quickly as possible.
Contact Ackah Law Today
Email: contact@ackahlaw.com
Phone: (604) 985-9512
Fax: (403) 452-9514
Corporate and Individual Immigration Legal
Services in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
We Serve Clients Across Canada, Throughout North America and Around The Globe
Areas We Serve From Our Calgary, Alberta Office:
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Red Deer
- Lethbridge
- Medicine Hat
- Grande Prairie
- St. Albert
- Sherwood Park
- Spruce Grove
- Beaumont
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1401 - 1 Street SE Calgary, Alberta T2G 2J3