Business Details
24 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Immigration Lawyers in Calgary
Sharma & Harsanyi Barristers is one of the largest dedicated immigration law firms in Alberta and a leading authority in Canadian immigration law. Our team includes former immigration hearings officers and a former Refugee Board Member, bringing unparalleled expertise to every case. We specialize in immigration litigation, family law, and criminal defense, with a proven track record of success in high-profile cases and Federal Court proceedings. Our lawyers appear daily in court, advocating for clients in immigration hearings, appeals, and admissibility disputes.We combine deep regulatory knowledge with a client-focused approach, leveraging technology and project management to ensure responsive, efficient service. Recognized for our commitment to access to justice, we provide strategic guidance on economic immigration pathways, family sponsorship, humanitarian claims, and complex inadmissibility issues.
Services
Immigration Hearings
Family Sponsorship
Criminal Defense
Federal Court Appeals
Humanitarian Claims
Residency Obligations
Work Permit Applications
Citizenship Cases
Refugee Appeals
Record Suspensions
Details
- Year established: 2002
Highlights and features
- We are experienced in immigration, family and criminal defense law
- Our lawyers are in court every day fighting for our clients
- We have former Immigration Hearing Officers on staff
- We conduct more immigration hearings in Alberta than any firm
- We utilize project management software for client transparency
What people say
Experienced lawyers
Responsive to clients
Successful case outcomes
Dedicated professionals
Knowledgeable staff
Services
Immigration Hearings
We represent clients in immigration hearings before the Immigration Appeal Division and Federal Court. Our team includes former adjudicators who understand decision-making processes. We handle sponsorship refusals, residency obligations, and admissibility issues. With thousands of hours in courtrooms, we provide strategic representation for complex cases involving misrepresentation, criminality, or humanitarian grounds.
Family Sponsorship
We assist Canadian citizens and permanent residents with family class sponsorships. Our lawyers navigate regulatory requirements for spousal, common-law, and conjugal partner applications. We prepare comprehensive submissions addressing relationship authenticity and financial requirements. We represent clients in appeals when applications face refusal due to perceived bad faith or insufficient proof of relationship.
Criminal Defense
Our criminal defense practice focuses on immigration consequences of criminal charges. We defend clients facing charges that could impact immigration status. We develop strategies to minimize criminal records through record suspensions or expungement. Our team coordinates with immigration authorities to address cross-border implications of criminal convictions while maintaining client rights.
Federal Court Appeals
We challenge immigration decision-maker errors through Federal Court judicial review. Our lawyers identify legal grounds for overturning refusals of applications or appeals. We prepare detailed argumentation packages with supporting evidence. With the most reported decisions in Alberta, we specialize in complex cases involving procedural fairness violations or misapplication of immigration law.
Humanitarian Claims
We prepare Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) applications for individuals facing removal. Our submissions highlight exceptional circumstances like family ties in Canada or hardship considerations. We develop compelling narratives supported by documentary evidence. We represent clients before the Immigration Appeal Division for H&C appeals when initial applications receive negative decisions.
People
Raj Sharma
Partner
K.C. designation holder with extensive immigration and criminal law expertise. Former immigration adjudicator providing unique insights into decision-making processes. Leads complex appeals and high-profile cases with consistent success in Federal Court.
Bjorn Harsanyi
Partner
Recognized immigration law specialist handling refugee claims, sponsorship appeals, and removal orders. Develops innovative strategies for complex inadmissibility cases. Frequently appears before the Immigration Appeal Division and Federal Court with notable success rates.
Faraz Bawa
Partner
Experienced immigration litigator focusing on residency obligations and family class applications. Represents clients in appeals involving financial inadmissibility and relationship authenticity challenges. Known for meticulous case preparation and courtroom advocacy.
Sania Chaudhry
Associate
Specializes in family law matters including custody disputes and spousal support. Coordinates immigration aspects with family court proceedings. Provides practical solutions for clients navigating both immigration and family law challenges simultaneously.
Gen Zha
Associate
Focuses on economic immigration pathways including work permits and permanent residence applications. Assists corporations with executive relocations and labor market impact assessments. Develops strategic solutions for clients facing regulatory compliance issues.
Questions
What immigration services do you specialize in?
We specialize in all areas of Canadian immigration law including sponsorship appeals, refugee claims, Federal Court litigation, criminal inadmissibility, and business immigration. Our team handles both individual and corporate immigration needs.
How can I sponsor my spouse to Canada?
We guide sponsors through eligibility requirements, application processes, and documentation needs. We address relationship authenticity concerns and represent clients in appeals if applications face refusal due to perceived bad faith.
What happens if my immigration application gets refused?
We assess refusal reasons to determine appeal viability. Our team prepares comprehensive submissions for Immigration Appeal Division hearings or Federal Court judicial review, focusing on legal errors or procedural fairness violations.
Can criminal charges affect my immigration status?
Yes, criminal convictions can lead to inadmissibility. Our lawyers defend charges while developing immigration mitigation strategies. We also pursue record suspensions to remove criminal history barriers to immigration status.
How do I apply for humanitarian and compassionate consideration?
We prepare detailed submissions highlighting exceptional circumstances like family ties in Canada or disproportionate hardship. Our team develops compelling narratives supported by evidence to demonstrate why removal would cause undue hardship.
What makes your firm different from immigration consultants?
Our lawyers are licensed to represent clients in court and before all immigration tribunals. With former adjudicators on staff, we provide strategic insights unavailable through non-lawyer consultants while maintaining full regulatory oversight.
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