Schachnow Law

Canadian Law Firm

Expert lawyers in your corner. Modern tech at your back.

Tech for speed, lawyers for judgment. We help individuals, families, and employers with immigration and employment law, with a licensed Ontario lawyer on every file and flat fees you know up front.

Call, text, or message us on WhatsApp at (437) 800-1918

Schedule your consultation today

Member in good standing

Law Society of Ontario and Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association member badges

The logo of the Law Society of Ontario is a trademark owned by the Law Society of Ontario.

Joshua Schachnow, founding Canadian immigration lawyer at Schachnow Law

Meet our Managing Partner

Joshua Schachnow, B.Com., J.D.

Founding Partner

Josh is a Toronto-based lawyer and legal technology entrepreneur who has been practicing law for more than 9 years. He's helped thousands of individuals and companies navigate high-stakes legal problems, and built the technology our firm runs on to make expert legal help faster and more affordable. Josh always puts his clients first, and believes quick and thoughtful communication is most important to making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Called to the Ontario Bar. Member of the Law Society of Ontario, and the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association.

Immigration

Our services.

Canadian immigration from work permits to citizenship, for individuals, families, founders, and employers. Federal and provincial programs, routine files and complex ones, including at the Federal Court.

Book a consultation

Not sure which one applies to you? Tell us your situation and we will point you the right way.

How it works

Software speed, lawyer judgment.

01

Initial consultation

Talk to one of our licensed lawyer's to tell us your background and needs. We then provide expert advice and suggested next steps, including a flat fee for further assistance.

02

Application preparation

You'll work closely with our team on our secure, AI-powered software to prepare and finalize your application as quickly as possible.

03

Our lawyers review and file

An Ontario licensed lawyer always does a final review (sometimes twice), and files on your behalf.

Flat fees. Personal responses within 24 business hours. No surprises.

FAQ

Questions people ask us first.

Can I apply on my own, or do I need a lawyer?

For most applications you are allowed to apply yourself, and some people do. Where a lawyer earns their fee is in the files that are not straightforward: a past refusal, a gap in your status, a tight deadline, or documents that are hard to explain. One missed detail can cost months. In a consultation we will tell you honestly whether your situation is one you can handle alone.

What does it cost to work with you?

We work on flat fees, not hourly billing. After your consultation you get a written quote for the whole application, so you know the full legal fee before you commit to anything. Government processing fees are paid separately to IRCC and are not part of our fee.

What happens after I send you a message?

We reply within one business day, usually faster, and you can book a consultation straight away. In the consultation a licensed Ontario lawyer goes through your situation, gives you advice, and follows up in writing with the next steps and a quote. If you decide to go ahead, most cases get started within a few business days.

Which immigration applications do you handle?

Work permits, study permits, visitor visas, Express Entry and other permanent residence pathways, spousal and family sponsorship, citizenship by descent, humanitarian and compassionate applications, and LMIAs and the Global Talent Stream for employers. We also take on refused applications, appeals, and judicial review at the Federal Court.

I am not in Canada. Can you still help me?

Yes. Everything is done remotely: consultations are by video or phone, documents move through a secure client portal, and we work with people inside Canada and around the world. We are a Toronto firm practising federal immigration law, which is the same wherever you are applying from.

Who will actually be working on my case?

A licensed Ontario lawyer, a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association, is responsible for every file and reviews it before anything is submitted. Our software handles the repetitive parts so the lawyer's time goes to the judgment calls, and you can see where your case stands in your portal at any time.

Something else on your mind? Ask us directly

Trusted by clients across Canada.

LA

Lucas Arantes

Josh was incredibly helpful throughout two work permits and our overall immigration process, guiding all of us (including two different employers) every step of the way. He made complicated immigration topics easy to understand and helped us choose the best strategy for our family's needs. Now we're proud Canadian citizens raising our two kids in Montréal.

YZ

Yongjie Zhang

It was a pleasure working with Josh on my work permit application. He was very professional and timely with his communication and I am excited to finally be accepted to Canada.

RA

Rob Attwell

Josh was incredibly helpful and responsive in dealing with our immigration issues through the Global Talent Stream Program. He really knew his stuff and was willing to help me and, more importantly, our candidate through the process.

AS

Abhishek Srivastava

Josh made the whole work permit application process quite easy and it was great to work with him. He is very knowledgeable in his area of expertise and resolved all my queries. I am excited to be starting my new life in Canada!

IA

Irem Ayan

It has been an absolute pleasure working with Joshua throughout my immigration process. He easily spotted the mistake in my first Express Entry application and guided me through a second application which was recently approved. Very professional, knowledgeable, and courteous. I wouldn't be planning my landing in Canada if it weren't for his advice.

AC

Adam Cowley

We worked with Josh on a work permit re-application after we had some struggles trying to get it ourselves. Josh was a pleasure to work with and helped us get our approval in a timely fashion. We hope to work with him again soon.

PC

Priyanka Chabbi

I had a great experience working with Josh. He is an incredibly patient and knowledgeable lawyer who truly cares about his clients. The company that hired me in Canada worked with Josh for my visa process, and everything went smoothly from start to finish.

JS

Jess S.

I'm glad I met Josh. He helped me with my Canadian Work Permit Visa and my husband's OWP. I was apprehensive at first, and I had a lot of questions, but Josh was always accurate and willing to help. He is an excellent professional, and it's clear that he cares about every client.