As immigration lawyers we are frequently consulted by people who are frustrated by their inability to travel internationally due to a lack of a valid travel document. Whether it is a person who can’t obtain a passport or has an expired PR card, there are many individuals who come to consult with us about how they can travel internationally while their passport, PR card application or citizenship applications are sorted out. Often there is nothing we can do to facilitate or expedite the issuance of this identification or status. However, there is a lot that we can recommend in Canada to satisfy the travelling wanderlust of our clientele.
BlogThe Summer of Immigration Discontent: Troubling times for aspiring Canadian immigrants
15 July 2025
It’s no secret that Canada’s immigration program has experienced considerable upheaval in the past couple of years. Indeed the vast majority of our blogs in 2024 were all discussing some aspect of change to virtually all of Canadian immigration whether temporary, permanent or to obtain citizenship. Last week my partner Victor examined the statistical data demonstrating the actual outcomes of these changes on the immigrant population in Canada and how the changes are not yet having the desired effect on our immigration levels that the government intended. When implemented changes don’t provide the desired results, the impact on Canada’s immigration community can be harsh. Let’s review some of the current realities facing prospective immigrants to Canada.
Following US elections there is always a spike in interest about the opportunities for immigration to Canada by our southern neighbours in the US. However, the current Canadian immigration lay-of-the-land does not provide a lot of opportunities for such standard categories of applicants as skilled workers or business applicants. Recently imposed reductions in immigration levels have made it challenging for prospective immigrants to qualify to come to Canada. Even temporary workers and international students are facing restrictions. One sector of opportunity for aspiring US immigrants to Canada is for family sponsorship and citizenship by descent to bring family members to Canada. Let’s review these potential opportunities.
BlogCommunicating With Your Immigration Representative – Why Language Matters and the Value of Second Opinions
22 April 2025
It is a natural tendency for people to communicate in the language that is most familiar to them. This natural tendency does not jive with Canada’s immigration program where there is a significant emphasis, if not the most significant emphasis, on language proficiency in English and/or French. Communicating in your native tongue, while comfortable, does not lend itself to garnering points in our immigration scoring systems for language proficiency. It is also tempting for prospective applicants to search out an immigration representative who can communicate with them in their native language. There are sound reasons to resist this temptation. Let’s review some real-life situations where failure to communicate in English or French can be problematic.
This past Friday, March 7, 2025, brought some welcome news for prospective immigrants in Canada’s construction sector. Recognizing the need for a stronger construction worker labour force, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC), Marc Miller, announced steps to strengthen the opportunities for foreign construction workers in Canada including the creation of an industry advisory council, expansion of a pilot project to enable out-of-status workers to be legally employed and for apprentices in the trades to study without authorization enabling them to obtain their official trade certification in Canada. These steps have been introduced to both increase the pool of construction workers in Canada and to boost housing construction for the benefit of Canadians and the Canadian economy.
NewsSas and Ing celebrates International Women’s Day in support of women around the world.
8 March 2025
For over 30 years, Catherine Sas, K.C. has mentored many women who have come to Canada to start a new life. In this article https://canadian-visa-lawyer.com/international-womens-day-speech/, Catherine shares the stories of three of these women, to give some perspective of what it is like for immigrant women to start fresh in a new country.
BlogCanadian Immigration ProgramsHow do I immigrate to Canada?President Trump is back! Implications for prospective immigrants to Canada?
20 January 2025
Every US presidential election brings renewed interest in Americans seeking to come to Canada. This is not unique to President Trump, but Trump brings some specific Canadian immigration consequences to his being elected President of the United States. Immediately following his election on November 8, 2016, the dramatic interest in Canadian immigration resulted in a crash to our online information system. Many of his proposed policies piqued interest for many Americans and non-Americans without status seeking residency and/or protection in Canada. However, the Canadian immigration reality is very different from 2016 and Canada is not as welcoming as it has been in the past. Prospective immigrants from the US need to know the current lay of the Canadian immigration landscape.
BlogCanadian Immigration ProgramsNavigating the Winds of Change to Canada’s Immigration program: A year in review
10 December 2024
In my 30+ years as an immigration lawyer there is no single year that I can recall that has heralded the unprecedented level of change to Canada’s immigration program as 2024! Virtually every aspect of Canada’s economic immigration program has been altered and in many cases dramatically. Economic immigrants are what drives Canada’s immigration program: international students, workers, business immigrants, Express Entry and PNP applicants for permanent residence,
BlogCanadian Immigration ProgramsHow do I immigrate to Canada?Permanent Residence ProgramsParlez-Vous Francais? The new approach to achieving Canadian permanent residency
4 November 2024
As immigration lawyers practicing with nearly 50 years of collective experience, we have been asked many times by prospective immigrants whether they should pursue studies in both official Canadian languages: English and French, with a view to enhancing their chances for qualifying for permanent residence in Canada. As we live and practice in British Columbia, most of these requests are from persons who have proficiency in English, having either studied or worked in Canada utilizing their English language skills. Since the dawn of Canada’s Express Entry selection system on January 1, 2015, our answer has typically been that the reward is not worth the effort. With both of us personally having studied several languages in addition to English, we can tell you that pursuing language studies takes a considerable investment of time and effort. (You can cram for a history or geography exam but not for a language exam!). However, the new Canadian immigration world order is a very different place and Canada is placing a premium on French language proficiency (outside of Quebec) such that this skill set provides an opportunity to acquire not only an education in Canada but also work experience and permanent residence! Let’s take a look at the options for a francophone applicant to achieve Canadian immigration status.
BlogCanadian Immigration ProgramsHow do I immigrate to Canada?Trudeau Giveth….Trudeau Taketh Away: Understanding Canada’s new immigration levels plan.
29 October 2024
Every year Canada’s immigration minister has until November 1st to set the annual immigration targets for the following year. Last week Canada unveiled its new levels plan significantly reducing the targets for both permanent and temporary immigration. This is a dramatic change from the Trudeau government’s steady increase in immigration levels over the past decade. Let’s review some of the more significant features of last week’s announcement and see how they compare.
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