LEGAL SERVICES

Canadian Citizenship & Immigration Law

I provide advice and services on the full range of Canadian citizenship and immigration applications and issues, from the routine to the complex, with the exception of refugee claims.   My approach is simple and straightforward:  I will consult with you to gain a thorough understanding of your background and objectives, advise you on the path that is best for you, and provide you with the level of service that you want.

I also provide advice and representation in appeals and judicial review court applications.

Permanent Residence Applications

I advise and represent clients on all Canadian Permanent Residence application categories:

• Spousal & Common-Law Partner Sponsorships
• Other Family Class Sponsorships:  conjugal partners, parents, grandparents, dependent children (including adopted children), and other eligible family members
• Canada Experience Class
• Provincial Nominees
• Federal Skilled Worker Class
• Business Class (Investors, Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed)
• Live-In Caregivers
• Humanitarian and Compassionate cases

I also advise clients on all issues which can make a Permanent Residence application more complicated, such as medical and criminality issues, and issues which relate to eligibility to sponsor family members.

Go to Top

Applications and Issues for People Who Are Already Canadian Permanent Residents

I advise and represent clients who are already Canadian Permanent Residents on a variety of issues and applications, including the following:

• Permanent Resident Card applications (also known as the PR Card and Maple Leaf Card)
• the residency obligation and maintaining Canadian permanent residence status
• applications for Travel Documents for  permanent residents outside of Canada who need proof of their status so they can return to Canada
• applications to amend a Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence form
• searches for Permanent Residence status records

Go to Top

Working, Studying and Visiting in Canada: Temporary Residence Applications and Matters

I advise and represent clients on all Temporary Residence applications and matters including the following:

• Working in Canada:  I represent foreign workers and Canadian employers.  When considering working in Canada, you need to know whether you may do so without a work permit, whether you need a work permit, or whether you need a work permit and your prospective employer requires a Labour Market Opinion (“LMO”) from Service Canada.  I advise on the full range of options for working in Canada, including on Work Permit exempt situations, LMO-exempt Work Permit situations (for example, Work Permits under NAFTA and other international agreements to which Canada is a party, post-graduate Work Permits, Work Permits for Provincial Nominees, and intra-company transferees), and situations where both a Work Permit and an LMO are required.  If you are a foreign national from a country whose citizens require a Temporary Resident Visa (“TRV”) to come to Canada, I advise on related TRV issues as well.
• Studying in Canada:  I advise on the full range of issues applicable to foreign nationals who wish to study in Canada, including Study Permit applications and situations where a Study Permit is not required.   If you are a foreign national from a country whose citizens require a Temporary Resident Visa (“TRV”) to come to Canada, I advise on related TRV issues as well.
• Visiting Canada:  I advise on the full range of issues applicable to Visitors to Canada, including tourists, business visitors, seasonal residents, long-term visits by parents and grandparents, and visa applications for foreign nationals from countries whose citizens require TRVs to come to Canada.
• Temporary Residence Extensions:  I advise on all applications to extend or change Temporary Residence status, including extensions of visitor status, Work Permits and Study Permits.
• Temporary Residence Permits:  I advise on situations where a foreign national does not meet the requirements of Canadian legislation to travel to, enter or remain in Canada (for example, medical or criminality issues), but has compelling reasons to enter or remain in Canada, such as social, humanitarian or economic reasons.

Go to Top

Other Canadian Immigration Issues and Applications

I also advise and represent clients on the following Canadian immigration issues and applications:

• “Rehabilitation” applications for people who are inadmissible to Canada because of past criminal activity
• appeals
• judicial review court applications
• Access to Information requests

Citizenship Applications and Issues

I advise and represent clients on the full spectrum of Canadian citizenship applications and issues, including the following:

• advising clients on eligibility for Canadian citizenship, and applications for Canadian citizenship for those people who are eligible to become Canadian citizens
• advising clients on whether they may already be Canadian citizens, and applications for proof of Canadian citizenship for those people who are already Canadian citizens and need or would like to have proof of Canadian citizenship status
• the April, 2009 changes to Canadian citizenship law
• Canadian citizenship issues for people born outside Canada to a Canadian parent
• Canadian citizenship issues for adopted people
• loss of Canadian citizenship
• searches for Canadian citizenship records
• resumption of Canadian citizenship
• renunciation of Canadian citizenship

Go to Top

Customs

I also advise clients on the importation of goods to Canada.

BUSINESS LAW

In my Business Law practice I advise and represent clients on a wide variety of corporate and commercial matters for private and institutional clients.  Representative matters have included:

• business organization, including corporations, partnerships and limited partnerships
• shareholder agreements
• contracts
• procurement and major service delivery agreements for government
• land use including land co-ops
• bankruptcy and insolvency matters

Go to Top