Episode 084 of the Canadian Immigration Podcast

What this episode is about?

In the midst of COVID 19 pandemic we, Canadian Immigration Lawyers often ask ourselves – what is going on with immigration and how Canada can adapt to the new normal with existing and new potential immigration programs? In light of the ongoing and severe economic crisis Canada really could use some investment and even consider rolling out a new immigration program to get back on track with the recovery from consequences of the pandemic. This would allow our country to bring in new awesome people, give a boost to our economy, create new jobs across Canada.

As a chair of the Canadian Bar Association Immigration Section I have had a great opportunity to discuss immigration with number of organizations, including the Conference Board of Canada, which has been proposing some alternatives to the investor program. So, in this episode I bring on Phil Cohen to discuss what can we do as a country to help encourage more investment in Canada. During this episode we look into investor programs existing in other countries, in particular EB-5 program that exists in United States. This, then leads us to a discussion of how a program, similar to EB-5 would be of benefit to Canada.

EB-5 is an American immigration program that allows both, Americans and foreign nationals to set up companies that can raise money from immigrant investors. In return, investors can qualify for a Green Card (alternative to Canadian Permanent Residence) so long that the business achieves certain requirements, such as:

• The investor has to invest a minimum amount of $900,000 or $1,800,000 USD
• The business must create a minimum of 10 jobs for each investor the business takes on

This program allows to attract significant amount of investments to small and large businesses.  In times of economic uncertainty the program like EB-5, without a doubt, benefits not only the business seeking investment, but also has a great positive impact on economy and the public. Moreover, the cost of the capital typically ends up being much lower when businesses seeks for investments through EB-5 program.

Tune in to learn more details about American EB-5 program and potential benefit Canada would enjoy if we implement similar program in our country.

About today’s guest of the Canadian Immigration Podcast

Phil Cohen is the founder and president of Strategic Element as well as the Editor-in-Chief of The EB-5 Definitive Guide (see: www.starteb5.com for more information). Phil has a long history of developing businesses, business concepts and products, dating back to 1993. With a career that began in the manufacturing sector, and grew to include new developments in technology and a variety of start-ups, Phil has progressively built up experience in the area of new business development with a focus on transforming ideas in to viable business models.

Phil has worked with large public companies as well as small and mid-sized start-ups and businesses.

Beyond the development of business concepts, models and plans, Phil has taken a hands-on role in the launch of several businesses and business initiatives. In so doing he has faced firsthand the realities and challenges faced by new businesses. This firsthand experience has provided him with the insight and real-life exposure necessary to develop businesses and business plans that work.

About the host of the Canadian Immigration Podcast

Mark Holthe is a Canadian Immigration Lawyer based in Lethbridge, Alberta. He has started his legal career with a large national law firm in Calgary where he initiated the business immigration practice at the firm. Since those early days, he has had the opportunity to work in a wide variety of law firm configurations before finally realizing that the best place for him was within the confines of an immigration boutique firm of his own making.

As a Canadian immigration lawyer, Mark has particular experience in assisting clients with all aspects of Canadian immigration law. He assists large national and multinational companies in navigating the complex world of Canadian immigration and provides strategic immigration advice to international and domestic companies seeking to recruit and retain foreign skilled and semi-skilled personnel.

Mark also assists temporary foreign workers with their transition to permanent resident status in Canada and over the past few years, he has taken great satisfaction in helping individuals and families with their various immigration related needs. Mark finds no greater satisfaction than helping to facilitate the reunification of families.

While attending law school, Mark worked as an Immigration officer for Citizenship and Immigration Canada on the Alberta/Montana border. While completing his final year of law school, he worked as a pro bono student to the Canada Border Services Agency Hearings Officers representing the minister before the Immigration Appeal Division in Calgary, Alberta. As a result of his prior experience as an immigration officer, Mark has been able to enhance the services he offers to his cross-border and overseas clients. Since that time, he has continued to work hard fostering positive relationships with the various immigration related government departments and has focused a significant portion of his practice on cross-border matters.

About the Sponsor of the Canadian Immigration Podcast

This episode sponsored by Canadian Immigration Institute, a platform designed to help people navigate Canadian immigration on their own. On this platform, I offer Do-It-Yourself (DIY) video courses guiding you through the process of submitting your immigration application without a need to hire a lawyer. These video courses not only allow people to better understand Canadian immigration but also earn me sufficient revenue to continue pushing out great free content on Canadian immigration.

Visit Canadian Immigration Institute: https://www.canadianimmigrationinstitute.com

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For US companies relying upon foreign workers, Monday, June 23, 2020, was a day of significant disappointment. President Trump announced that many categories of foreign workers would no longer be granted entry to the US until the end of 2020. Fortunately, Canada’s immigration policy is far more welcoming. If you are a US company that is going to be hurt by these latest rounds of restrictions, Canada may just be the answer. Tune in to this episode where US Immigration Attorney, Nicole Ezer, explains what these restrictions mean for your company and Canadian Immigration Lawyer, Mark Holthe, shares some great “made-in-Canada” solutions to turn your disappointment into relief.

Many US companies were left reeling on Monday, June 23rd when President Trump announced that H-1B, L, J and H-2B visas would be blocked until the end of 2020. These four non-immigrant visa categories are relied upon heavily by US companies seeking to fill critical skill shortages in the US.

Now what is a US company going to do?

They were already hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but this most recent announcement feels like insult to injury.

In this episode US immigration attorney, Nicole Ezer shares some great insight into what these restrictions really mean for US companies and why things may not be as bad as they seem.  I then take some time to pull the curtain back on some very practical solutions that Canada’s facilitative immigration policy offer to struggling US companies and their foreign workers.

Nicole Ezer is the founder of Ezer Law Group, a business immigration boutique law firm based in Houston, Texas. She is my go-to attorney for any US bound business immigration need. We have collaborated for years on mutual cross-border clients and I have fortunate to call her my friend.

Nicole has practiced in the areas of family-based immigration, naturalization and asylum and participated in activities that provide education to industries and communities regarding immigration issues.

She is a frequent speaker before industry, HR groups and for attorney CLE activities, and is a 2002 Graduate of the Center for Houston’s Future Leadership Forum. Nicole has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center, teaching “Business Immigration Basics”.

Nicole has focused her practice on immigration policies and planning and consulting for companies of all sizes. She is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Nicole develops, implements and updates immigration policies for multinational corporations.

Sponsor:

None of this would be possible if it were not for my Canadian Immigration Institute. My DIY courses earn me sufficient revenue to continue pushing out great free content on Canadian Immigration.

• Canadian Immigration Institute – Founded by Immigration Lawyer Mark Holthe 

Affiliate Program:

• Click on this link to become an affiliate of the Canadian Immigration Institute: https://www.canadianimmigrationinstitute.com/become-an-affiliate
  • OR,  go to the Canadian Immigration Institute main page and scroll down to the very bottom and click on “Affiliate”.
  • Earn 30% when someone purchases via your affiliate link

[Tweet “Canada is a great option for suffering US companies?”]

• Additional Resources:

  • Nicole Ezer’s law firm: https://ezerlawgroup.com/
  • The best way to reach Nicole:
    • Phone: (281) 404-7781
    • Website: https://ezerlawgroup.com/contacts/

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Are you frustrated with your language scores? Have you considered writing both language tests? If you want to improve your scores, you have to listen to this episode with professional language instructor Garret Lim. He shares the real goods on what makes the IELTS different than the CELPIP. You can decide which one is better.

In this episode, Garret Lim shared some great insight into exactly what the CELPIP and IELTS tests cover. By knowing the differences between the two tests, you can make the right choice as to which is going to allow you to score the highest. After all, your entire future in Canada depends upon it.

Garret Lim is a career ESL teacher that has spent over 13 years teaching English as a second language. He has taught in 3 countries and has had students from over 30 different countries. Recently, he’s narrowed his focus a bit and is now specializing in test preparation for people wanting to immigrate to Canada who need to reach a certain proficiency band on one of the tests.

1. Why English is so important with respect to your Express Entry
2. What the CLB is and what it represents
3. How the CLB is measured.
4. Differences between the CELPIP and the IELTS
5. Final advice or tips for those taking the tests

Sponsor:

None of this would be possible if it were not for my Canadian Immigration Institute. My DIY courses earn me sufficient revenue to continue pushing out great free content on Canadian Immigration.

• Canadian Immigration Institute – Founded by Immigration Lawyer Mark Holthe 

Affiliate Program:

• Click on this link to become an affiliate of the Canadian Immigration Institute: https://www.canadianimmigrationinstitute.com/become-an-affiliate
  • OR,  go to the Canadian Immigration Institute main page and scroll down to the very bottom and click on “Affiliate”.
  • Earn 30% when someone purchases via your affiliate link

[Tweet “Is the IELTS really better than the CELPIP?”]

• Additional Resources:

  • Garret’s website: http://tu-easy.online 

Listen to Mark Holthe’s Canadian Immigration Podcast

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We also encourage you to subscribe to our Canadian Immigration Podcast on Spotify.

Anyone dealing with a Canadian Border Services Officer understands right away that they carry considerable power and authority over who is granted entry to Canada and who is not. In this episode Canadian Immigration Lawyer, Arghavan Gerami joins me to discuss some challenges that currently exist within the Canada Border Services Agency and attempt to offer some solutions on how things can improve.

In this episode we will pull back the curtain on the inner workings of the CBSA. We discuss whether the approaches taken by the CBSA during COVID-19 are consistent with the principles of Open Government heralded by the Liberal government in their election platforms.  We also discussed the lack of transparency demonstrated bt the CBSA and whether the approach they take is consistent with the rule of law, a foundational pillar of our society.

There has been a significant lack of responsiveness by the CBSA to any attempts at dialogue in understanding the rationale for their decisions in turning people away at the border during COVID-19. Understanding the legal basis for these decisions formulates a critical component in the advice we provide to our clients as immigration lawyers. Lately, we have been left with far more questions than we have answers.

In a pandemic, people need even more transparency and clarity when it comes to the implementation of new policies and procedures. This lack of transparency can be seen most acutely in how the CBSA has been interpreting what is considered to be a “non-essential” purpose in the context of Canada’s travel restrictions. This episode was created in an attempt to encourage greater transparency with the CBSA. We hope you like it.

Arghavan Gerami Bio:

Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation (‘PC’), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario.  She completed her Juris Doctor and Master of Laws at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2007.

Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice before transitioning to private practice in 2011. She also had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal.

Since founding Gerami Law PC in 2011 Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation and represented numerous clients before the Federal and provincial Courts, as well as the various divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Ms. Gerami is an Executive Member on the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association.  In 2017 and 2018 Ms. Gerami also served on the Organizing Committee of the annual CBA Immigration Law Conference.  She has been interviewed on national and local television and quoted in national and local newspapers such as The Globe and Mail, National Post and the Ottawa Citizen.  Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles, presented at immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada, and provided guest lectures at the University of Ottawa.

As a Supervising Principal to articling students, Ms. Gerami enjoys facilitating the career development of law students and young lawyers. She also enjoys traveling as well as spending time with her two children, husband and Bambi (her dog).

Sponsor:

None of this would be possible if it were not for my Canadian Immigration Institute. My DIY courses earn me sufficient revenue to continue pushing out great free content on Canadian Immigration.

• Canadian Immigration Institute – Founded by Immigration Lawyer Mark Holthe 

Affiliate Program:

• Click on this link to become an affiliate of the Canadian Immigration Institute: https://www.canadianimmigrationinstitute.com/become-an-affiliate
  • OR,  go to the Canadian Immigration Institute main page and scroll down to the very bottom and click on “Affiliate”.
  • Earn 30% when someone purchases via your affiliate link

[Tweet “Is the CBSA above the Law?”]

• Additional Resources:

  • Arghavan’s law firm: https://www.geramilaw.com/
  • Arghavan’s contact info: https://www.geramilaw.com/contact.html

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This is the second part of a two-part series on the Canadian Business Immigration process. In this episode, immigration lawyer, Jeffrey Lowe, and I dive into the different types of investment strategies available to foreign nationals seeking to acquire permanent resident status in Canada. We take some time to pull back the curtain on the most common investment vehicles available to potential business immigration clients as they seek to realize their dream of securing PR status for them and their families.

Listen to our Canadian Immigration Podcast episode #077:

During this episode, you will learn about four common ways foreign nationals can invest in Canada. Jeffrey discusses the pros and cons of each of these pathways, and how to find business opportunities when investing in Canada.

What makes this episode so awesome is the case studies and analysis of different immigration scenarios available to business investors. In addition, this episode is chock-full of practical tips designed to help Canadian immigration lawyers and their high net worth clients navigate the complexities of the business immigration process.

If you would like to learn more about my guest, have a listen to Episode 19 of the Canadian Immigration Podcast where we discussed Jeffrey’s background and how he got into immigration.

Jeffrey Lowe has practiced Immigration and Business law in British Columbia since 1983. He holds both a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and is considered an innovator in the convergence of Business, Technology, and the Law. Jeffrey is the Chief Inspirational Officer of Lowe & Company and has taught Immigration Law, Practice Management and Legal Ethics to lawyers across Canada since 1990.

Sponsor:

None of this would be possible if it were not for my Canadian Immigration Institute. My DIY courses earn me sufficient revenue to continue pushing out great free content on Canadian Immigration.

• Canadian Immigration Institute – Founded by Immigration Lawyer Mark Holthe 

Affiliate Program:

• Click on this link to become an affiliate of the Canadian Immigration Institute: https://www.canadianimmigrationinstitute.com/become-an-affiliate
  • OR,  go to the Canadian Immigration Institute main page and scroll down to the very bottom and click on “Affiliate”.
  • Earn 30% when someone purchases via your affiliate link

[Tweet “Business Immigration programs are alive and well in Canada.”]

• Additional Resources:

  • Jeffrey’s firm: https://www.canadavisalaw.com/

Listen to Mark Holthe’s Canadian Immigration Podcast

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If you have a suggestion for topics we could cover in the Podcast, please drop me a line at mholthe@holthelaw.com. If you know of anyone that would be interested in coming on the Podcast as a guest, please send them my way. share on facebook, share on twitter, share on LinkedIn

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Do you need to get documents translated quickly for your immigration application? Are you struggling with who to choose and how to know if the person doing the translation is worth their salt? Tune in to this Episode where I interview the owner of one of the most respected translation and interpreter companies in Alberta. Not only will you come away with essential tips on how to choose a translator, but greater insight on how difficult it actually is to translate properly. Join me as we pull the curtains back on the mysterious world of document translation and interpretation.

In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, I caught up with Monica De Maria, the Owner and President of Giovanni Translation and Interpretation located in Calgary, Alberta.

Giovanni Translation & Interpretation was formed 37 years ago in Calgary, Alberta. The company has grown over the decades and now offers translation and interpretation services in over 60 languages to the federal, provincial and municipal governments, oil companies, law enforcement agencies, the Courts, law firms, insurance companies, medical professionals, and community organizations.

The company was founded by Monica’s parents and she has continued forward in maintaining the company as one of the most well respected translation and interpretation companies in all of Alberta and beyond. It was an absolute pleasure to interview Monica. As a lawyer or consultant advising on Canadian immigration matters, you are most assuredly going to have need of a translator or interpreter at some point in time.

Monica is a graduate of the University of Calgary, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with distinction and of the University of Ottawa, where she was granted a BA Honours in Translation Magna Cum Laude.

Following graduation, Monica launched her career as a professional translator and interpreter offering services in any combination of French, Spanish and English. She is recognized as a certified legal interpreter by both the Association of Translators & Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA) and the Alberta Court Interpreters Association (ACIA). She is also accredited by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) as a French and Spanish interpreter and provides interpretation services to the IRB, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (formerly known as CIC). She travels all over the province of Alberta to interpret at court proceedings and questionings.

In addition to her skills as a legal interpreter, Monica is also recognized as a French and Spanish medical interpreter. She completed the Health Care Interpreter program at Bow Valley College in both French and Spanish and interprets at hospitals and clinics and for Independent Medical Examinations. Moreover, Monica provides simultaneous interpretation services at conferences and for the government.

In this episode, we covered the following topics:

1. The history of her company and how Monica got into translation.
2. The difference between a certified and uncertified translator.
3. The most common documents Giovanni translates for immigration purposes.
4. The process involved in getting a document translated.
5. How interpreters work with the IAD and IRB
6. Tips for choosing a translator
7. Best practices for working with a translator to get your documents translated fast.

[Tweet “Essential tips on getting your immigration document translated fast“]

Links from the Podcast

1. The best way to reach Monica De Maria:
   • E-mail: gtiservices@shaw.ca
   • Phone: 403-542-7614
2. Monica’s company – Giovanni Translators and Interpreters: http://www.gti-services.ca/contact

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If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the show. Share the Love

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At some point in July 2018, the recreational use of Marijuana will become legal in Canada….however, Prime Minister Trudeau has confirmed it WILL NOT be Canada Day (July 1, 2018). With the explosion of this new industry, there is going to be a significant need for Marijuana Professionals to fill labour shortages and skill gaps within this industry in Canada. Immigration Lawyer, Betsy Kane and I discuss some of the existing work permit options that may be available to secure work authorization for these specialized marijuana workers in Canada.

Betsy joined me once again to tackle this brand new topic that has not received too much coverage within Canadian immigration to date. However, it is clear that once recreational use of marijuana becomes legal in Canada, there is going to be a significant need for people with expertise in this unique industry.

If you would like to learn more about Betsy and her firm, listen in to Season 1 Episode 22 where Betsy discusses a little more about how she got into immigration and her firm Capelle Kane which has been operating in Ottawa since 1994.

In this first episode of 2018, Betsy and I covered the following topics:

1. What is happening within the Marijuana industry in Canada.
2. What types of workers and specialized personnel are going to be needed.
3. The various work permit categories currently available.
4. Trouble areas that could pop up
5. Tips for helping your professional – look professional when apply for their work permit at the Port of Entry

[Tweet “How to Bring Marijuana Professionals into Canada“]

Additional Resources:

• The best way to reach Betsy Kane:
  • Capelle Kane law firm: http://www.capellekane.com/
• Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/justice/legalization-regulation-marijuana.html
• Global Talent Stream: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/global-talent/requirements.html
• LMIA Process: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers.html
• NAFTA Professionals: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/international-free-trade-agreements/north-american.html
• International Experience Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/eligibility.asp
• C10 – Significant Benefit: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/labour-market-impact-assessments/canadian-interests-significant-benefit-general-guidelines-r205-c10.html

Listen to Mark Holthe’s Canadian Immigration Podcast

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If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the show. Share the Love

There is often a love hate relationship that exists with the various Provincial Nominee Programs across the country. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is no different. With limited quotas each year and significant processing delays, it makes it very difficult for immigration counsel to recommend the program for anyone that is under time constraints or other time sensitive limitations where certainty in processing is critical. In this episode, immigration lawyer Sarah Fagan shares some insight on what is going on within the OINP today and what we might be able to expect in the near future as it struggles to reinvent itself as a more attractive option for foreign nationals seeking to become permanent residents of Canada.

In this episode, I had a chance to talk to Sarah about her experience immigrating to Canada as a skilled worker. Although she is now a permanent resident of Canada practicing immigration law with the law firm of Rekai LLP in Toronto, she had quite humble beginning as she carved out her own path to practicing law in Canada. Her story is fascinating and inspiring for anyone who is wondering if they have what it takes to make it as a professional in Canada.

Sarah was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland in 2009, and to the Roll of Solicitors in England and Wales in 2010. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (Honours) Degree from University College Dublin. Sarah was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2014.

Sarah joined Rekai LLP in March 2014, having gained several years of corporate immigration law experience with the Toronto office of a prominent international law firm. She has experience assisting clients with a variety of immigration matters, including: labour market impact assessments, employer compliance reviews, work permits, study permits, visitor records, temporary resident visas, temporary resident permits, criminal rehabilitation, permanent residence and citizenship.

In this episode Sarah and I discussed the following topics:

• what the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is all about;
• the types of programs that are available;
• processing times and other challenges;
• how the new online system works and the OINPs transition to online filing;
• tips and strategies for avoiding the most common pitfalls;
• what the future holds for the OINP.

Sarah also shared the following information with me after the recording of this episode that she thought everyone might find helpful:

“Key points that I should have covered re Notifications of Interest – NOIs – is that individuals who are in the pool with 400 points upwards who qualify for Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream (OHCPS) who have not received an NOI since the program re-opened on Feb 21, 2017 and want to avail of the OHCPS, should create and submit a new profile to better their chances of receiving an NOI – apparently this is due to some glitch between IRCC and the OINPs systems. It is something that they have posted a notice about in the past during the infancy stages of OHCPS on their website, but there is no notice about it at present.  Also, there is no automatic notification of an NOI via email. You must check your IRCC online account regularly for same.

I also should have mentioned reconsiderations [of refused applications] during our chat, which have recently moved from a paper process to an online process – unfortunately our experience with those has not been positive and once again, they are extremely slow.“

[Tweet “What does the future hold for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.“]

Additional Resources:

• The best way to reach Sarah Fagan: sfagan@mobilitylaw.com
• Sarah’s law firm Rekai LLP: http://www.mobilitylaw.com/
• OINP Tip Sheet for Online Filing: oi_en_efiling
• E-mail address for technical issues with an online OINP application or the OINP e-filing portal: OINP.technical-POCI.technique@ontario.ca
• One-key login: https://www.one-key.gov.on.ca/iaalogin/IAALogin.jsp
• One-key registration: https://www.appenrol.one-key.gov.on.ca/UserMgmtWebApp/registration.iaa
• OINP Program Updates page: http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/pnp/OI_PNPNEW.html

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Periodically I answer listener questions on my podcast. If you have a question, comment, thought or concern, you can do so by clicking here. We’d love to hear from you. You can also leave me a voice message on the Ask an Immigration Question widget on the side bar of this website.

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As many are likely aware by now… US President Donald Trump is acting quickly on his campaign promises. Through the use of some very strategic executive orders, he has shaken the very foundation of immigration law and policy in the United States. Although this Podcast is traditionally devoted to Canadian immigration, my special guest Heather Segal, a Canadian immigration lawyer and US immigration attorney, shares insight on not only what is happening in the US, but the potential impact it could have for Canadian immigration.

If you think what is happening in the US will have no impact on us in Canada, listen to what Heather has to say… you might just have a different outlook when you are finished!

If you are anything like me, you are probably wondering what the heck is going on south of the border. Although many of us thought President Donald Trump would do some pretty crazy things while in office, I’ll bet none of you thought he would act so quickly to ensure his campaign promises became a reality. I am seriously starting to think that President Trump’s wall between Mexico and the US might actually happen……. who actually “pays for it” is an entirely different topic.

Heather Segal and I had a great time talking about what is happening in the US and musing over the possible ramifications, both good and bad, for immigration in Canada. One thing is certain, we will be impacted one way or another. With any luck for us immigration lawyers, Canadian immigration will be booming once again in just a few short months.

Heather Segal is founder of Segal Immigration Law in Toronto. She is widely recognized for her expertise in immigration law and she speaks regularly at conferences and seminars throughout the world. Heather practices exclusively in the area of Canadian immigration law and American Consular and Border immigration law.

She has spent a decade as a Director on the Board of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).  She is currently a member of the AILA Customs and Border Protection National Liaison Committee. She was voted by her peers as one of the world’s leading practitioners in corporate immigration law in 2018 in Who’s Who Legal – Corporate Immigration, a distinction I am also grateful to have received.

In this episode Heather and I discussed the following topics:

• background on the current executive orders and what they mean;
• how US immigration policy compares with immigration policy in Canada;
• the potential impacts of US immigration policy on Canadian immigration;
• what President Trump intends for H1B and L visas in the US; and
• what does President Trump have in store for NAFTA.

[Tweet “How will Trump’s immigration policy impact on Canada.“]

Additional Resources:

• The best ways to reach Heather Segal:
  • E-mail: heather@segalilaw.com
  • Phone: 416-656-2345
  • LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersegal1
• Heather’s firm Segal Immigration Law: http://segalilaw.com/
• Full Text of Trump’s Executive Order – “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States“: http://www.npr.org/2017/01/31/512439121/trumps-executive-order-on-immigration-annotated

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Binge on all of our Canadian Immigration Podcast Episodes!

If you want to listen to more episodes, you will find all the episodes here.

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Periodically I answer listener questions on my podcast. If you have a question, comment, thought or concern, you can do so by clicking here. We’d love to hear from you. You can also leave me a voice message on the Ask an Immigration Question widget on the side bar of this website.

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If  you are employed in athletics or the arts and are able to make a “significant contribution” to the cultural or athletic life of Canada, OR you have experience in farm management, and intend and are able to buy and manage a farm in Canada, this episode is for you.

In this episode I had the pleasure of catching up with Canadian immigration lawyer Peter Rekai who shared some fantastic insight on one of the most neglected permanent resident programs in the country…..the Self Employed category.

This episode was probably one of the most enjoyable I have done to date. Peter was a fantastic guest who shared some great stories from his early days of practice. We also talked about the way the practice of immigration law has changed over the years and how much we miss those good old days…..and yes, we also talked about the often neglected Self Employed category for obtaining permanent resident status in Canada.

Peter Rekai is a Barrister and Solicitor who, like many of my guests in Ontario, is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Immigration Law. Peter’s firm, Rekai LLP, is one of the most well respected immigration law firms in Canada.

Over the past twenty-five years Peter has represented major employers, expanding new businesses and skilled individuals in dealing with Canadian immigration issues. He has a particular expertise in assisting trade and industry associations address comprehensive foreign worker strategies with the federal government.

Peter is a frequent lecturer at Immigration practice and international policy conferences and a regular op-ed contributor to major newspapers in Canada and the United States. He authored a study on Canadian and US immigration issues for the noted Canadian policy think-tank the CD HOWE Institute as part of its series on North American Relations (The Border Papers).

Peter has served in many capacities on the Immigration and Citizenship section of the Ontario Bar Association’s Immigration Section. He is a member of the Canadian Immigration Policy Research Council, a group providing policy input to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

In this episode Peter and I discussed the following topics:

• who is covered by the self employed category;
• how are athletes and artists able to qualify;
• what constitutes suitable experience;
• what amounts to significant contribution to Canada;
• how the point system works; and
• how to qualify as a farm manager.

[Tweet “How athletes and artists can immigrate to Canada.“]

Additional Resources:

• The best ways to reach Peter Rekai:
  • E-mail: peter@mobilitylaw.com
  • Phone: 416 960 8876
• Peter’s firm Rekai LLP: http://www.mobilitylaw.com/
• Self Employed PR Category: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/self-employed/index.asp

Listen to Mark Holthe’s Canadian Immigration Podcast

Topics for our Next Podcast

Binge on all of our Canadian Immigration Podcast Episodes!

If you want to listen to more episodes, you will find all the episodes here.

Ask Mark an Immigration Question

Periodically I answer listener questions on my podcast. If you have a question, comment, thought or concern, you can do so by clicking here. We’d love to hear from you. You can also leave me a voice message on the Ask an Immigration Question widget on the side bar of this website.

Subscribe to the Canadian Immigration Podcast

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe.

If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the show. Share the Love

If you are a foreign national planning on immigrating to the Province of Saskatchewan or a human resource manager seeking a way to retain your key Saskatechawan based foreign workers… this Episode is for you.

Canadian immigration lawyer Scott Bell shares some amazing insight on the inner workings of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program from an employer perspective and also touches on some of the unique Provincial regulations that impact on an employer’s ability to recruit foreign workers to work in Saskatchewan.

The various PNPs across the country offer some very unique and focused opportunities for foreign nationals seeking to immigrate to Canada. In most cases these PNPs have very unique requirements that distinguish themselves from the other PNPs. When trying to understand the inner workings of the various PNPs, the best place to go is excellent immigration lawyers like Scott Bell who actually live and practice within the Province of that Provincial Nominee Program.

In this Episode of the Podcast, Scott shares some great insight on the program, its history, and some of the best programs available for foreign workers seeking to immigrate to the Province of Saskatchewan. The information he provides is extremely valuable in helping to demystify some of the more idiosyncratic aspects of the SINP.

By listening to what Scott has to say in this Podcast, you will most definitely avoid some of the significant pitfalls people commonly run into when apply to immigrate to Canada through the SINP. One thing is for certain…although the process seems easy and the government goes out of their way to tell everyone they do not need to hire an immigration lawyer, engaging someone like Scott to help you navigate the SINP is money well spent.

In our interview, Scott and I covered the following topics:

1. background on Scott and how he got into immigration;
2. background information on the SINP;
3. programs ideally suited for companies wishing to retain key TFWs in Saskatchewan;
4. the impact of the Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act in the hiring process;
5. new attractive options for international students seeking immigration through the SINP;
6. Scott’s list of common Do’s and Don’ts when filing a SINP application; and
7. How Scott can be reached.

[Tweet “SPECIAL PNP SERIES – Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program“]

Additional Resources:

• The best way to reach Scott Bell: sbell@mlt.com
• Scott’s firm MLT: http://www.mlt.com/
• Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act: http://bit.ly/2gxeNSq
• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program: http://bit.ly/2haRrm5

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Read the Transcript

You can read additional notes for this episode, [spoiler]

CIP S1 E17: Interview with Scott Bell – Show Notes

Welcome to Scott Bell and background information on his practice.

Q: How did you get into Immigration Law?

With the recent changes to Express Entry, many employers are turning once again to the various Provincial Nominee Programs across the country to assist in their efforts to retain foreign workers that are key employees.

I invited Scott Bell to join me today to talk about the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program.

Before our call I went to the SINP website, but the site is actually down. There must be a lot of people interested in exploring the SINP as an option for immigration.

Q: Can you tell us a little about the program generally and why it might be a good place to start for employers looking for ways to retain key staff in the Province of Saskatchewan?

Q: I understand that the SINP requires all employers to register if they are bringing foreign workers into Saskatchewan.  Can you talk a little bit about this?

Answer: Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act? Outside employer without a base – difficult for new employers. Manitoba Act – LMIA exempt don’t need registration, in SINP there is a double exempt LMIA exempt

Q: What specific programs are available and likely the most beneficial for employers wanting to support their TFWs?

Q: I understand the Province is making a big push to attract international graduates from other Provinces. Can you tell us a little about this?

Q: Can you provide us with your Top 3 Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to seeking nominations through the SINP?

• Employer Registration has to be done first – before recruitment
• Going down the PR when not intend to live the SINP (economic establishment)
• Undertaking to adhere to STS conditions – restricted labour mobility. – compliance.
• Failure in compliance with Provincial Rule can save issues with Federal applications – affect outside of Province Federally as well.

Q: How can people reach you?

[/spoiler]

Binge on all of our Canadian Immigration Podcast Episodes!

If you want to listen to more episodes, you will find all the episodes here.

Ask Mark an Immigration Question

Periodically I answer listener questions on my podcast. If you have a question, comment, thought or concern, you can do so by clicking here. We’d love to hear from you. You can also leave me a voice message on the Ask an Immigration Question widget on the side bar of this website.

Subscribe to the Canadian Immigration Podcast

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe.

If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the show. Share the Love

The US election is now over…..Donald Trump will be the next US President. Many US citizens are now exploring the possibility of moving to Canada. In this Special Episode dedicated to our friends in the United States – post election, Betsy Kane and I share with you some of the best options available to American citizens who are looking for options for moving to Canada on a temporary or permanent basis.

Don’t waste time searching the Canadian Immigration Website – we’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

Whether you are a celebrity in the US needing to act on your intention of moving away from the US if Donald Trump was elected President or an academic or professional simply wanting to find a place to park yourself for the next 4 years, this Episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast is for you.

I invited my good friend and colleague Betsy Kane, an immigration lawyer practicing in Ottawa, Ontario to join me as we share our list of the absolute best immigration options available to US Citizens who are considering a move to Canada.

If this is something you are seriously considering, this episode is an absolute must for you!

In this episode, Betsy and I covered the following options:

• Working in Canada:
  • NAFTA:
    • Professionals:
      • Academics
      • Marijuana Professionals (Yes we are serious) – FEATURED IN THE OTTAWA CITIZEN NEWSPAPER: http://bit.ly/2fYkPK6
      • IT Professionals
      • Engineers, architects, hotel managers etc.
    • Intra-company Transfers
    • Reciprocal Work Permits
    • Investors:
      • Dentists, Orthodontists, other business people
    • Advantages available to Mexican citizens
      • Visitor Visa being lifted in near future
      • Also benefit from all aspects of NAFTA
    • Francophone Work Permit program
• Studying in Canada:
  • Can work while going to school
  • Open work permit for up to 3 years after graduation
  • Pathway to permanent residence
• Permanent Resident Options:
  • Self Employed (perfect for actors, musicians and other artists)
  • Express Entry (perfect for skilled workers with high human capital)
  • Spousal Sponsorship (when your true love is Canadian)

[Tweet “US Citizens – Here’s how to move to Canada!“]

Listen to Mark Holthe’s Canadian Immigration Podcast

Topics for our Next Podcast

Binge on all of our Canadian Immigration Podcast Episodes!

If you want to listen to more episodes, you will find all the episodes here.

Ask Mark an Immigration Question

Periodically I answer listener questions on my podcast. If you have a question, comment, thought or concern, you can do so by clicking here. We’d love to hear from you. You can also leave me a voice message on the Ask an Immigration Question widget on the side bar of this website.

Subscribe to the Canadian Immigration Podcast

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe.

If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the show. Share the Love