Webinar: Opportunity Knocks but Once: Tips on Submitting a Complete Express Entry Application After the Recent Historically Low Draw – JOIN OUR WEBINAR ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 3rd @ 12:30 PM EST

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Were you one of the 27,332 lucky individuals who received an invitation to apply in the historic draw on February 13, 2021? Do you want to know how to submit a complete and accurate application, and what happens if you don’t?

Our immigration lawyers, Sarah Fagan, Douglas Tsoi and Clinton Green will discuss common Express Entry pitfalls to avoid, tips for preparing an accurate and complete application, and the potential consequences of submitting an incomplete application.

To join our webinar on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 12:30 PM EST, please sign up here.

The discussion will include:

  • Is a standard employment verification letter enough to confirm my work experience in Canada?
  • Can I include my spouse although they are currently outside of Canada?
  • How do I know if I have the correct police certificate(s)?
  • Can I use translations that were done when I submitted my work permit application?
  • What happens if my Express Entry application is returned as incomplete?

We also welcome you to submit your questions in advance to: info@cilf.ca.

We hope you can join us.

Corporate Immigration Law Firm is a firm experienced in advising employers and foreign nationals on immigration issues. With offices in Toronto and Ottawa,  Barbara Jo Caruso, Joel S. Guberman and Lainie M. Appleby lead our legal team by providing in-depth, sophisticated and bespoke immigration advice to a broad range of clientele. Our firm facilitates the international movement of individuals and their families whether to immigrate permanently, to work on temporary assignments, to study, or to visit.

Corporate Immigration Law Firm is a Top Ten Immigration Boutique Law Firm as recognized by Canadian Lawyer magazine, with many of our lawyers recognized in publications such as Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration and Best Lawyer year after year.

REGISTER NOW using the link below:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/dMZDc4W/febprseminar

 

Webinar: SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO NOW – TRAVEL RESTRICTION CONFUSION – Join us for a Zoom Seminar on Friday, February 19 at 2:00pm EDT

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Cold in Canada?
Stranded in the States?
Please join our immigration lawyers: Barbara Jo Caruso, Joel S. Guberman, and Lainie M. Appleby for a discussion about the most recent requirements with respect to Canadian and US travel restrictions, the recently announced 3-day hotel stay upon arrival in Canada and more.
To join our ZOOM seminar on Friday, February 19 at 2:00 PM EST, please sign up here.
The discussion will include:
·        Can I stay at the Four Seasons for my 3-day mandatory hotel stay?
·        Am I exempt from the 14-day quarantine?
·        What about testing? Is it required for land and air? For the US too?
·        Will this all end on April 30, 2021?
We also welcome you to submit your questions in advance to: info@cilf.ca.

We hope you can join us.

Corporate Immigration Law Firm – Caruso Guberman Appleby is a firm experienced in advising employers and foreign nationals on immigration issues. With offices in Toronto and Ottawa Barbara Jo Caruso, Joel S. Guberman and Lainie M. Appleby lead our legal team by providing in-depth, sophisticated and bespoke immigration advice to a broad range of clientele. Our firm facilitates the international movement of individuals and their families whether to immigrate permanently, to work on temporary assignments, to study, or to visit.

Corporate Immigration Law Firm – Caruso Guberman Appleby is a Top Ten Immigration Boutique Law Firm as recognized by Canadian Lawyer magazine, with many of our lawyers recognized in publications such as Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration and Best Lawyer year after year.

REGISTER NOW using the link below:

Immigration Update: Restrictions on Air and Land Travel – Still More Questions than Answers (February 12, 2021 at 4 p.m. EDT)

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CILF is here to support you with respect to all of your immigration needs with information to keep you informed. Our firm is always available to focus on your immigration needs.
Since the additional restrictions on travel into Canada by air and land were announced on January 29, 2021, there have been some changes. Below are reminders as to what was already in place and what is new:
  • Canadian airlines have suspended service to Mexico and Caribbean destinations until April 30. Non-Canadian airlines are still flying to Canada from these destinations, however, all international flights are now landing at one of four airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
  • The quarantine hotel selection process ended on February 10 at 11:59 p.m. The government is reviewing the submissions and will post the list of approved hotels. The following issues are still unconfirmed:
    • Who is exempt (it has been reported that Olympic athletes will be among those exempt).
    • Whether eligibility for an exemption will be based on what the traveller is intending to do in Canada or what the traveller was doing outside Canada.
    • For those who are permitted to complete the remainder of the 14-day quarantine at home after the three-day stay in the designated hotel, what the “increased scrutiny” during the latter period will be.
    • The exact cost of the hotel quarantine and how it will be calculated.
    • Who is eligible for a full or partial fee waiver.
    • Whether those entering by land will be subject to hotel quarantine. It has been reported that the government does not currently intend to extend this to land travel, however, this has not been confirmed. The hotel selection process indicated that participating hotels must be within 10 km of one of the four international airports accepting international flights, so this suggests, but does not confirm, that land travellers are not included for now.
  • Effective Monday, February 15, 2021, proof of a negative COVID test result for a sample collected no more than 72 hours before arrival will be required at the land border. The following issues are still unconfirmed:
    • Who is exempt (the only one confirmed so far is commercial truckers).
    • Trudeau stated that Canadians who arrive at the border without a negative test will be allowed entry but fined up to $3,000. It is unclear how the amount of the fine will be determined and whether it will apply to those who arrive with an expired test or the wrong kind of test. It is also unclear whether those who arrive without an acceptable test will be sent to a designated quarantine facility, similar to what some Canadians have experienced in the last few weeks after arriving by air with the wrong kind of test.
    • Whether those without a negative test and facing a fine will be allowed to withdraw their request to enter Canada and return to the U.S. to complete the test before returning to the port of entry (provided they are eligible to enter the U.S.).
  • Air travelers landing in Canada will have to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense starting February 22, 2021, with bookings opening February 18. A 3-night booking at a designated hotel will need to be made prior to landing at the airport. Travellers must be tested on arrival by the government and each traveller will be given a self-administered test that must be done prior to leaving the hotel. As soon as a negative test is received the air traveller will be permitted to leave the hotel and carry on to their final destination where they must then quarantine for the remainder of the 14 days. If a positive test is received, the air traveller will be transported to a federal quarantine facility.
  • Use of the ArriveCAN App will be mandatory for all those entering by land borders starting February 22.
We will share more details as soon as they are available.

We continue to recommend that anyone (including Canadian citizens and permanent residents) seeking to enter or exit Canada speak with an immigration lawyer before doing so. Our lawyers can be reached by phone (416 368 1111) or via email: caruso@cilf.ca; guberman@cilf.ca; appleby@cilf.ca; cowling@cilf.ca; fagan@cilf.ca; bonisteel@cilf.ca; elmalah@cilf.ca; tsoi@cilf.ca; ali@cilf.ca; green@cilf.ca; love@cilf.ca

Please contact your lawyer at CILF for additional details or specific questions.

Immigration Update: Further Restrictions on Air and Land Travel (January 29, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. EDT)

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CILF is here to support you with respect to all of your immigration needs with information to keep you informed. Our firm is always available to focus on your immigration needs.
On January 29, 2021, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Canada will be introducing additional restrictions on travel into Canada by air and land. Full details have not yet been released. This is what we know so far:
  • Effective Sunday, January 31, 2021, Canadian airlines will be suspending service to Mexico and Caribbean destinations until April 30, 2021.
  • International flights will only be permitted to land at one of four airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
  • Commencing on a date yet to be specified, all individuals arriving by air will be required to undergo a PCR COVID test, and then go to a government designated hotel for three days to wait for the result. If the result is negative, the traveller can complete the remainder of the 14-day quarantine period at home, under increased scrutiny (details regarding this increased scrutiny have not been announced). If the result is positive, the traveller must finish quarantine at a government facility. As per the Prime Minister at his press conference, he stated that this will cost “up to $2,000”. No further details on the cost, number of people it covers or whether it applies to arrival by land have been noted. There were also no details on who, if anyone, will be exempt from these requirements.
  • Proof of a negative COVID test result will soon be required at the land border. It remains to be seen if the test must have been conducted in the 72 hours prior to arriving at the border. This 72 hour requirement is already in effect for all air travel to Canada.
We will share more details as soon as they are available.

We continue to recommend that anyone (including Canadian citizens and permanent residents) seeking to enter or exit Canada speak with an immigration lawyer before doing so. Our lawyers can be reached by phone (416 368 1111) or via email: caruso@cilf.ca; guberman@cilf.ca; appleby@cilf.ca; cowling@cilf.ca; fagan@cilf.ca; bonisteel@cilf.ca; elmalah@cilf.ca; tsoi@cilf.ca; ali@cilf.ca; green@cilf.ca; love@cilf.ca

Please contact your lawyer at CILF for additional details or specific questions.

Immigration Update: Great News for Eligible Holders of Post-Graduation Work Permits (January 11, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. EDT)

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CILF is here to support you with respect to all of your immigration needs with information to keep you informed. Our firm is always available to focus on your immigration needs.

Each year, tens of thousands of international students receive a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after completing an eligible postsecondary program in Canada. The PGWP then allows the graduate to earn Canadian work experience and potentially qualify for permanent residence.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the ability of many PGWP holders to gain Canadian work experience, and accordingly, has scuttled their plans to settle in Canada permanently. PGWPs cannot be extended and individuals are only allowed to receive one PGWP in their lifetime.

IRCC has announced that starting January 27, 2021, PGWP holders that meet the following criteria will be eligible to apply for an open work permit valid for 18 months:

  • Have a PGWP that expired on or after January 30, 2020 or a PGWP that expires in 4 months or less from the date of application
  • Have valid temporary resident status or be eligible to restore their status

Additional details will be released on January 27, 2021, but at this time we know that applications will be accepted from January 27 to July 27, 2021. This means that the target population of this program are individuals with a PGWP that expired or expires between January 30, 2020 and November 27, 2021.

If you or someone you know has a PGWP that expires between these dates, please contact our office for guidance.

We continue to recommend that anyone (including Canadian citizens and permanent residents) seeking to enter or exit Canada speak with an immigration lawyer before doing so. Our lawyers can be reached by phone (416 368 1111) or via email: caruso@cilf.ca; guberman@cilf.ca; appleby@cilf.ca; cowling@cilf.ca; fagan@cilf.ca; bonisteel@cilf.ca; elmalah@cilf.ca; tsoi@cilf.ca; ali@cilf.ca; green@cilf.ca; love@cilf.ca

Please contact your lawyer at CILF for additional details or specific questions.

CILF Welcomes Lesley Love

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Corporate Immigration Law Firm is pleased to announce that Lesley Love has joined our firm. Lesley brings with her extensive Canadian immigration law experience, advising both individual and corporate clients, focusing on the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

Prior to joining CILF, Lesley practised solely in the area of immigration law at a medium-sized firm in London, Ontario, initiated an immigration practice at a small firm in Cambridge, Ontario and was a senior immigration lawyer at an international law firm. She helps companies looking to connect with international employees or send their own abroad as well as obtaining immigration documentation for accompanying family members of foreign national recruits. Lesley has appeared as counsel at all levels of court and has represented clients at the Immigration Appeal Division and the Refugee Board.

She has also spoken at events for a number of professional organizations including the International Bar Association, the Human Resources Professional Association and the United Nations. Lesley was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 in Waterloo Region and a top Immigration Lawyer by Legal 500.

Lesley can be reached at love@cilf.ca or 519-804-9584.

Immigration in Review – Immigration Update: Various (January 4, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. EDT)

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CILF is here to support you with respect to all of your immigration needs with information to keep you informed. Our firm is always available to focus on your immigration needs.

Happy new year to all! We hope everyone had a restful holiday season.

Here are some recent immigration developments worth noting:

Pre-departure COVID testing mandatory as of January 7 at 12:01 a.m. EST: As of this date, all individuals aged five or older (including Canadian citizens and permanent residents) flying to Canada must present a negative COVID-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test result conducted within 72 hours prior to boarding a flight. Airlines are required to deny boarding to any individuals who are unable to fulfill this requirement.

The only individuals exempt from this requirement are crew members, emergency service providers and those on flights that are refueling in Canada.

This does not replace the 14-day self-isolation requirement upon arrival in Canada applicable to most individuals entering the country.

Travel restrictions to Canada and self-isolation extended to January 21, 2021: Based on the most recent Orders in Council, travel restrictions continue to apply to those travelling to Canada from the United States and to those travelling to Canada from a country other than the United States. The requirement to self-isolate for 14 days upon entering Canada has also been extended to January 21, 2021.

Implication of new COVID strain for those entering Canada: Due to the new strain of coronavirus recently detected in the U.K., passenger flights from the U.K. are suspended until at least January 6. Individuals who have been in the U.K. or South Africa in the 14 days prior to entering Canada will be subject to additional screening.

Extension of temporary public policy applicable to certain out-of-status foreign nationals: In July 2020, we reported that IRCC has announced a temporary public policy allowing certain out-of-status foreign nationals in Canada until December 31, 2020 (instead of the usual 90 days) to apply for restoration of status. It also allows certain former work permit holders with job offers to work while the restoration application is in process. Normally individuals cannot work while waiting their status to be restored. This policy has been extended until August 31, 2021.

U.K. citizens no longer eligible for work permits under CETA: As of January 1, 2021, U.K. citizens are no longer eligible for work under CETA. The Canada-U.K. Free Trade Agreement has not been ratified yet but is expected to occur in early 2021. In the meantime, U.K. citizens looking to work in Canada will need a Labour Market Impact Assessment if they do not qualify under another LMIA-exempt category.

We continue to recommend that anyone (including Canadian citizens and permanent residents) seeking to enter or exit Canada speak with an immigration lawyer before doing so. Our lawyers can be reached by phone (416 368 1111) or via email: caruso@cilf.ca; guberman@cilf.ca; appleby@cilf.ca; cowling@cilf.ca; fagan@cilf.ca; bonisteel@cilf.ca; elmalah@cilf.ca; tsoi@cilf.ca; ali@cilf.ca; green@cilf.ca; love@cilf.ca

Please contact your lawyer at CILF for additional details or specific questions.

Immigration in Review – The Year of the Pandemic – Webinar Tuesday December 15 12:00 – 13:00

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WEBINAR: Join BJ Caruso, Joel S Guberman and Lainie M Appleby on Tuesday, December 15 from 1200 to 1300 EDT for a discussion on the Top Ten Immigration Trends and Changes in 2020. Learn about predictions for 2021.

SUMMARY: Immigration in Review – The Year of the Pandemic

While Covid-19 and related travel restrictions were the big immigration stories for 2020, there were also other important changes impacting those with Canadian and US immigration needs. Whether it is the continued movement of workers, reuniting with family or understanding how WFH has affected government processing we have these updates for you.

We invite you to join our lawyers for a discussion of these top of mind immigration topics.

REGISTER NOW using the link below:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/quboRci/endofyear

Immigration Update: Various (November 19, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. EST)

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During this unusual time, CILF is here to continue to support you with respect to all of your immigration needs. We are here to answer your questions and keep you informed. We will provide updates as soon as they are available. Our firm is well positioned to continue to focus on your immigration needs.
We have a few immigration developments to share today:
 
ArriveCAN App Mandatory as of November 21: As of this date, those travelling by air must submit information through ArriveCAN before boarding their flight. You can access ArriveCAN here: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html. Those entering Canada at a land border are encouraged to use ArriveCAN, but it is not mandatory at this time. Additionally, all individuals entering Canada who are not exempted from mandatory self-isolation are required to submit information through ArriveCAN or call 1-833-641-0343 within 48 hours of arriving at their place of isolation. Those who do not use ArriveCAN must call this number daily during the isolation period to provide updates. Those who do not comply with these requirements may be contacted by law enforcement.
 
Canada-U.S. land border closure extended: Another 30 days to December 21. No surprise here.
 
Alberta COVID-19 testing pilot program: Certain travellers entering Alberta may, instead of completing 14 days of self-isolation, agree to take two free COVID-19 tests. The first is administered on arrival. If a negative result is obtained, the traveller may leave his or her place of self-isolation but is still subject to certain restrictions for the 14 day period. The traveller must also agree to complete a second COVID-19 test six or seven days after arrival. This kind of program could be rolled out in other areas of the country in the coming months and greatly facilitate international travel.
 
New Immigration Pathways for Hong Kong residents: In response to the escalating political situation in Hong Kong, the Canadian immigration department has announced two new immigration pathways for certain Hong Kong residents (eligibility for an open work permit valid for up to three years and a permanent residence stream). This is a significant and rare change in Canada’s immigration program as these pathways are designed specifically for residents of a certain jurisdiction. More details will be announced in the coming months.
 
We continue to recommend that anyone (including Canadian citizens and permanent residents) seeking to enter or exit Canada speak with an immigration lawyer before doing so.

Our lawyers can be reached by phone (416 368 1111) or via email: caruso@cilf.ca; guberman@cilf.ca; appleby@cilf.ca; cowling@cilf.ca; fagan@cilf.ca; bonisteel@cilf.ca; elmalah@cilf.ca; tsoi@cilf.ca; ali@cilf.ca; green@cilf.ca; 

Please contact your lawyer at CILF for additional details or specific questions.