September 2024

Each time Canada or the USA heads into a federal/presidential election period, the number of inquiries I get increases. When an American presidential election is coming up, I get calls mostly from Democratic supporters hoping to move to Canada should a Republican president be nominated. For Canadian elections, the calls are from temporary residents hoping to apply for permanent residence, worried that a change in government will result in less favourable immigration policies. 

August 2024

I was on vacation last week. For the fourth consecutive summer, I spent a week on a catamaran with my best friend and her father, the spriest 86-year-old I’ve ever met. I am originally from northern Ontario, and returning to that part of Canada feeds my soul in ways no other vacation could.

July 2024

I am not well-travelled, which might seem surprising for an immigration lawyer. I spent a month in Russia with a group from McMaster University, where I was an undergraduate student. We had lectures in the morning and then toured the city in the afternoons with students from the University of Moscow. It was the longest time I’ve ever spent outside Canada and the furthest I’ve ever gone from home. Outside of trips to the USA, I’ve only otherwise been to countries in the Caribbean.

June 2024

For the spouses and partners of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, recent improvements to processing times of family sponsorship applications are welcomed. Processing times for both the Family Class and the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class are currently ten months for the majority of applications. However, ten months is still a very long time for newlyweds to be reunited