Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Law Firm Blog

Top Immigration Story for 2010

The year is almost at a close. If I were asked what the top immigration news story for 2010 would be, I would have to say it would be the change in attitude towards immigrants and refugees. The Economist's article: A Smaller Welcome Mat contains some interesting points, but misses the overall picture. The headline is inaccurate -- the numbers of immigrants coming to Canada remains consistent with previous years. Canada's 'welcome mat' remains for skilled workers and temporary workers. Canada continues to have a robust program for international students. It is true that the net worth requirement of 'investors' has been raised, but that seems appropriate given the current economic realities of the world and high net worth individuals. It is not about the numbers -- but about the shift in attitude. The CBSA/immigration enforcement authorities seem more willing to investigate and deal with (perceived or otherwise) immigration abuse. Unauthorized consultants have been targeted by new legislation. CIC has toughened the citizenship exam and released a publication laying out some expectations for prospective citizens. Visa requirements have been placed on visitors from Mexico and the Czech Republic, stymying refugee claims deemed to be bogus. A lot of sound and... Read more →

How to find a good lawyer

Lawyers are usually consulted for mundane reasons, like the purchase of a home or the drafting of a will. Lawyers are great resources for anyone in business. Obviously, an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system is a serious occasion for legal consultation. How does someone go about finding a lawyer to help them with their particular situation? I'm not sure if looking up a lawyer in the Yellow Pages is the best way (although we -- and many other lawyers -- advertise there). Perhaps the Yellow Pages can be a starting point. I don't think lawyers should be hired just because they are of the same ethnicity (although if there is an english issue, a multi-lingual lawyer can be a good thing). Hiring a lawyer should be an informational based decision. Research on the internet, from google searches or reading a lawyer's blog is a great way to determine whether a particular lawyer has the right background (education, publications) to tackle the specific problem. It may be possible to find out the number of a lawyer's reported decisions at a particular court level. Personal referrals are also a great way to find a lawyer. Testimonials are good, but present... Read more →

The Ideal Client

There are different types of clients. Clients are not treated the same by their representatives. Difficult clients unfortunately, may not get the best possible service from their representatives (despite the professionalism of those representatives). It is incumbent on a client (who is seeking the best possible representation) to ameliorate issues or potential issues that can exacerbate the relationship between themselves and their representatives. Some clients are difficult by nature. This is difficult to address by the client because the same pathology manifests itself in self-delusion. Luckily, most clients are difficult because they are in difficult circumstances. They can realize that these circumstances give rise to stress and anxiety and self-destructive behavior that can undermine the relationship between them and counsel. Here's my suggestions for stressed-out clients dealing with lawyers: 1. Perseverance and patience is key. Most legal matters are complex and time consuming. You may be caught in bureaucratic machinery, or a judicial maze. It is essential that you persevere and not give up at the first sign of trouble. Given the burdens on the legal system, your problem likely will not be solved quickly. 2. Understand -- your lawyer has other matters to attend to. Your problem is of... Read more →

I now see why Patrick was so popular in Vietnam...

I now see why Patrick was so popular in Vietnam... Read more →

Access to Information Status Requests

I sent a request under the Access to Information Act in July. To date, no response from CIC Access to Information and Privacy Division. I called them 1-800-667-6703 in October; they advised that the file was due to be released in August and that they would drop a note to the Fast Track Unit. This really is significant delay beyond the stated time periods. A request for ATIP is made for a number of reasons. Sometimes a client's immigration history needs to be reconstructed; sometimes information is required for litigation before the Federal Court. Read more →

Wikileaks reveals deep concern over Mexico drug war

Interesting information for Mexico refugee claims. -------------------- WikiLeaks cables reveal unease over Mexican drug war -------------------- The secret cables give a much starker U.S. view of the pitfalls facing Mexican President Felipe Calderon in his campaign against drug cartels. By Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times December 2 2010, 6:22 PM PST Reporting from Mexico City -- In contrast to their upbeat public assessments, U.S. officials expressed frustration with a "risk averse" Mexican army and rivalries among security agencies that have hampered the Mexican government's war against drug cartels, according to secret U.S. diplomatic cables disclosed Thursday. The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-wikileaks-mexico-20101203,0,7433299.story Read more →