Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Law Firm Blog

Borders Matter in 2018 and Other Immigration Topics - Discussion on AM630 and The Ryan Jespersen Show on June 26, 2018

Ryan Jespersen: ...talk on immigration, perhaps not in many years has talk and policy conversations and then the real life issues on immigration been so contentious, so emotional. We're gonna talk about kids in detention centers in the United States, we're gonna talk about kids in detention centers in Canada with our next guest, an immigration lawyer. But first, we want to key up this remarkable story involving the border separating Canada and the US. It's a border that we've been proud of, isn't it? Relatively speaking uncontrolled ... Relatively speaking, open border. The longest of its kind in the world. It's been shared by neighbors, but don't let that lead you to believe that you can cross wherever and whenever you like. That's what Cedella Roman figured out, the 19-year-old French citizen when she went jogging right around May long weekend. Victoria Day long weekend, visiting her mom who lives in North Delta, British Columbia. She was jogging by White Rock, beautiful coastline, obviously outside Vancouver. She was jogging in the evening, because, well it had been hot out, and she didn't want to run in the beating sun. She was running along the beach, and then she saw... Read more →

The Pitfalls of International Adoption Raj Sharma Interview on AM770 June 25, 2018

Danielle Smith: This was maybe good timing on the part of the lawyer that was representing these five couples that adopted Japanese children, and then found that for no apparent reason, they weren't allowed to bring the kids back to Canada. You've got, it sounds like, in some of these cases one parent in Japan with their new adopted child while mom or dad is at home, and it's been going on for months now. What in the world is going on here? Well, it turns out finally, with the pressure on this, five British ... BC families are now going to be able to bring their Japanese-born kids home that they adopted in Japan, bring them back to Canada. The way this is described is the families found themselves ensnared in an immigration nightmare after the Canadian government refused to issue visas to their newly-adopted children, and the confusion over a directive from Japan to the United States on international adoptions. This sounds all so very confusing. When I'm confused by an immigration issue, I know who to call. I call Raj Sharma. He's a Calgary immigration lawyer. He's with Stewart Sharma Harsanyi immigration and criminal lawyers, [inaudible 00:01:08]... Read more →

Family separation, detention of minors along the southern US border and Canada's own policy on detaining minors interview on Alberta@noon

I was asked to share my thoughts on the detention of minors and family separation along the southern border of the US on Alberta@noon on June 20, 2018. … … Judy Aldous: Families crossing into the US illegally, sobbing children separated from the parents, put in detention centers, your reaction. This is Alberta at Noon. I'm Judy Aldous. It is perhaps this sound that has shocked the world. [inaudible 00:01:14] Children put in detention centers in Texas, crying for their parents. President Trump facing intense pressure from in and out of the country appears to be relenting. He has said he will sign an order today ending the practice. We're going to bring you up to date on what is happening and give you a chance to weigh in. Seven minutes after 12 o'clock on this Wednesday edition of the program. President Donald Trump has just this past, this morning said he does want to keep families together, but that the situation puts him in what he calls "a difficult position". Donald Trump: If you're weak, if you're weak, if some people would like you to be, if you're really, really pathetically weak, the country is going to be overrun... Read more →

More on the Revamped Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program - The Alberta Opportunity Stream AINP AOS

Last week, after signifying that changes were in the works at it for several months, significant changes were announced to the AINP. These changes essentially swept aside the "Employer Driven" and "Strategic Recruitment" streams replacing it with the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS). These changes to the AINP indicate a clear "Alberta first" attitude. If you fit the new cookie-cutter mold, you're in luck. If you don't, well... What are these ideal profiles? One profile comprises graduates of Alberta DLI (and that too certain programs and remember these programs/credentials are subject to change, so someone that takes a program now assuming that it gives him/her access to the AINP/AOS in the future will need to pray that by the time they are eligible the program has not found disfavour from the powers that be) and not graduates from other provinces; these PGWP holders moreover need to be working for their Alberta employers for 6 months and need to show that their work is related to their studies - something that causes me some concern as this allows significant discretion into the equation. It is the end, I imagine, of business administration grads applying for permanent residency as food service supervisors or... Read more →

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program - the New "Alberta Opportunities Stream" - Winners and Losers under the Changes

The new Alberta Opportunity Stream The AINP has been revamped. As with most policy changes, there are winners and losers. My preliminary thoughts: Minimum Requirements IELTS/CELPIP - proof of language proficiency is now required for all applicants (only a CLB of 4 for now). Education - all applicants will need minimum high school (for now, not necessary that it be equivalent to Alberta standards). Income requirements (modest). Losers Post-secondary graduates from other provinces (many have moved here in part because of the AINP). Their PGWP (open work permit) and work in Alberta won't give them access to the AINP; they should create an Express Entry profile and indicate province of settlement as Alberta (Alberta will now be able to select limited number from the Pool). Alberta graduates from programs that are not listed or those that can't show their work is related to their (qualifying) educational credential. Those with open work permits based on a spouse's work permit or studies seem to be in the same situation as international graduates from other provinces/non-qualifying credentials from Alberta. Winners Those here on IEC or "working holiday" open work permits (also intra-company transferees). 12 months of work in Alberta will allow most to... Read more →