Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Law Firm Blog

Financial Inadmissibility

Foreign nationals can be denied admission into Canada pursuant to s.39 of the Act -if there are concerns that they will rely on social assistance. After all, the objectives of the IRPA include the pursuit of the maximum economic benefits of immigration as well as the support and development of “a strong and prosperous Canadian economy” According to the relevant Manual, the provision is “designed to exclude persons intending to live or who are living on social assistance and to prevent the abuse of Canada’s social services systems.” Financial reasons 39 A foreign national is inadmissible for financial reasons if they are or will be unable or unwilling to support themself or any other person who is dependent on them, and have not satisfied an officer that adequate arrangements for care and support, other than those that involve social assistance, have been made. Financial inadmissibility should not be conflated with financial eligibility. This provision usually doesn’t come up that often as there are other (regulatory) safeguards against foreign nationals posing a risk to Canadian services systems. All economic class applicants (other than those already working in Canada and applying under the Canadian Experience Class) need to provide evidence of settlement... Read more →

Interview on CBC Alberta at Noon -Discussing the New Family Class Sponsoring Your Parents or Grandparents October 20, 2020

The radio show "Alberta at Noon" discusses the immigration lottery process for parent and grandparent sponsorship. Raj Sharma, an immigration lawyer, explains that the immigration system balances competing objectives under the Immigration Refugee Protection Act, including family reunification and protecting the health, safety, security, and economic well-being of people already in Canada. Sharma argues that older immigrants are not necessarily a drain on the system because many continue to work and provide childcare, which frees up others to work. While older immigrants do technically cost taxpayers more money, the sponsor must meet a minimum necessary income, and the parents and grandparents will not go on public bill. Atul calls the show to ask about minimum income requirements, and Sharma suggests that Atul indicates an expression of interest and applies through the lottery system since he has the right of appeal if eventually refused. Another caller, Frasier suggests instituting a system of priority points for unsuccessful applicants, and Sharma thinks it is brilliant. The show discusses Canada's parental sponsorship program and takes calls from listeners with questions and concerns. Topics include confusion over the application process, the lack of upfront assessment, the possibility of a weighted draw, and the possibility of... Read more →

Canada's Immigration Lottery Process for Parents and Grandparents

I discussed the new (but old) immigration lottery process for Parents and Grandparents with Danielle Smith on CHQR AM770. It's been a bit of a merry go round with this non-economic, family class program. Parents/grand-parents are still subject to medical assessment; the sponsor is still required to meet minimum necessary income levels. Transcript follows: Danielle Smith: I have talked to Raj Sharma many times about this immigration process to try to repatriate families, parents, and grandparents. It looks like they have made another mess of it. That's my interpretation of it. Maybe they've improved a few things from the time that we last spoke, but Raj Sharma is going to tell us what the deal is with this essentially immigration lottery that they have returned to. Raj Sharma is a Calgary immigration lawyer who joins me now. Raj, thanks so much for being with me today. Raj Sharma: My pleasure. Danielle Smith: I feel like this is something that you criticized in the past and they came up with something that was worse and now they're going back to this, but I don't know that it's improved. Do you see that this is a better system? Or are there going... Read more →