Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Calgary Immigration Law Firm Blog

Closure and Transfer of Visa/Immigration Services from Canadian Embassies (Berlin, Tokyo, Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur)

Operational Bulletin 415 - April 30, 2012 Closure and Transfer of Visa and Immigration Services from the Canadian Embassies in Berlin and Tokyo and Canadian High Commissions in Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur Summary The purpose of this Operational Bulletin (OB) is to provide information regarding the closure of the Berlin, Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo visa offices, and the transfer of visa and immigration services. Background Effective immediately, the Visa and Immigration Sections of the Canadian Embassies in Berlin and Tokyo and the Canadian High Commissions in Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur are closed to the public. Instructions Temporary Resident Processing New Applications Persons residing in... Applications should be submitted to... Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland* (*for study or work permits) Visa Office in Vienna OR in person to any other CIC visa office Bangladesh VAC (Dhaka, Chittagong or Sylhet), Visa Office in Singapore OR in person to any other CIC visa office Malaysia Visa Office in Singapore OR in person to any other CIC visa office Japan Visa Office in Manila (Philippines) OR in person to any other CIC visa office (Note: International Experience Canada applicants should continue to apply to the Canadian Embassy in their country of origin) Temporary Resident Applications... Read more →

Quoted in Globe and Mail article on the Alberta election...

... “Let’s face it, immigrant communities hold socially conservative views,” said Raj Sharma, a Calgary immigration lawyer and former co-host of a Punjabi political radio show. “And, of course, there are models of entrepreneurship and [fear of] big government that exist in many immigrant communities. You really have to look at how Jason Kenney broke the Liberal Party hold on immigrant communities, and you understand there is actually an intersection where people vote conservative.” ... http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/dynamic-calgary-holds-historic-vote-in-hand/article2410586/?service=mobile Read more →

Internal Message to all CIC Staff regarding Budget 2012

CIC communication on cuts, office closings, 'modernization', consolidation and centralization. Funding discontinued to 'Going to Canada Immigration Portal'; "Canada Action Plan Against Racism". Read more →

Alberta @ Noon Intervew on April 11, 2012

[email protected] is "a place to re-connect and engage in smart conversation about what matters to Albertans today." I was happy to appear and discuss changes to Canada's immigration policy last week with host Donna McElligott. The interview starts at approximately 26 minutes into the podcast which can be found here: Calgwildrose_20120411_10328 Read more →

New SSH Law Video

Stewart Sharma Harsanyi is western Canada's largest immigration firm; we have handled thousands of immigration hearings and appeals; we are counsel on Alberta's highest profile immigration cases and we regularly appear before the Federal Court of Canada. We handle the full spectrum of immigration law, from business immigration to immigration litigation. Call us today at 403-705-3398 or visit our website at www.sshlaw.ca for more information. Read more →

Immigration Criminality

One of the best resources in dealing with immigration criminality is the "Immigration Criminality and Inadmissibility" by Bellissimo and Genova. Attached is a scan of a relevant table that helps in determining eligibility of rehabilitation. Download 2012_03_29_13_11_55 Bellissimo and Genova's text is a must for any immigration practitioner that encounters criminality. Read more →

How to Hire a Foreign Worker

Basic overview of the LMO application process Read more →

Client Facing Removal Because of a "Short Marriage"

Client facing removal from Canada because Immigration felt that his first marriage was not genuine. Read more →

The Luck of the Draw? Judicial Review of Refugee Determinations in the Federal Court of Canada (2005-2010)

Hello everyone Here is the link to Sean Rehaag's latest research paper on this issue: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2027517 He sets out statistics on grant rates for each Federal Court judge (at the leave and merits stages) from 2005 to 2010. There is a large variability in grant rates across judges. For example, Justice Campbell granted leave in around 78% of the 238 perfected applications he decided, whereas Justice Crampton granted leave in around 1% of the 221 perfected applications he decided. The abstract for the paper reads: This working paper offers an empirical examination of judicial review in Canada's Federal Court in the refugee law context. Drawing on a dataset of over 23,000 applications for judicial review of refugee determinations from 2005 to 2010, the paper examines whether outcomes in these life-and-death applications turn on their merits, or whether, instead, they hinge on which judge is assigned to decide the application. The paper reveals that outcomes over the past five years frequently came down to the luck of the draw, with, for example, one judge more than 50 times as likely to grant applications than another judge. Based on these findings, the author offers several recommendations for reform to enhance fairness and... Read more →

Testimonial

Dear Sanjiv: Although I have not had the opportunity to meet Rebecca Metkurjock, I can tell you that she has arrived safely in Canada. On behalf of the NSD Rangers Soccer team we want to thank you and Stewart, Sharma, Harsanyi law firm for your generous support in making it all possible. Without your professional advice and timely feedback, Rebecca would not have been so quickly reunited with her family. Please extend our heartfelt gratitude to Raj Sharma as well. We will not forget your generosity and quick response in this time of crisis. Our sincerest thanks! Sincerely, Anne Fattouche and Vivian Forno Read more →

Facing Criminal Charges? Consult with an Immigration Lawyer

Criminal convictions can lead to deportation. Read more →

Refugee acceptance rates

The data on refugee claim recognition rates for 2011 is now up on the CCR's website and is available here: http://ccrweb.ca/en/2011-refugee-claim-data Read more →

Notice from CIC regarding redistribution of Syrian files

Dear Sir/Madam: As you are aware, on January 31, 2012, the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, announced that due to the continuing violence in Syria, the Visa and Immigration Section at the Canadian Embassy in Damascus is closed and services have been transferred to neighbouring visa offices. This redistribution of workload will result in new responsibilities for visa offices in Beirut (Lebanon), Amman (Jordan), Ankara (Turkey), and Tel Aviv (Israel). The complete News Release is available on our Web site at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-01-31a.asp Active temporary resident applications in Damascus have been processed to conclusion at that office. Active permanent resident applications in Damascus have been redistributed to other Canadian Visa Offices in the region for processing. The new processing office will contact applicants when the file reaches the assessment stage, if a positive selection decision has already been rendered, or when other documents or information are required to complete the application. Active permanent resident applications that were submitted to Damascus have been redistributed as follows: * applications for those who reside in Jordan, Syria or Iraq have been sent to the visa office in Amman: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/jordan-jordanie/ * applications for those who reside in Lebanon have been sent... Read more →

Resources for Mexican Refugee Claims

Refugee expert Audrey Macklin is offering contact information for Mexican human rights defenders, for future refugee claims from Mexico. Read more →

Tweet from @marcopolis

@marcopolis: Minister Kenney introduces sponsorship restriction to address marriage fraud http://t.co/acU2xqrq Coverage http://t.co/JYDZx7uG #cdnimm Read more →

Tweet from @marcopolis

@marcopolis: Welcome to Canada unless we change our mind (Montreal Gazette Editorial) http://t.co/gVfj2DqH #refugees #cdnimm #cdnpoli Read more →

Tweet from @marcopolis

@marcopolis: Mistreatment Of Temporary Foreign Workers In Canada: Overcoming Regulatory Barriers And Realities On The Ground http://t.co/j6P8Ehhh #cdnimm Read more →

Tweet from @CitImmCanada

@CitImmCanada: Newly sponsored spouses and partners must wait five years before sponsoring a different spouse/partner. http://j.mp/yWVPEX Read more →

An Unusual Argument

Experienced immigration lawyer Barbara Jackman argued that Justice Shore of the Federal Court has an "unconscious" bias when criminals are before him. My office was contacted by Ms Jackmans assistant for our material on the Tran material (one judicial review application was heard before Mr Justice Shore). That may have been used in her statistical analysis. Statistics may be deceiving however. If serious criminality and low probability applications are involved then the outcome is likely to be negative. Moreover, Justice Shore's judgments cannot be viewed isolation. There should be a comparison of similar decisions/similar facts with other Justices of the Court. National Post article excerpt: ... A lawyer appealing the deportation of the son of an Egyptian terror suspect mounted an unusual legal challenge, claiming a Federal Court judge was biased against criminals. Barbara Jackman, a Toronto immigration lawyer, submitted a statistical analysis of past decisions by Federal Court of Canada Justice Michel Shore to suggest he comes to court with a closed mind on cases involving immigration and criminality. The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed that notion, however, calling the report methodologically unsound and tainted by ideology. The study examining 54 previous judgments of Justice Shore was written by... Read more →

Immigration Acceptance Rates

These statistics were provided to a journalist by CIC - see below for provisos. The number of H&C applications made by failed refugee claimants in 2011 (as of February 16, 2012) was 3,400. However, due to the fact that H&C applications for refugee claimants are often only entered into the system once processing of the application commences (currently an average of 30 months), this figure under reports the number of H&C applications that may have been made by refugee claimants in 2011. In 2010, about 4,300 failed refugee claimants submitted H&C applications. The acceptance rate for all H&C applications in 2011 was 40%. For failed refugee claimants, the H&C acceptance rate was 35%. Read more →