We often get inquiries from people who are permanent residents (PRs) of Canada and have lived here for several years. They need to depart Canada for job opportunities, or sick relatives or other reasons that will take them away for a number of years. And they are worried about losing their PR status. Often they ..read more

@CitImmCanada used to have 2 online systems for submitting electronic applications: MyCIC for individuals and the Rep Portal for representatives (lawyers/consultants). This was in addition to some specific portals, for example for employers and universities. But the bulk of immigration applications would be submitted through those 2 main portals. They are glitchy and cumbersome but ..read more

On April 14, 2021, IRCC announced three new pathways to PR for people who are presently in Canada (and intend to live anywhere except Quebec): People currently employed in Canada who also have one year of work experience in health care or an essential service (cap: 20,000 health stream and 30,000 essential stream) French-speaking applicants ..read more

The post ***Please note our offices will be closed on February 8, 2021 due to the snow!*** appeared first on North Star Immigration Law ..read more

It’s 2021. Obviously I need to post some updates. Where to start? Elise Welcome Elise Mercier, our newest lawyer! The intrepid Elise packed up her belongings and moved here from Ontario in October to join North Star. And from her first week in the office, she has been a huge help with our volume of […] The post OH HAI… appeared first on North Star Immigration Law ..read more

IRCC recently announced that people with a close connection to a Canadian can request authorization to travel. Until now, the exemption has only applied to close family members, shutting out everyone other than children, parents and spouses. And, oh ya, guardians. With last weeks’ announcement of expanding the exemptions to relieve hardship to people who […] The post #lovematters: New process for extended family reunification appeared first on North Star Immigration Law ..read more

Many Canadian businesses rely on regular cross-border trips by US-based workers. Whether it is to maintain machinery and equipment or oversee operations, these visits are usually of short durations and are time-sensitive. Sometimes, the US based workers are even Canadian citizens or permanent residents who still have to isolate for 2 weeks upon arrival in […] The post Adventures in Isolation-Land: exemptions from the mandatory 14-day quarantine period: US essential services and critical infrastructure workers appeared first on North Star Immigration Law ..read more

It’s not business as usual, not even close. But here at North Star, we’ve been working hard to continue to serve and advise clients as the rules change and shift before our eyes, sometimes mid-sentence. Our national immigration lawyer listserv has been tireless in reacting to the various announcements and guidance like it is in […] The post Whiplash, immigration-style appeared first on North Star Immigration Law ..read more

At North Star Immigration Law, we are making efforts to ensure that our clients and employees are safe, healthy and helping to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus. No one in our Halifax office has travelled by airplane since mid-January and we are all observing the recommendations (social distancing, no handshaking, coughing/sneezing etiquette and hand […] The post Our Coronavirus plan: a message to clients and colleagues appeared first on North Star Immigration Law ..read more

The sentiment may be holiday-induced, but certain passages in Vavilov feel like sips from a cup of fresh eggnog. The Court’s take on choice of standard may spill the most ink in administrative legal circles. Yet, it is snippets from the Court’s subsequent master class on “Reasonableness & the Culture of Justification” that immigration litigators should […] The post From Russia with Vavilov appeared first on North Star Immigration Law ..read more