tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34264016398470469462024-02-20T12:54:20.494-08:00Lee & CompanyLee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-77530285586040724752018-08-20T07:00:00.000-07:002018-08-20T07:00:17.165-07:00TEMPORARY RESIDENT PERMITS (S.24 IRPA)
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What is the legal test
for Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">This question was answered in the recent
Federal Court decision of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Krasniqi v. MCI</i>,
2018 FC 743. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Court states:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">19. Equally, I
am not persuaded by the Respondent's contention that applicants must
demonstrate "compelling reasons" to be issued a TRP. While much of
the Federal Court jurisprudence appears to have applied such a test, I will
adopt the view articulated by Justice Harrington in <em><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Palmero v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)</span></em></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #145da4; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://nextcanada.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&pubNum=6407&serNum=2039995773&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)"><span style="color: #145da4;">, 2016 FC 1128</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> (F.C.) at para. 21: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I am concerned that the Guidelines speak of "compelling
reasons", while the Act itself does not. Not only are guidelines not law,
but they cannot go beyond the boundaries of the statute itself</span></b><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">20. Federal
Court jurisprudence indicates that there is no legal obligation for a
decision-maker to consider and apply the guidelines; it is often repeated that
the guidelines are not law, not binding, and do not create any legal
entitlement in the context of a TRP application: </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="color: #145da4; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://nextcanada.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&pubNum=6407&serNum=2025532406&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)"><span style="color: #145da4;">Vaguedano</span></a></span></i></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> at para. 35; <em><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Shabdeen
v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)</span></em></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #145da4; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://nextcanada.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&pubNum=6407&serNum=2033082970&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)"><span style="color: #145da4;">, 2014 FC 303</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> (F.C.) at para. 16. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">However,
this Court has also recognized that a decision-maker must nevertheless consider
the relevant circumstances and the reasons advanced by an applicant when
assessing eligibility for a TRP</b>: <em><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Zlydnev
v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)</span></em></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #145da4; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://nextcanada.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&pubNum=6407&serNum=2036255334&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)"><span style="color: #145da4;">, 2015 FC 604</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> (F.C.) at para 20; <em><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Mousa
v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)</span></em></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #145da4; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://nextcanada.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&pubNum=6407&serNum=2040515202&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)"><span style="color: #145da4;">, 2016 FC 1358</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> (F.C.) at para. 9; <em><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Ali
v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship & Immigration)</span></em></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #145da4; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://nextcanada.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&pubNum=6407&serNum=2016475262&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)"><span style="color: #145da4;">, 2008 FC 784</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> (F.C.) at para. 12. In my view, this obligation covers any
relevant circumstances or reasons, whether or not they are specified in the
guidelines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">[…]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">27. Moreover,
the decision-maker's analysis of Ms. Hashani's situation was wholly
insufficient and demonstrated a complete lack of appreciation for her
circumstances. Although framed in the language of "compelling
reasons" (which I have already described as problematic above), Justice
Shore wrote in the oft cited decision of <em><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Farhat
v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship & Immigration)</span></em></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #145da4; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://nextcanada.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?findType=Y&pubNum=6407&serNum=2010555917&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentItem&contextData=(sc.Search)"><span style="color: #145da4;">, 2006 FC 1275</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> (F.C.) at para. 22, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"[b]asically,
the TRPs allow officers to respond to exceptional circumstances while meeting
Canada's <em><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">social, humanitarian,
and economic commitments</span></em></b> [emphasis added]." In my view,
the case at bar potentially engages all three of those criteria, and I believe
that a fulsome analysis of those interests may have yielded a different result.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
According to s.24 of the <em>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act</em>:<br />
<blockquote>
<h6 class="MarginalNote" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-top: 1.2em; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
Temporary resident permit</h6>
<ul class="ProvisionList" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="Subsection" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.7em 0px 0.5em;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"><a class="sectionLabel" href="https://www.blogger.com/u/2/null" id="s-24" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span class="sectionLabel" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-weight: bold;">24</span></a></strong> <a class="lawLabel" href="https://www.blogger.com/u/2/null" id="s-24ss-(1)ID0EBIA" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span class="lawlabel" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-weight: bold;">(1)</span></a> A foreign national who, in the opinion of an officer, is inadmissible or does not meet the requirements of this Act becomes a temporary resident if an officer is of the opinion that it is justified in the circumstances and issues a temporary resident permit, which may be cancelled at any time.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Krasniqi, </span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">the Learned Justice explicitly took issue with the
long-standing policy guideline issued by IRCC requiring applicants to
demonstrate “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">compelling reasons</i>” on a
Temporary Resident Permit Application whereas the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Immigration and Refugee Protection Ac</i>t (“IRPA”) only refers to a
Temporary Resident Permit as being “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">justified
in the circumstances</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This case is
instructive as it requires immigration to conduct a fulsome analysis of all the
relevant circumstances and reasons, including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">social, humanitarian</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">economic</i>
criteria. If you are inadmissible to Canada and applying for a TRP to overcome an
inadmissibility, under s.24 of the IRPA, this is a useful case to keep in mind
while making your submissions to IRCC.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Link to read the full decision in Canlii.org:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"><a href="https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fct/doc/2018/2018fc743/2018fc743.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQAOYWhtZWQgJiB3ZW5uaWUAAAAAAQ&resultIndex=3">https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fct/doc/2018/2018fc743/2018fc743.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQAOYWhtZWQgJiB3ZW5uaWUAAAAAAQ&resultIndex=3</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-25780688091241579602018-05-26T10:50:00.000-07:002018-05-26T10:50:01.769-07:00IMMIGRATION DEPORTATION – Deferral of removal pending finalization of spousal sponsorship – Best interests of the child
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<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://legalaid.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1049c6684e6addce5c2c83de0&id=db55ec2e28&e=895327eab1"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Huang v. Canada (MPSEP)</span></em></a>, 2018 FC 446, Country:
China, Barnes J. (April 25, 2018)</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;">Our client was
scheduled to be deported. His wife was a Canadian permanent resident and together,
they were parents of a six year old boy.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We made a request for a deferral of his removal – based primarily on the
principle of family unity and the prejudice to his young child arising from a possible
lengthy separation. We asked the enforcement officer to allow him to stay until
the finalization of his outstanding spousal sponsorship, but our request was
denied. </span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;">We helped our client to seek the
intervention of the Federal Court to stay his deportation. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The court was satisfied we had met the legal
test for a stay of removal and the deportation was stopped in the interim while
the case proceeded to judicial review. On judicial review, the Honourable
Justice Barnes was not satisfied that the officer’s analysis adequately
addressed the evidence bearing on the child’s best interests in this case.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is significant that the court stated that
the suggestion in the officer’s decision that the “the best interests of the
child threshold could only be met with satisfactory evidence showing
‘irreparable and permanent separation’ vastly overstates the burden” (at para.
8). The relevant paras read:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 48px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">[</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="par7"><span style="color: #027abb; margin: 0px;">7</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">]<span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 7pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span>I am not satisfied that the above analysis
adequately addressed the evidence bearing on the child’s best interests in this
case.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
likely lengthy separation of Mr. Huang from his child of tender years
cannot be reasonably described on this record as routine or unexceptional.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I accept that a
stronger argument could have been made about the financial and care-giving
hardships faced by this family in the event of Mr. Huang’s removal.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>However, there was
evidence that the family was surviving on Ms. Lin’s modest income and
repaying a relatively significant mortgage.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Mr. Huang was also looking after the child
care responsibilities while Ms. Lin worked. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 48px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<u1:p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></u1:p>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0px 48px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="margin: 0px;">[</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="par8"><span style="color: #027abb; margin: 0px;">8</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">]<span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 7pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The suggestion in the Officer’s decision that the best
interests of the child threshold could only be met with satisfactory evidence
showing <span style="margin: 0px;"><q style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">“irreparable and permanent
separation”</span></q></span> vastly overstates the burden.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is no doubt
that this separation would be prolonged and, therefore, hurtful to the child’s
formative needs. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
lengthy separation of a parent from a child of tender years requires a far more
nuanced assessment than this one.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0px 48px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;">The Federal Court also noted that it is one thing for a deferral
officer to limit the scope of a best interests analysis where the child’s
interests have already been fully considered in an earlier review and in situations
where this has not occurred.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paragraph 9
reads: </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 110%; margin: 5pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;">[</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="par9"><span style="color: #027abb; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;">9</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;">]<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It is one thing for a deferral officer to limit
the scope of a best interests analysis in circumstances where the child’s
interests have already been fully considered in an earlier review. It is quite
another to conduct such a review where those interests have never been
addressed before the proposed removal of a parent.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In this latter situation, the review must be
reasonably robust.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Central
to the exercise of that discretion must be a careful assessment of the length
of the likely separation and the financial and emotional hardships that are
expected to prevail over time.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In my view, the analysis done here was perfunctory and
inadequate and, therefore, unreasonabl</span>e.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;">The officer’s decision under
review was set aside and sent back for re-determination.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;">To read the full case: https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fct/doc/2018/2018fc446/2018fc446.html</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-5484096171366270392018-05-26T10:13:00.001-07:002018-05-26T10:13:26.637-07:00MISREPRESENTATION- – Altered passport stamp-- Citizenship Act, s.22(1)(e.1) <br />
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://legalaid.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1049c6684e6addce5c2c83de0&id=e934f96a63&e=895327eab1"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Hoseinian v. Canada (MCI)</span></em></a>, 2018 FC 514, Grammond J.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;">Our client
applied for Canadian citizenship. During the processing of her application, a
document analyst discovered that an Iranian entry stamp on her passport had
been altered. This raised doubts as to the duration of the applicant’s
residence in Canada in the four years preceding her application. Our client provided
additional evidence to show that she had, in fact, travelled from Canada to
Iran on the date purportedly shown on the disputed Iranian entry stamp. But Citizenship
and Immigration Canada refused her application for citizenship, alleging that
she had made a material misrepresentation. She retained our firm to seek a
judicial review.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;">The <em><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Citizenship Act</span></em>
does not define the concept of misrepresentation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>According to the Federal Court - <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“[I]n the private law context, the tort of
negligent misrepresentation is made out where, among other conditions, a
statement is ‘untrue, inaccurate or misleading’…. This minimal requirement also
applies in the immigration context” (at para. 9). See, for example, <a href="https://legalaid.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1049c6684e6addce5c2c83de0&id=1b7299fc44&e=895327eab1"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Wang</span></em></a>, 2006 FCA 345. In the present case, the
Federal Court considered the wording of s.22(1)(e.1) of the <em><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Citizenship
Act</span></em>. To constitute a misrepresentation, a statement must relate to
“material circumstances,” and it must have the potential to “induce an error in
the administration of this Act.” “Presenting a document that has been altered
does not automatically create such a potential error” (at para. 10). The court
stated (at para. 12):</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 110%;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 48px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>[</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="par12"><span style="color: #027abb; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;">12</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;">]<span style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 7pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Thus, when immigration or citizenship officials
find that a document was altered, they cannot conclude, on that basis only,
that there was a misrepresentation. They must ask themselves whether the
alteration conveyed false information that related to a circumstance that is
material to the application before them (</span></span><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;">Koo
v Canada (Citizenship and Immigration)</span></em><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">,
</span></span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fct/doc/2008/2008fc931/2008fc931.html"><span concatenated-id="2008fct931" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #027abb; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span reflex-text="2008 FC 931" style="margin: 0px;">2008
FC 931</span></span></span><span style="color: #027abb; margin: 0px;"> (CanLII)</span></span></a>, <span reflex-text="[2009] 3 FCR 446" style="margin: 0px;"></span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;">[2009]
3 FCR 446</span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">).
In that inquiry, evidence showing that the information is true would be highly
relevant.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 48px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">In this case, the officer omitted to do this, but treated the
altered Iranian entry stamp as conclusive and did not consider the additional evidence
tendered. The officer’s decision was found to be unreasonable. “Most
importantly, nothing in the record shows that the officer reached any
conclusion as to the truthfulness of the information conveyed by the disputed
entry stamp” (at para. 15). The application for judicial review was allowed,
and the matter was sent back for redetermination by a different officer.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To read the full case: <a href="https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fct/doc/2018/2018fc514/2018fc514.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQARd2VubmllICYgZ3JhbW1vbmQAAAAAAQ&resultIndex=1"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fct/doc/2018/2018fc514/2018fc514.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQARd2VubmllICYgZ3JhbW1vbmQAAAAAAQ&resultIndex=1</span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-46365664835580883602018-04-30T12:42:00.000-07:002018-04-30T12:42:12.271-07:00CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS AND MISREPRESENTATIONS
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Nowadays, many people
know that “permanent residents or foreign nationals” can be found inadmissible on
the grounds of misrepresentation “</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">for directly or indirectly misrepresenting or
withholding material facts relating to a relevant matter that induces or could
induce an error in the administration of the Act [ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Immigration and Refugee Protection Act]</i>. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">However, most people are
surprised to learn how widely the definition of misrepresentation is being
interpreted by immigration authorities, that it can even capture honest
mistakes and oversights, and how aggressively Canadian immigration authorities
are trying to catch persons for “misrepresentation”. Also, few people seem to understand
that misrepresentations can come and haunt them for years after they become
permanent residents – especially when they apply for citizenship.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The Act is clear
“permanent residents” can be guilty of misrepresentation. Therefore, if<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>permanent residents are applying for the
extension of their Permanent Resident Cards, or sponsoring their spouse, or
even were questioned upon re-entry to Canada, a permanent resident can be found
to have misrepresented if immigration authorities believe that the person </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">directly
or indirectly misrepresented or withheld material facts relating to a relevant
matter that induced or could induce an error in the administration of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Act</i>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">One of the most common instances that people are
caught for misrepresentation is when applying for citizenship. Often times people
are caught for misrepresentation when they apply for citizenship after having
come to Canada by virtue of being sponsored by a spouse who they then left “soon
after” having been landed. Of course, the definition of “soon after” is also being
broadly interpreted. We have defended clients who were caught when applying for
citizenship (or sponsoring a new spouse) because they had left their spouse only
a few months after landing whereas some did so over a year after landing but
were still alleged to have misrepresented. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">This problem can be compounded if a
lawyer/paralegal, when putting together the un-contested divorce, backdates the
date of separation, to get a quicker divorce. On paper, this reduces the actual
period that the couple was, in fact, living together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have even seen cases where the separation
was back-dated to a time prior to the applicant even coming to Canada. While there
are solutions to these challenges, the old adage: “An ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure” holds true.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-50499765660332979512018-03-08T09:48:00.000-08:002018-03-08T09:48:41.981-08:00Is my Child born through Surrogacy Arrangements eligible for Canadian Citizenship by descent ?
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The answer, it depends.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">If the child is born outside Canada and they
have a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">genetic link</b> with a parent who
is a Canadian citizen, the child is a Canadian citizen by descent.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>However, if the child is born through
surrogacy arrangements but there is no genetic link, then the child may not be
eligible for citizenship by descent. This has been confirmed by the Federal
Court of Appeal in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Canada (Citizenship
and Immigration) v. Kandola</i>, 2014 FCA 85 (CanLII), where the Court noted
that a “genetic contribution, however made, is the only way in which a child” –
can get Canadian citizenship by descent.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">With the advent of AHR (Assisted Human
Reproduction), the citizenship laws are creating aggravation for new parents
who want to bring their child back to Canada as Canadian citizens.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The citizenship laws need to change, and the
Federal Court of Appeal said as much:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; letter-spacing: -0.15pt; margin: 0px;">[<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="par75"><span style="color: #027abb; margin: 0px;">75</span></a>]<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
more pressing policy issue which arises from the analysis is that Operation
Bulletin 381, inasmuch as it provides for different and more demanding
conditions for the grant of derivative citizenship to children born through
AHR, has no legal foundation. While no Charter issue had been raised before
this Court, I note that this interpretation would create an unequal treatment
between children of Canadian citizens depending on the manner in which they are
conceived. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px 48px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px 48px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt; margin: 0px;">[<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="par76"><span style="color: #027abb; margin: 0px;">76</span></a>]
Several important policy issues also arise because of the novelty which this
case presents. For instance, because a genetic link is the only connection
required in order to convey derivative citizenship under the </span></span><a href="https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/rsc-1985-c-c-29/latest/rsc-1985-c-c-29.html"><span lang="EN" style="color: #027abb; font-family: "Garamond",serif; letter-spacing: -0.15pt; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Act</span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; letter-spacing: -0.15pt; margin: 0px;">, a
Canadian donor conveys that right like any other Canadian procreator. Also, by
reason of the new reality created by AHR technology, it cannot be excluded that
a child is “né […] d’une mère” when borne by a gestational mother, in which
case the gestational link would also be capable of conveying derivative
citizenship. These questions are worthy of further consideration and risk being
answered by the Courts unless Parliament exercises its prerogative to deal with
them by way of legislation.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">However, until now, no changes have been made
to the citizenship laws on this front.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The other immigration options that can be pursued to bring the child to
Canada, if there is no genetic link, is by adoption; or to apply for a grant of
citizenship under subsection 5(4) of the Citizenship Act as a Special
Case;<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>or through an application under
s.25 for humanitarian and compassionate consideration for permanent residency,
and once the child becomes a permanent resident to apply for citizenship under
subsection 5(2) of the Citizenship Act. </span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It is important for you to
understand these immigration consequences before you decide with </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">international surrogacy, as
clearly, it will impact the citizenship of the child, the time it will take to bring
the child back to Canada, and many other issues related to the child’s status
in Canada. </span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-2600310801515810012016-07-13T08:59:00.000-07:002016-07-13T08:59:01.138-07:00EXPRESS ENTRY- CEC APPLICATIONS AND EMPLOYMENT LETTERS
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A recent decision of the Federal
Court may be of interest to those who may be able to apply for Canadian
immigration under the current Express Entry regime, in the Canadian Experience
Class, or need letters to support their work experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">For an officer to assess whether
one is eligible to apply for permanent residence as a member of the CEC Class,
the officer must evaluate whether the applicant meets the criteria of
subsection 87.1(2) of the Immigration Regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the requirements is that you must have
– <u>at least one year of full-time experience in one of the appropriate NOC
(National Occupational Classification) code within Skill Type O (Managerial
Jobs), or Level A (Professional jobs), or Level B (Technical jobs and skilled
trades jobs) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the NOC</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most applicants submit employment letters or
letters of reference to prove they have performed the duties described in the
NOC. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similar examination has to be
conducted in the Federal Skilled Worker and the Federal Skilled Trade class. We
often see that the reviewing officers may find the content of these letters do
not satisfy them, that the applicant has the requisite employment experience and
they refuse the application. Why does this happen? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It happens because in some
cases, the employment letters have simply copied verbatim what is described in
the NOC for their occupation onto their employment letters, and in other cases,
the employment letters do not describe the duties sufficiently in detail to
show the applicants meet the description in the NOC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Keep in mind, to qualify, applicants
must meet <u>all</u> the duties described in the lead statement of the NOC,
including <u>all</u> the essential duties and <u>most</u> of the main duties
listed. If the applicants are unable to show that their experience meets the
description in the NOC, they run the risk of their application being refused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Federal Court in a recent
decision where our firm represented the applicant, discusses how officers must
assess the applicant’s claim that he belongs to the NOC:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[14] In
Qin v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2013 FC 147 at para
30, Justice Gleason set out the process by which an officer must assess an
applicant’s claim to belong to a NOC:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt;">In evaluating whether or
not an applicant’s experience falls within a permissible NOC Code, an officer
is required to understand the nature of the work performed and the degree of
complexity of the tasks undertaken, to determine whether or not they fall within
the duties listed in the relevant NOC Code descriptors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The requisite analysis necessitates <u>much
more than a rote comparison of the duties listed in the NOC Code with those
described in a letter of reference or job description.</u> Rather, what is
required is a qualitative assessment of the nature of the work done and
comparison of it with the NOC Code descriptor… Thus, it is beyond debate that
the officer must undertake a substantive analysis of the work actually done by
an applicant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Emphasis added)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[15] In other words, an officer must look to the
substance of the work done and avoid a superficial analysis of the language
used in the job description.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
case, however, the Officer, in stating that there was “no mention in the letter
that you are assigning and reviewing the work of clerks under your charge, as
outlined in the lead statement” (AR at 8), ignores the substance of the letter
in favour of the specific words used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
the Applicant correctly notes, being “in charge of” something and “supervising”
it are equivalent; this is particularly so when one considers the other duties
outlined in the letter of reference, such as “training reservation operators
and agents”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[16] Requiring the Applicant and/or East Link to
have said more amounts to a requirement to repeat the language of the NOC’s
lead statement verbatim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Justice
Russell, faced with a similar dispute in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Song</i>,
had the following to say:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[29] It is clear<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that the duties listed in the employer’s
letter do not use the same words that appear in NOC 0621. But this will
inevitably be the case because applications have been refused when an employer
simply reiterates the wording of a NOC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So employers are obliged to describe in their own words exactly what
applicants do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This requires officers to
examine applications carefully and not to reject them because the same words
are not used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Chen v. MCI</span></i><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, 2016
FC 611, Diner, J.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This guidance from the Federal
Court is certainly instructive as it helps inform potential applicants what
they must provide to meet their burden of proving they have the requisite
experience to qualify under the CEC class. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-39430238704681796872016-07-12T11:17:00.001-07:002016-07-12T11:17:41.452-07:00Misrepresentation Leading to 5 Year Ban<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">MINOR OVERSIGHTS CAN LEAD TO FINDINGS OF MISREPRESENTATION WHICH
CAN LEAD TO A FIVE (5) YEAR BAN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Immigration authorities has become
increasingly aggressive, to the point that they try to make a minor oversight,
a reason to find applicants inadmissible for 5 years. Our office is seeing this happen more often
to persons seeking entry into Canada. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The scenario which commonly
leads to this finding, occurs when these applicants have previously applied to go
to a Western Country (usually the United States) for a temporary purpose (visit, study, work), but their application was rejected. Sometime later they apply for a visa to
Canada. However, the officer advises
that not only is he looking to reject their visa application, but he also states
that he has found the applicants to have engaged in misrepresentation in their
application for Temporary Resident Visa and believes that they may be inadmissible
to come to Canada. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The letter further explains that
the misrepresentation finding renders the applicants inadmissible for a period
of five (5) years. Meaning these applicants are banned for 5 years from entering
Canada.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In many cases, this is the
result of a simple oversight or misunderstanding. In most cases, for example, for a visitor
application, Form IMM 5257, has a question in the Background:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Section, 2(b) – Have you ever been refused a
visa or permit, denied entry or ordered to leave Canada or any other country.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many clients misread this
question. Let’s be clear, if you have a
previous refusal to the U.S., Australia, U.K. or “any other country,” you must
answer <b>YES</b>. Not doing so, or checking the wrong box, can
lead to a finding of misrepresentation and a ban of 5 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The law is
set out in subsection 40 (1) (a) of the <u>Immigration and Refugee Protection
Act</u>, which reads; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.2in 0in 8.4pt;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Misrepresentation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 8.4pt 0in 6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><img alt="*" height="13" src="file:///Z:/BLOGS/PicExportError" width="13" /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">40</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>(1)</b> A permanent resident
or a foreign national is inadmissible for misrepresentation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 8.4pt 0in 6pt 0.25in;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">(a)</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> for directly or indirectly misrepresenting or withholding material
facts relating to a relevant matter that induces or could induce an error in
the administration of this Act;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.2in 0in 8.4pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><img alt="*" height="13" src="file:///Z:/BLOGS/PicExportError" width="13" /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Application<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 8.4pt 0in 6pt;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">(2)</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The following provisions govern subsection (1):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 8.4pt 0in 6pt 0.25in;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">(a)</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the permanent resident or the foreign national continues to be <b>inadmissible for misrepresentation for a
period of five years</b> following, in the case of a determination outside
Canada, a final determination of inadmissibility under subsection (1) or, in
the case of a determination in Canada, the date the removal order is enforced;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 8.4pt 0in 6pt 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.4pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So what can you do
if you have received such a ban?
Obviously, it is better that you seek legal help when you receive a
letter from the visa post asking you to explain why you have not disclosed the
previous refusal to prevent the officer finding you inadmissible, especially if
you mistakenly checked off the wrong box.
But what if it’s too late and a finding of inadmissibility is already
made, and the ban is imposed on you. You
have the right to seek a judicial review of the officer’s finding in Federal
Court. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-9463784531916784482015-01-14T09:54:00.001-08:002015-01-14T09:54:15.531-08:00New Canadian Citizenship Act – What’s Your Intent?
As promised, we will discuss in greater detail one of the
biggest problems that the section of the new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Citizenship Act</i>, which is not yet in force, will present to
applicants for Canadian citizenship. The problems are to be found in S. 3 (C)
(c.1) of the new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Act</i>, which reads:<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(</span><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">c</span></em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) is
a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the </span><cite><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Immigration and Refugee Protection Act</span></cite><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
has, subject to the regulations, no unfulfilled conditions under that Act relating
to his or her status as a permanent resident and has, since becoming a
permanent resident,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>..................<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(</span><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">c.1</span></em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) intends,
if granted citizenship,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(i) to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">continue to reside in Canada</b>,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(ii) to enter into, or
continue in, employment outside Canada in or with the Canadian Armed Forces,
the federal public administration or the public service of a province,
otherwise than as a locally engaged person, or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(iii) to reside with his or
her spouse or common-law partner or parent, who is a Canadian citizen or permanent
resident and is employed outside Canada in or with the Canadian Armed Forces,
the federal public administration or the public service of a province,
otherwise than as a locally engaged person;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
problem is that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Act</i> compels the
applicant, at the time of his/her applying for citizenship, to state that he/she
has the intent to “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">continue to reside in
Canada</i>” or to continue to meet the other two requirements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">While
the applicant may have every intent to do so at the time that he/she submits
the application for Canadian citizenship, he/she may subsequently be required
to leave Canada, due to circumstances beyond his/her control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, what happens if the processing
of the application takes several months, or <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>maybe even a year or more, and during that
time, an Officer at the Border stops the applicant because he/she has been
outside Canada for an extended period of time? Or, what about the situation
where once the person is granted citizenship he/she leaves Canada, let us say, for
reasons of a lucrative overseas employment opportunity or to study or for whatever
otherwise valid reason which could not have been foreseen at the time the
application for citizenship was submitted but where a prolonged absence from
Canada is required? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happens if that
person approaches a Canadian consulate abroad to, let us say, apply to renew his/her
Canadian passport and the authorities <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>realize that a year or more after he/she
became a citizen<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>moved away from Canada?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happens in such a situation? How
long is this "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intent</i>"
supposed to last, anyway?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Our
guess, despite the assurances otherwise from the Minister, is that in all such
and many more similar cases, the Minister will at the minimum investigate the “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intent</i>” and possibly move to try to
revoke person's citizenship because the Minister will argue that that person in
fact made a misrepresentation when he/she applied for citizenship and that he/she
in fact did<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intend</i> to continue to reside in Canada at the time the application
for Canadian citizenship was submitted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Therefore,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Minister will argue that the applicant
had made a "false representation" as described in S. 10 of the new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Act</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The said section reads:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Revocation by Minister — fraud, false representation, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. (1) Subject
to subsection 10.1(1), the Minister may revoke a person’s citizenship or
renunciation of citizenship if the Minister is satisfied on a balance of
probabilities that the person has obtained, retained, renounced or resumed his
or her citizenship by false representation or fraud or by knowingly concealing
material circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Based on the historical pattern of
actions of the Minister in the past several years, we have every reason to suspect
that this section will be used extensively, and that the definition of what constitutes
a “false representation” will be stretched to the limit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We are getting ready for this; we hope
that those applying for citizenship are as well. Since the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Act</i> is not retroactive, there is a limited window of opportunity
for remedy for those who are eligible, by applying for Canadian citizenship as
soon as possible, before these sections come into force. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Historically, the movement of Canadian
citizens has never been hampered by Immigration controls. The new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Citizenship Act</i>, however, seems to have done
away with that philosophy, and will, seemingly, create two classes of citizens:
those who acquire citizenship by virtue of birth, who will be privileged, and
those who acquire citizenship through naturalization, who will be subject to
Immigration controls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
</div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-12806727322107055272015-01-06T13:27:00.001-08:002015-01-06T13:27:30.818-08:00ERRORS IN IMMIGRATION PROCESSING
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As
a firm who handles immigration litigation, one of our long time challenges has
been to respond to clients who are told that pursuing litigation of negative
decisions by immigration officials is futile. We have always stated that it is
not. <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">Citizenship and </span>Immigration<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;"> Canada (CIC)</span> does make <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">mistakes</span>, and the following article by
Nicholas Keung in the Toronto Star -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘High error rate’ found in Canada’s immigration
processing</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> - </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">proves it. To read the full article:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2015/01/05/high_error_rate_found_in_canadas_immigration_processing.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2015/01/05/high_error_rate_found_in_canadas_immigration_processing.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of
particular interest is this quote by a union representative for the CIC
employees - “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The government keeps
changing its policies. It is a challenge to keep up with all the changes that
come every other week</i>". <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">We
have </span>argu<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">ed</span> th<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">at</span> <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">precise fact</span> <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">before </span>the
<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">Federal C</span>ourt recently<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">.</span> <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">W</span>e have long argued that these <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">constant</span> changes to policy <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">are</span>
detrimental to the Rule of Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes
against the fundamental <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">Canadian</span> <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">value</span> of good governance, as such changes
bring uncertainty and confusion not only for the applicants and counsel, but
clearly to those charged with administ<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">ering</span>
the law as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It
has long been a contention of <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">luminary </span>legal
scholars<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;"> such as Joseph Raz and</span>
Lon Fuller that such <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">actions</span> <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">are</span> in breach of the <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">R</span>ule of <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">L</span>aw<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">, and lead to the failure
of legal systems</span> (Lon L. Fuller The Morality of Law (Revised ed., Yale
University Press, New Haven, 1969) 33–38). <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">Professor Fuller </span>criticize<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">d</span> such<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;"> government actions</span> and believe<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">d</span> that "inconsistent
adjudication", failure to properly publicize changes<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;"> in the law</span>, rules that are hard to
understand, retrospective legislation, contradictions in the law, unreasonable
demands on the applicants, and inconsistency between the stated intent of
legislation and the decisions made by those charged with making decisions under
the legislation, all lead to the failure of a legal system. This article makes
it clear that many of these <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">criticized
government actions</span> seem to be happening with immigration<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;"> here in Canada</span>. So the question is<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">:</span> despite all of its touted success<span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;">es</span>, is the system on the way to failure
if it keeps on its present course ? <span style="mso-fareast-language: KO;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-9445360376637430072015-01-02T09:31:00.001-08:002015-01-02T09:55:04.854-08:00MAJOR CHANGES TO THE CITIZENSHIP ACT<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Beginning January 1st, 2015, the application fee to apply for citizenship will increase to $530 for each adult applicant. Many other changes beyond application fees are being introduced that will have more significant impact on the nature of Canadian citizenship.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the coming days, we shall post blogs in regard to the
major changes that have been made in Canada’s Citizenship law, discuss what we
believe the effects of these changes will be. To begin, we will outline some of the
changes to be made. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the law comes into force, to become a Citizen, a Permanent
Resident will have to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="subparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->be physically present in Canada for at least
1,460 ( 4 years) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>days during the six
years immediately before the date of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
application ( the current requirement is 3 out of 4 years);<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="subparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->the applicant must be physically present in
Canada for at least 183 days during each of four calendar years within this six
years (this bring us back to the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>residency requirements of the pre 2002 <u>Immigration Act</u>);<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="subparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Must file a return of income in respect to the four
taxation years within the six years; (logically proof of this will have to
filed with the application);<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="subparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->MUST intend to reside in Canada once he obtained
citizenship ( this in our view is a section that is highly problematic and our
next blog will deal with it in great detail);<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="subparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The age for which language and knowledge testing
will be required will be raised to 65 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(meaning
that you will be expected to meet the language and knowledge requirements until
that age);<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="subparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It should also be noted that the language requirements
will have to be met on the date of the application, and not when they call you
in, it is our understanding that they will require applicants to submit test results
(CELPIP-G, IELTS or TEF with the application);<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="subparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->ENFORCMENT will be a major focus. </div>
<br />
<div class="subparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Grounds
for the denial of citizenship for “reasons of national security” will be
expanded ( it should be understood that one does not need to have a criminal
record to be excluded for “reasons of national security”);<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="subparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Revocation
of Citizenship process will be streamlined (we expect that revocations will go
up - meaning that they will go after individuals to revoke their citizenship-
including we believe due to alleged contravention of the “ intent to reside”
provision;<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of the above, we believe will have major impact on
applicants and will be discussed in greater detail in our future blogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are also;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-New provisions to address various
classes of people who have been left without citizenships due to previous
changes in the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Greater ability to share information
with other departments (this will facilitate greater and wider investigations
of the applications for fraud, misrepresentation etc).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-“allowance for alternative proofs
of citizenship including establishing citizenship by electronic means “ .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-72093788302551723832014-12-31T11:46:00.002-08:002014-12-31T11:47:24.393-08:00Long Delay in Citizenship Processing<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a recent article, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Metro News<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><a href="http://metronews.ca/news/canada/1249955/new-canadian-questions-reasons-for-long-delay-in-getting-citizenship/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://metronews.ca/news/canada/1249955/new-canadian-questions-reasons-for-long-delay-in-getting-citizenship/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
questions the reasons for the long delay in citizenship applications. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We know the answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The answer is found (in large part) in an Operational
Bulletin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which was released by
Citizenship and Immigration<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in May,
2012. Operational Bulletin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>407, directs
CIC to send out a second <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Residency<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Questionnaires to persons applying for
Citizenship and to request more supporting documents to substantiate the
claimed periods of residency in Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
bulletin can now be found on the internet, </span><a href="http://residencequestionnaire.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/atip-op407.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://residencequestionnaire.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/atip-op407.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
, but it was not posted for public viewing on the CIC website. This Residency Questionnaire
was sent out to so many applicants, that it inevitably slowed down the overall
processing of the applications since that time, and created a backlog of cases.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, there were many
investigations, not only in regard to citizenship requirements but also in many
cases, to whether the people applying for citizenship met their Permanent
Resident residency requirements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clearly, going forward, with the many upcoming Citizenship
changes, which we will discuss in our future blogs, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we can say that residency questionnaires and
investigations into applicants permanent residency requirements, foreshadowed
the reality of how Citizenship applications will be treated and processed under
the new Citizenship law. It should be of great concern to those who are
thinking of applying for citizenship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only thing that we can say is that if you are thinking
of applying for citizenship you should apply now before the new law comes in
effect at the end of May, 2015, because it will not get better, or least it
does not appear to be so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-41541309485218302872014-11-14T09:20:00.000-08:002014-11-14T09:20:34.704-08:00POLYGAMOUS AND FORCED MARRIAGES<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">We have moved to our new offices at Hullmark Centre, </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">4773 Yonge Street, Suite 3F, at the south-east
corner of Yonge and Sheppard. With priority to a particularly heavy case load
for the past month, </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">and planning and
executing our move, we unfortunately could not devote adequate time to some of
our other functions. Posting blogs was one of them. Now that we have settled in,
we will make a conscientious effort to post our blogs about the many
developments in immigration law and policy on a regular basis. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/chris-alexander-to-ban-immigrants-in-polygamous-forced-marriages-1.2824320"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/chris-alexander-to-ban-immigrants-in-polygamous-forced-marriages-1.2824320</span></a><o:p></o:p></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">The announcement of changes to ban “immigrant in polygamous,
forced marriages” seems to be little more than an election-time promise.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">It has to be because the idea seems unnecessary
and redundant, as the Act and Regulations already preclude spousal sponsorships
by Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents who have more than one spouse at
the time. R. 5 (b)(i) of the IRPR reads: <o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></h2>
<h2 class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">5.</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: small;">Excluded
relationships - </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;">For the purposes of
these Regulations, a foreign national shall not be considered <o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></h2>
<h2 class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">(</span><i><span style="font-size: small;">b</span></i><span style="font-size: small;">) the spouse of a
person if <o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></h2>
<h2 class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(i) the foreign national or
the person was, at the time of their marriage, the spouse of another person, or
…<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></h2>
<h2 class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thus, the provision related to polygamy is "no
news"; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">the Minister already has tools
at his disposal to</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">deal with the issue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">The issues of</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">"honour killings" and "forced marriages" which </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">the above newspaper article discusses, is something
else.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">First of all, under the Criminal
Code of Canada killing of any sort is murder for which punishment is already
prescribed by the Criminal Code. So there is nothing new here either. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">The question of "forced marriages", however, is
new, and it will be interesting to see how the proposed legislation defines it
and, better still, what methodology it will develop to identify such cases.
Will it be limited solely to polygamous marriages or will it be "forced
marriages" in general. Dare we contemplate the number of people worldwide
who have been coerced , one way or another,</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">into a marriage "not out of love"!<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, the real issue, obscured by all this bureaucratic
hoopla, is the fact that many people in non-polygamous marriages get caught up
in this</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">problem, those from Islamic
countries in particular, because they have separated and are in the process of
divorcing their spouse, when they marry their new wife. Because the divorce is
not finalized at the time of the new marriage, Immigration Canada refuses their
application to sponsor their new spouse, based on 5 (b)(i) of the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: small;">Immigration and Refugee Protection
Regulations</span></u></i><span style="font-size: small;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-230532818517309072014-08-28T08:26:00.000-07:002014-08-28T08:26:30.699-07:00Anchor Babies
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following article illustrates another example where the
current government raises fear over a non-problem to change the very nature of
Canadian citizenship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2014/08/18/ottawa_urged_to_remove_citizenship_by_birth_on_canadian_soil.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2014/08/18/ottawa_urged_to_remove_citizenship_by_birth_on_canadian_soil.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The proposal seems to be yet another example of poorly
conceptualized policy and law changes, without adequately thinking through the
possible consequences they may occasion if implemented.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this case, the "field" appears to have a firmer
grip on reality than the "think-tanks" at the National Headquarters.
The CBSA is correctly warning the government that these changes will end up costing
the Canadian taxpayers disproportionately to the benefits they may realize,
while creating operational nightmares. The Government and its “legal beagles”, however,
set on their preconceived course, appear to be deaf to these alarm bells.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The whole endeavor seems to be predicated on the irrational
obsession with the guarding and protecting of Canadian citizenship. We are
constantly reminded by the bureaucrats that "citizenship is a precious privilege"
and that the abuse of "Canada's generosity" must be terminated. While
one is hard-pressed to put forth convincing arguments against such noble
intents, the fact is that this is all based on presumptions, presuppositions
and "urban anecdotes". The sad truth is that no government agency
keeps statistics on live births to non-status parents in Canada, how many of
these babies accompany their parents if the parents are removed or otherwise
leave Canada, nor how many of them return in adulthood to sponsor their parents
and bring them to Canada. And given the moratorium on the sponsorship of
parents, which has practically wiped out that entire class of immigrants, does
it really<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>matter?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Canada has signed
international conventions that commit us not to make people stateless. Canada
is a signatory to the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child. Yet, the current government is apparently prepared to turn a blind eye
and abrogate all those commitments. It finds justification for its intent in
the fact that currently only Canada and the United States offer "birth on
soil" ("anchor babies" is a disparaging terminology common in
the United States) provisions, as if that in itself has no<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>intrinsic values which sets us apart from the
rest of the world. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let us look at an example. Palestinians, who for generations
have been moving from country to country never acquire citizenship of any state.
Under the proposed changes, children of Palestinians seeking protection <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in Canada, would be born in Canada but would not
have Canadian citizenship. Then, if the claim of their parents fails, there
would be no government to give these babies citizenship and travel documents,
hence making it impossible for them to accompany their families if the parents
are required to leave Canada and return to the country they came from. Canada,
in that scenario, would in fact be engaging in the breaking up of families and
making these children a ward of the state. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This could also happen to a family that is here on temporary
purposes, with no intention of immigrating to Canada, or seeking protection.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-63073101926977843202014-08-21T14:05:00.001-07:002014-08-21T14:05:13.326-07:00Losing Canadian Citizenship and Permanent Residence
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As if to confirm our
last blog posting, the Federal Court recently not only allowed the removal of
Canadian citizenship from a family, but also imposed $63, 000 of costs on them.
Costs which are very high in Citizenship and Immigration litigation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/28/blatantly-lying-loses-family-its-citizenship-but-earns-them-a-63k-bill-from-canadian-government/"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/28/blatantly-lying-loses-family-its-citizenship-but-earns-them-a-63k-bill-from-canadian-government/</span></span></a></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This article illustrates the reality that
our warnings are not us “crying wolf” but a true reflection of today’s reality
when it comes to Canadian Citizenship and Permanent Residence. The final piece
of advice, while seemingly self-serving, is as true. It is wise when dealing
with such matters to seek the assistance not only of experienced litigators but
of litigators experienced in Citizenship and Immigration matters, and the
Federal Court, because such litigation is highly specialized and unique. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those interested this is link to the
actual decision of the Federal Court,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/fc-cf/decisions/en/item/70932/index.do?r=AAAAAQAISG9jaGFpbWUAAAAAAQ"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/fc-cf/decisions/en/item/70932/index.do?r=AAAAAQAISG9jaGFpbWUAAAAAAQ</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, a warning to many clients who have
been misled by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> so called </span>“professionals” .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lets just say that maintaining status and
citizenship in Canada, is no longer “easy” as you were made to believe, and if
you wish to remain Canadian Permanent Residents and Canadian Citizens you better take proactive
steps to protect your status. We also believe that criminal prosecutions in
certain cases will be a growing reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-71786038195319555112014-08-08T11:41:00.002-07:002014-08-08T11:41:29.822-07:00Detentions & Deportations<br />
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Recent articles dealing with different subjects, one on deportation of a long-time Canadian and the other about detention, reflect the
new reality of Canadian immigration; the focus is no longer on attracting
people to Canada, but rather, on kicking people out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.truenorthtimes.ca/2014/06/16/government-deporting-man-whose-citizenship-revoked-media-grants-sainthood/">http://www.truenorthtimes.ca/2014/06/16/government-deporting-man-whose-citizenship-revoked-media-grants-sainthood/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/they-march-in-ottawa-to-push-for-end-to-immigration-detention">http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/they-march-in-ottawa-to-push-for-end-to-immigration-detention</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Few are safe from this trend. As can be seen from the deportation story,
even people who have been citizens for decades are not exempt from losing their
citizenship, and facing deportation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Permanent Residents should be aware that they are most
vulnerable to this problem when they are applying for citizenship, as the
government is checking carefully not only that you meet the residency
requirements for citizenship, but also going back to check for other problems
of possible misrepresentation (for example failing to declare a spouse at the
time of landing). <o:p></o:p></div>
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The government is also evaluating other inadmissibility
criteria including examining whether individuals have met the residency requirement for maintaining one’s
PR status. In fact, it seems that the government is deliberately delaying processing of
citizenship applications across the country, not only to ensure that persons have
maintained the Permanent Residency requirement prior to applying for
citizenship, but also ensuring that they have stayed in Canada and maintained
their residency requirements after they applied for citizenship. That is, if you <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">applied</a> in 2012, and the application is not processed until 2014, the government may
check whether you have been out of the country since 2012, and may look as far
back as five years prior to your date of application, in this case, looking to
2009, if during that time period, you have been out of the Canada.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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As for detention, it is becoming a reality for an increasing
number of people, including tourists. It
is not only alarming that tourists who
happen to be confused at the port of entry and do not answer questions to the satisfaction
of the very aggressive CBSA are increasingly
being detained, but even more alarming is the length of time for which
they are being detained. They are often being detained for a month or more without being allowed out on
bond and then deported back. Even when
released, their bonds are often astronomical compared to what you see in
criminal cases. In these detention cases, bonds are often in the tens of
thousands of dollars. The new reality of Canadian immigration is casting an increasingly wider net and legitimate applicants, even Canadians, may risk being caught up in it. </div>
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Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-3212986346057278602014-05-06T10:23:00.000-07:002014-05-06T10:23:42.066-07:00Visitor's Visas<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> An article in the </span>Saint John’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Telegram, </i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2014-04-02/article-3674316/Immigration-Canada-cites-lack-of-money-and-experience-for-denying-visa/1"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2014-04-02/article-3674316/Immigration-Canada-cites-lack-of-money-and-experience-for-denying-visa/1</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">expressed outrage when Canada Immigration refused a visa,
and explained as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“In reviewing her application, the
visa officer noted that Ms. Alawiran-Plaza did not provide evidence that she
has given similar talks or presentations in the past and she has no previous
documented travel outside of the Philippines,” an email from Immigration Canada
reads. “In addition, she has negligible savings and few ties to her home
country. Although her trip was being funded by the organization, the visa
officer was not satisfied that she had enough money to support herself during
her stay in Canada, and was not satisfied that she would leave Canada at the
end of her visit. As such, the officer refused her application for a temporary
resident visa.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To be honest, there is nothing surprising about this. Yes,
it is unreasonable in light of the fact that the visitor was being invited by a
Catholic organization but this is a very standard refusal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is frustrating because dealing with
refused cases from all over the world we see this standard language often which
does not really disclose what the issues are. Furthermore, the decisions made when processing
applications for visitor visas (temporary resident applications) are highly
discretionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we would state
that in cases such as this, where an applicant does not have a travel history
or significant savings when applying for a visitor visa, it would be important
to counterweigh this by delineating both the applicant's credentials and the
credibility of the inviting party. Credibility is always an underlying issue. If
the purpose of the visit is credible, if you, the applicant, is credible, if
the person and/or organization that is doing the inviting is credible, the
chances of obtaining the visa will be better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lee & Company</span></div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-10444301411886093382014-04-08T18:50:00.000-07:002014-04-08T19:10:24.923-07:00Interview with Albilad Newspaper<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><span style="color: #515a84; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 60pt; mso-text-raise: -.5pt; position: relative; top: 0.5pt;">49 <span style="letter-spacing: 15.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-text-raise: 6.0pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;">Issue 147<span style="letter-spacing: -1pt;"> </span>April 2014</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Immigration Consultant Mohamed<span style="letter-spacing: -1pt;"> </span>Abuzayed
joins »Lee & Company« for<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>Immigration
Services</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 6pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt;">Abuzayed: I<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>joined<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;"> </span>the Company because of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>its<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>success
and<span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span>good<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>reputation</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black";">IMMIGR<span style="letter-spacing: -1.4pt;">A</span>TION<span style="letter-spacing: -1pt;"> </span>CONSU<span style="letter-spacing: -1pt;">L</span><span style="letter-spacing: -1.35pt;">T</span><span style="letter-spacing: -1.4pt;">A</span>TION<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>IS NEEDED IN <span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt;">L</span>ONDON,<span style="letter-spacing: -1pt;"> </span>AS THE S<span style="letter-spacing: -0.8pt;">Y</span>STEM <span style="letter-spacing: -1.85pt;">F</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt;">A</span>CES<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>MANY<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;"> </span>CHANGES</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black";">H<span style="letter-spacing: -0.95pt;">A</span>VING<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>A<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span>T<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">R</span>USTED
CONSU<span style="letter-spacing: -0.85pt;">L</span><span style="letter-spacing: -1.15pt;">T</span>ANT HELPS IN FULFILLMENT OF <span style="letter-spacing: -0.95pt;">Y</span>OUR<span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;"> </span>G<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;">O</span>ALS</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">”Lee <span style="letter-spacing: 2.6pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>& <span style="letter-spacing: 2.6pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Company“ <span style="letter-spacing: 2.6pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>for <span style="letter-spacing: 2.6pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>immigration
services<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>recently<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>opened<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;">
</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>new<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>branch in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>London,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Ontario.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>This<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>branch is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>administered by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>immigration consultant<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span>Mohamed<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">
</span>Abuzayed<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span>serving mainly the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;"> </span>Arabic Communit<span style="letter-spacing: -0.75pt;">y</span>. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">The<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>company<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>used<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>receive<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>calls<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>from London,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>but<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>did<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>not<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>open<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>office<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>till they found a trusted person. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">Albilad visited <span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the <span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Company
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>office<span style="letter-spacing: -0.85pt;"> </span>and <span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>talked <span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>to <span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the <span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>office<span style="letter-spacing: 2.15pt;"> </span>manager <span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;">r</span>.
Abuzayed<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>principal<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>consultant of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the company M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;">r</span>. Marko<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">V</span>itorovich.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">About<span style="letter-spacing: 3pt;"> </span>the <span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>services<span style="letter-spacing: 2.9pt;"> </span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">f</span>fered
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>by
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Company<span style="letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span>M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">r</span>.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span>Abuzayed
said:</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">”The<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>law<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>firm<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>was<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>formed<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>circa<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>2001,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>with a <span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>special <span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>focus <span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>on <span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>immigration
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>litigation
and <span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>refugee
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>appeals,
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>I
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>heard
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>about
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>their
growing<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>reputation<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>success<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>field<span style="letter-spacing: -0.85pt;">
</span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>I<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>joined<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>recentl<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">y</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>they<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>looking<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;">
</span>to establish<span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>network<span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>help<span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span>people<span style="letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span>across<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span>country
with immigration issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">“<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;">r</span>.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>Abuzayed<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">
</span>explains<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>he<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>recognized
that <span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>these <span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>specialized <span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>services <span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>were
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>not
just<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>growing<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>reality<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>immigration<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>la<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">w</span>,
but<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>particular<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>growing<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>need<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>Arab
communit<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">y</span>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>London,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>where<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Arabic permanent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>residents<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>when<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>applying<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>for extensions<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>their<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>statuses<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;">
</span>or<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>applying<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>for citizenships<span style="letter-spacing: 2.25pt;"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing: 2.25pt;"> </span>routinely<span style="letter-spacing: 2.25pt;"> </span>investigated<span style="letter-spacing: 2.25pt;"> </span>and prosecuted<span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"> </span>allegedly<span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"> </span>failing<span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"> </span>comply with<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>their<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>residency<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>obligations. <span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.7pt;">T</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>better serve<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>Arabic<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>community<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">
</span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>London,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>Lee </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">&<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>Company<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>moved<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>open<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>branch<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>office<span style="letter-spacing: -0.75pt;"> </span>in
London, managed by M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;">r</span>.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;"> </span>Abuzayed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span>firm<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>recognized<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span>need<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span>their<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span>legal </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">expertise<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>Arabic<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>communit<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">y</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>the la<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">r</span>ge
Arabic<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>community<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>London,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>they
would<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>get<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>requests<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>from<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>clients<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;">
</span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>London to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>assist<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>them,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>howeve<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">r</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>they<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>did<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>not<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>want
to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>open<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>office<span style="letter-spacing: 1.8pt;"> </span>until<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>could<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>find<span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"> </span>a person<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>trust.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>Once<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>person<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>trust<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>was
found,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span>M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;">r</span>.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"> </span>Abuzayed,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span>they<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span>moved<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span>open
an office“.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 104%;">M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">r</span>.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span>Marko<span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">V</span>itorovich,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.9pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>Principal<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>Consultant <span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>of <span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the <span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>firm,<span style="letter-spacing: 2.65pt;"> </span>explained the firm<span style="letter-spacing: -0.85pt;"> </span>services:</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 104%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">"The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>need<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>our<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>type<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>services, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">what <span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>we <span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>call
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>litigation,
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>which
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>consists
of <span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>refused
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>cases,
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>inadmissibility
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>issues,
spousal<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>appeals,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>deportations,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>refugee appeals,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>detention<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>reviews,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>such cases,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>unfortunately<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>growing<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>reality<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>of
immigration changes“.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">He<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>noted<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;">
</span>that<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>immigrant<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span>communities<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span>are facing this<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>new<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>reality and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>many<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>need help to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>navigate<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>new<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>world<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canadian immigration.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>He<span style="letter-spacing: -0.95pt;"> </span>notes<span style="letter-spacing: -0.95pt;"> </span>further<span style="letter-spacing: -0.95pt;">
</span>that<span style="letter-spacing: -0.95pt;"> </span>while<span style="letter-spacing: -0.95pt;"> </span>the government<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>boasts<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>about<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>high<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>level<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>of
immigration,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>most<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>immigrant<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">
</span>communities are well aware of a very di<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">f</span>ferent
realit<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">y</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">He<span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;"> </span>added:<span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;">
</span>”This<span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;"> </span>trend<span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;"> </span>started<span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;">
</span>years<span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;"> </span>ago, when<span style="letter-spacing: 1.4pt;"> </span>Ms.<span style="letter-spacing: 1.4pt;"> </span>Lee<span style="letter-spacing: 1.4pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 1.4pt;"> </span>I,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>first<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;">
</span>started<span style="letter-spacing: 1.4pt;"> </span>talking about<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>it<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>realizing<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;">
</span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>old<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>days<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>old ways<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>practicing<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;">
</span>immigration<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>law<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>would be<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;">
</span>drastically<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>changed,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>you<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>need<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>hard
core<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>legal<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>skills,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>deep<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>knowledge<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>the
la<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">w</span>, <span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>great <span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>advocacy
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>skills,
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>both
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>written
and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>oral,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>litigation<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>approach,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;">
</span>which<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>does not<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>mean<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>you<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>always<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;">
</span>adversarial, but <span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>rather <span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>that <span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>you <span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>prepare
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>and
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>present<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>your<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>case,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>if<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>you<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>facing<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>toughest judge,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>days<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>simply<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>filling<span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span>forms in<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">
</span>even<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>simplest<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">
</span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>cases<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>was<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>long<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>ove<span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;">r</span>.
These<span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"> </span>days<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>even<span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"> </span>an<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>honest<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>mistake<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>on<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>the
form<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>could<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>lead<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>refusal.
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>This<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>has<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>been
increasingly<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span>reality<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;">
</span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span>more<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span>so<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span>today
than when we started 15 years ago.“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 104%;">Ms.<span style="letter-spacing: 1.8pt;"> </span>Lee<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"> </span>Principal<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 1.8pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"> </span>Firm<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>states:</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 104%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">”Enforcement<span style="letter-spacing: 2.15pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: 2.2pt;"> </span>increasingly<span style="letter-spacing: 2.2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 2.2pt;"> </span>name<span style="letter-spacing: 2.2pt;"> </span>of </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>game“.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>She<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>explains<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>how<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>it<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>has<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>come<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>to
light<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>government<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>has<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>set<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>ta<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">r</span>get<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>of </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">875<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>cases<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>per<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>year<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>strip<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>persons<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>granted refugee <span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>protection <span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>of <span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>their
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>status
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>through
vacation or cessation proceedings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She continues<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"> </span>-<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"> </span>”<span style="letter-spacing: -0.8pt;">W</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"> </span>currently<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">
</span>handling<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"> </span>such cases,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>one<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>case,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>person<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>has<span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"> </span>been
found<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>be<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>refugee<span style="letter-spacing: -0.45pt;">
</span>some<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>14<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>years<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>ago,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>and for<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;">
</span>most<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"> </span>those<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;">
</span>14<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"> </span>years<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"> </span>person<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"> </span>has been<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;">
</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;"> </span>permanent<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;"> </span>resident.“<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;"> </span>Ms.<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>Lee<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;"> </span>adds, that<span style="letter-spacing: 1.95pt;"> </span>persons<span style="letter-spacing: 1.95pt;"> </span>who <span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>have<span style="letter-spacing: 1.95pt;"> </span>become<span style="letter-spacing: 1.95pt;">
</span>permanent residents<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>after<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>given<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>refugee<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>protection,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>can be<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>removed<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>years<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;">
</span>later<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>through<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>no<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>fault<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>of their<span style="letter-spacing: -0.45pt;">
</span>own<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>but<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>simply<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>because<span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span>situation<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>their
country has changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">They<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>add<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>proposed<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>changes<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>the citizenship<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>laws,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.5pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>some<span style="letter-spacing: 1.5pt;"> </span>ways,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.5pt;"> </span>at<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>least<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>in part,<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;">
</span>is<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>ta<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">r</span>geted<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>at<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>Arabic<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>communit<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">y</span>,
and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>it<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>also<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>codification<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>something<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>that has <span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>been <span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>a <span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>reality <span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>for <span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>some <span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>They explain<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>because<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>what<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>government
perceived<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>high<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>level<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>fraud<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>both applications<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>renewal<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>PR<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>status,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;">
</span>and applications<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>citizenships,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>particularly<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>for
those<span style="letter-spacing: -0.7pt;"> </span>working<span style="letter-spacing: -0.7pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -0.7pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.7pt;"> </span>Middle<span style="letter-spacing: -0.7pt;"> </span>East<span style="letter-spacing: -0.7pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -0.7pt;"> </span>abroad,
the <span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>government
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>has
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>for
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>past
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>several
years<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>scrutinized<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>both<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>PR<span style="letter-spacing: 1.95pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 1.8pt;"> </span>Citizenship<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>applications very carefull<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">y</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">r</span>.<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;"> </span>Abuzayed<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;">
</span>explains<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">–<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">”In<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span>past </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">you <span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>could <span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>simply
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>fill<span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"> </span>forms <span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>and <span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>provide minimal<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>info<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>obtain<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>new<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>PR<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>card<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>or
even<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>become<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>citizen,<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>our<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>community<span style="letter-spacing: 2pt;"> </span>in London,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>knows<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>this<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>no<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>longer<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>reality“. M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.55pt;">r</span>.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.85pt;"> </span>Abuzayed<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>added<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>new<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>changes<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">
</span>to the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>citizenship<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>laws,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>will<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>impact<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> </span>Arabic communit<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">y</span>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 1.5pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>government<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>introduces changes<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>make<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>it<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>more<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>difficult<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span>obtain citizenship,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>some<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>time<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>now<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>even<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>a renewal<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;">
</span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>PR<span style="letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span>card<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>application<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>subject<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>to more<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">
</span>scrutin<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">y</span>.<span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"> </span>Again,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">
</span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>past,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>permanent
residents<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>were<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>able<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>stay<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>Canada<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>3 years,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;">
</span>apply<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>citizenship<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>then<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>leave. When <span style="letter-spacing: 1.9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the <span style="letter-spacing: 1.9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>processing
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>of
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>citizenship
application<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>was<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>complete<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> </span>they<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>would<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>come<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>back<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>complete<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">
</span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>citizenship<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span>application<span style="letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>collect<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>their<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>That<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;">
</span>is<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>no<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>longer the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>case<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>anymore,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>several<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>years<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span>no<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">w</span>, citizenship<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>applications<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>delayed,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;">
</span>taking several<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>years<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>process,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>while<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>immigration
investigate<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>whether<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>applicant
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>continues
to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>maintain<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span>their <span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>PR<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>residency<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>obligations and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>possible<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>granting/refusing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>of citizenship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">They<span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"> </span>also<span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"> </span>explain<span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"> </span>they<span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"> </span>seeing<span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"> </span>an increase<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> </span>investigations<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> </span>against<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">
</span>permanent residents<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>even<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>citizens<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>across<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>board, in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">
</span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>Chinese<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>Indian<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>communities<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>they are<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>seeing<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>many<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>investigations<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span>permanent
residence, <span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>particularly <span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>when <span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>applying
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>for
citizenship,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>people<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>who<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>landed<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>spousal sponsorships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">r</span>. <span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">V</span>itorovich<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>continues:</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span>”even here, sometimes the person has been a permanent resident for almost a decade, and they have what appear to be very minimal reason to suspect the marriage that brought the PR to Canada was one of convenience, and yet they pursue them“. Alarmingly, even citizens are not saved“.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ms. Lee<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>explains:</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">”In <span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the <span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>past
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>if
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>you
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>are
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>a
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>citizen,
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>unless
you <span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>are,
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>for
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>example
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>a </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">war <span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>criminal <span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>when
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>you
obtained<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>citizenship<span style="letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"> </span>you<span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"> </span>lied<span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"> </span>about<span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"> </span>it,<span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"> </span>it
was <span style="letter-spacing: 2.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>almost
<span style="letter-spacing: 2.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>unheard
<span style="letter-spacing: 2.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>of
that <span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>they <span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>would <span style="letter-spacing: 2.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>try <span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>remove
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>your
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>citizenship,
howeve<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">r</span>, <span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>from <span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>what
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>we
see<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>going<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>forward,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>if<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>there is <span style="letter-spacing: 2.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>misrepresentation <span style="letter-spacing: 1.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>not<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span>only<span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"> </span>on
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>your
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>citizenship<span style="letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span>application,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>related on <span style="letter-spacing: 1.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>how <span style="letter-spacing: 1.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>you
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>became
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.65pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>permanent <span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>resident, <span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>they
will<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>consider<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>trying<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>to remove your citizenship.“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">r</span>. <span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">V</span>itorovich<span style="letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span>adds:</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">”However<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>tough<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>the
new<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>reality<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>is,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>truth<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>is
that <span style="letter-spacing: 1.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>there
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>are
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>remedies,
there<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span>solutions,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span>all of<span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;"> </span>these<span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;"> </span>issues,<span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;">
</span>it<span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: 2.1pt;"> </span>just that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>involve<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>time, preparation,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">f</span>fort<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>and knowledge. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 104%;">People<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>know<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>Canada<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>seems to be closing category<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>after<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>category<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>of immigration“.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong>Ms. Lee continues:</strong> <br />
<br />
"What is most troubling is that the government feels free to apply laws retroactively, first Federal Skilled Workers who have been waiting patiently in line for years, are told they are being eliminated to clear up the backlog, their dreams of immigrating to Canada are over, now it’s the investors turn. No matter how you spin it, this is terribly unfair. Imagine how you would feel if it was your family in this line up that is eliminated by retroactive legislation."<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">Many<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>top<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>immigration<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>law<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>firms<span style="letter-spacing: -0.8pt;">
</span>in <span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the <span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>country <span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>have <span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>challenged
<span style="letter-spacing: 2.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the
government<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;">’</span>s <span style="letter-spacing: 2.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>decision <span style="letter-spacing: 2.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>to <span style="letter-spacing: 2.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>cancel
the
FSW <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>category
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>and
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>cases
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>are
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>still
before the Court.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">Ms. <span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Lee <span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>continues: <span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>”<span style="letter-spacing: -0.9pt;">W</span>e <span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>are <span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>in <span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the forefront<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>challenging<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>this<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>retroactive
legislation,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>one<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>lead<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>cases<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>the
Federal<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>Skilled<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.9pt;">W</span>orker<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>litigation<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>ours, and <span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>for <span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>the <span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>investor
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>categor<span style="letter-spacing: -0.7pt;">y</span>, <span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>we <span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>are presently<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;"> </span>representing<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;"> </span>some<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;"> </span>50<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;"> </span>investors
and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>we<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>will<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>be<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>challenging<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>investor
retroactivit<span style="letter-spacing: -0.75pt;">y</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>well.<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.9pt;">W</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>will<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>take<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"> </span>this issue<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>far<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>it<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>can<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>go,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>because<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">
</span>we<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>see it<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;"> </span>question<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;">
</span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;"> </span>Rule<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>La<span style="letter-spacing: -0.7pt;">w</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>an issue<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>strikes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>heart<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>core Canadian legal values.“<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 104%;">M<span style="letter-spacing: -0.65pt;">r</span>.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.85pt;"> </span>Abazuyed<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>pointed<span style="letter-spacing: -0.75pt;">
</span>out</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 104%;">,<span style="letter-spacing: -1pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">”Although the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>rules<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>have<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>changed<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span>immigration
is<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>getting<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>toughe<span style="letter-spacing: -0.45pt;">r</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>you<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>should<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>not<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>lose
hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>It<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>important<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>keep<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>mind
the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -1.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>importance <span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>of <span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>hiring
<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>trustworthy
and diligent counsel to help you achieve your <span style="letter-spacing: 1.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>immigration <span style="letter-spacing: 1.4pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nowadays, most <span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>processing <span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>applications
<span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>involve
having<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>an<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>employer<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>waiting<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>you;<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span>this is<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;">
</span>key<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>true<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>both<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>provincial<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>and federal programs“.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></div>
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To view the paper online:<br />
<a href="http://www.albilad.net/pdf/i147.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.albilad.net/pdf/i147.pdf</a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.albilad.net/" rel="nofollow">http://www.albilad.net/</a><span style="color: blue;"></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-28300586471028452072014-03-23T12:35:00.000-07:002014-03-27T17:02:29.995-07:00Roma - Their Story<br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor rgb(79, 129, 189); border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 4pt;">
<div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: #17365d;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Never Come Back - by Karl Nerenberg <span style="color: windowtext;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/E26XukmkMP8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span> </div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E26XukmkMP8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E26XukmkMP8</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Never Come Back" tells the story of
the Roma (sometimes called "Gypsies") in Canada. Characters include
Tibor Lukacs, from Prague, who founded the FC-Bohemians, a "Roma"
soccer team in Canada's steel town, Hamilton; and Tamas Banya, a
singer/guitarist from Budapest. After accepting many as refugees, the Canadian
government is now rejecting most, arguing that they come from 'democratic
countries.' The film travels to the Czech Republic and Hungary where Roma
suffer discrimination and face threats of violence. Bela Radics, a Roma an who was
returned to Hungary by the Canadian government to Hungary, tells Roma still in
Canada: "Never come back!"</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span> </div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lee and Company represented Tamas Banya from Hungary and successfully helped him get his humanitarian and compassionate application approved.</span></div>
</div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-59857634411561419272014-03-23T11:50:00.000-07:002014-03-23T12:53:32.778-07:00GTEC (Greater Toronto Enforcement Centre) Interviews <br />
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<em>GTEC @ 6900 Airport Road, Toronto</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When people receive letters to attend at the GTEC (CBSA)
they panic and they think that it is over, that they will be removed
immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, you need to be assured,
that this is not necessarily the case, despite the letter generally stating
that the your Removal Order is now effective and/or<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you are removal ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are remedies available to you under
these circumstances which shall be discussed in another blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I want to discuss my experience and
give my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">two cents</i> from an Articling
Student’s perspective and how to act to avoid problems.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First of all, be calm! Nothing should happen if you remain
calm, even under the worst circumstance and even in the worst circumstance
there are remedies which can be discussed once you get back to our office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, listen to me when I am trying to tell
you to be calm. You weren’t listening to me before and now you are panicking.
Be calm. Nothing will happen if you remain calm. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When a client gets convoked to GTEC – now called EIOD or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Enforcement and Intelligence Operations
Division</i>. Why? I don’t know. I don’t know what’s so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intelligent</i> about it – they feel uneasy to say the least. The
client is unsure what will happen next: will they get yelled at profusely?
Interrogated in a dark room under bright lights <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">à la Hollywood</i>? Arrested? Deported? Will they lose the ability to
work and earn a livelihood? Will they be separated from their children? These
are legitimate concerns and are not foreign to counsel. It’s important to
always remember the first point and to be calm.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">GTEC is not a nice place. There is tension in the air.
People who are convoked for an interview at let’s say 9 am, will not get seen
until 11, if they are lucky. Sometimes, you see mothers with their strollers
and families with their impatient young children, they must wait there and gaze
at CBSA officers on the other side of a thick plexiglass window. These officers
often do not look friendly: they walk with holstered guns and bullet proof
vests towards an annoyingly loud intercom to call other worried souls to their
interviews. Upon being called, one, two, or a whole family of grim-faced people
will stand up and drag their feet to the designated interview room.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The interview rooms are not nice places. I have seen things
that are not pleasant happening there, but remember they tend to happen only if
clients do not remain calm and there is a confrontation between the client and
the CBSA officer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen interviewees
get rolled out on a stretcher by paramedics. The air has a certain noxious
smell that is difficult to describe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
haunts me long after I’ve left the building. There are usually two stools to
sit on, but in some rooms there are three. There are always big yellow plaques
on the wall warning you that everything you do and say is being recorded on
audio and video. In these interview rooms, there is another plexiglass
window/wall separating you from the officer.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I describe GTEC for a reason. I don’t blame our clients for
not wanting to be there. If I were in their shoes I would not want to be there.
Officers sometime look like they do not want to be there. But the important
thing to remember is that the Client IS there, which means that they are not
running and hiding and that is a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the first step to having an agreeable interview at GTEC, making
it clear that the client is not going to run and hide. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second most important thing is to answer questions
truthfully. Be calm, breath, take your time, and answer the questions
truthfully. First, listen to the question. Make sure you understand what the
question is, and answer it truthfully. Don’t give too many details, don’t give
an answer that is not relevant to the question. Don’t think that you can
outsmart the officer and give some weird <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">smartalicky</i>
answer. These things will not help you at all. Just be calm. Listen. Breathe.
And answer truthfully.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I insist on listening, breathing, and staying calm because
the opposite – being nervous, not breathing, getting excited, crying, not
answering, yelling – will result in the worst case scenario, which is an arrest
followed by detention. Please remember if the officer thinks you will panic and
run they can arrest you because they have the right to detain under the law if
they think you will not show up when convoked by CBSA or CIC. So always
remember my first point: be calm. Nothing will happen if you remain calm. Then
listen. Breathe. And answer truthfully.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next, remember that counsel (I) am there to help and make
sure that the officer does not ask irrelevant questions, and does not act in a
way that would lead to a breach of the law, or in general that things do not
escalate or get complicated without reason. That is all I am there for. I am
not there to answer the questions for you. I am not there to trick the officer.
I am not there to give some brilliant speech that will leave the CBSA officer
flabbergasted. None of this can happen, and even if it could happen, it would
not help. I am there to make sure nothing gets out of hand. I am there to make
sure you remember to breath, and stay calm. I might gently put my hand on your
shoulder if I notice that you are becoming agitated. I will remind the officer
that you are nervous because of the nature of the interview itself, because the
client is being interviewed by a person with authority, and no other reason.
The only time I will answer questions is if they are technical, such as when
the officers ask questions such as whether or not you “made an application for
landing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have done my job when I walk out with you from the
interview, calmly walking towards the parking lot.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Patrick Simon</span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Articling Student, 2013-2014<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-40422008403184455062014-03-13T14:20:00.000-07:002014-03-13T14:37:21.935-07:00Restoration of Status<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Restoration of
status<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every now and then we receive a panic
telephone call from a client who has forgotten or has otherwise been unable to
extend his <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>temporary resident status in
Canada [Temporary Residents are people who are in Canada as visitors, on work
permits, or study<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>permits]. Fortunately,
the law allows for Restoration of Temporary Resident status.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Relevant
Legislation<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The relevant provisions of the <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Immigration and Refugee Protection
Regulations</span> state:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Restoration
of Temporary Resident Status<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 8.4pt 0in 6pt 1in;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">182.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> On application made by a visitor, worker or student <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">within 90 days</b> after losing temporary
resident status as a result of failing to comply with a condition imposed under
paragraph 185(<i>a</i>), any of subparagraphs 185(<i>b</i>)(i) to (iii) or
paragraph 185(<i>c</i>), an officer shall restore that status if, following an
examination, it is established that the visitor, worker or student meets the
initial requirements for their stay, has not failed to comply with any other
conditions imposed and is not the subject of a declaration made under
subsection 22.1(1) of the Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SOR/2013-210,
s. 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To put it simply if you
are a Temporary Resident, and your status has expired, you have 90 days to
restore it. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our firm has challenged
the interpretation of this section early on and in a reported decision rendered
by the Honourable Justice Kelen of the Federal Court, the court states:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="loose" style="margin: 10.5pt 11.25pt 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="PNUM_10"><span class="bold1"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>10 </strong></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: PNUM_10;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Pursuant
to section 182 of the Regulations, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>an
immigration officer is required to restore an applicant’s temporary resident
status if he meets the initial requirements</u></i> for his stay and if he has
not failed to comply with any other conditions imposed. Section 179 sets out
the initial requirements for the issuance of a temporary resident visa. Among
other things, the applicant must have properly applied as either a visitor,
worker or student and it must be established by the immigration officer that
the applicant will leave Canada by the end of his authorized stay. In
determining whether an applicant will leave Canada at the end of his stay, an
officer will usually consider the applicant’s purpose for wanting to be in
Canada. This permits an officer to gauge whether it is likely that the
applicant has a temporary reason for being here, and thus, whether it is likely
that he will leave when required. [emphasis added]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Radics
v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration),</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <span style="color: black;">2004
FC 1590</span>; 262 F.T.R. 211<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The phrase “</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">an
immigration officer is required to restore an applicant’s temporary resident
status if he meets the initial requirements</span></u></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">” has been underlined for it established that the restoration
should not be some sort of extraordinary or special relief, but relatively
routine, if you have otherwise complied with the requirements of the Act. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">However, the view of CIC, as
expressed in their Manuals</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> IP 6 Processing Temporary Resident Extensions</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, which guides officers is more complicated;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.8.Restoration(Includes
instructions found in OB 130)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If a visitor, worker or student has
lost their status, they may apply to reinstate or restore their status in
accordance with R182. This regulation only applies if the temporary resident
has not been out of status for more than 90 days, and they have not failed to
comply with the specified conditions. If an applicant applies to renew their visitor
status, or their work or study permit after their temporary resident status has
expired, but within the 90-day restoration period, CPC -Vegreville will <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>inform them that they must <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>also apply for restoration of their status, if
they have not already done so.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The applicant will then have 90 days
from the date of notification to submit their restoration application and the
corresponding fee, which is presently $200 [R306]. Restoration of status cannot
be granted at the POE. Individuals who have failed to comply with the conditions
imposed under R185 need to apply in Canada for restoration of their status. If
they leave Canada, they will be deemed to be seeking a new entry on their
return.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The phrase “initial requirements for
their stay” should not be read too literally when it is being <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">applied in the context of a
restoration application, and the requirements of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>R179 should not be applied rigidly in that
regard. The preferred interpretation in this context would be that the person
seeking restoration must meet the requirements of the class under which they
are currently applying to be restored as a temporary resident. The desired
approach to the restoration provision of R182 is to be facilitative and
consistent with the current approach to extension applications of the provision
in R181, since the two provisions are similar in nature and R181actually refers
specifically to the requirements of R179.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Three possible scenarios which fall
under the purview of restoration of status can be described as <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">follows:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A foreign student who is still in
status can apply in Canada for a work permit under certain conditions. By
inference, the foreign student can apply for a work permit when restoring status.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A temporary foreign worker who is
still in status can apply in Canada for a study permit if they meet certain
conditions. By inference, they can also apply for a study permit when restoring
status. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A temporary resident who is eligible
to apply in Canada for a work or study permit would be allowed to do so when
restoring their status. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clearly, while
restorations are available to Temporary Residents, seeking counsel is always prudent. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">www.leecompany.ca</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-4781740009028721152014-03-05T12:53:00.000-08:002014-03-11T10:44:03.601-07:00Losing Permanent Resident Status<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When does a Permanent Resident Cease to be a Permanent Resident?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Often, people confuse not having a Permanent Residence Card with no longer being a permanent resident of Canada. Not having a Permanent Resident Card does not mean you are no longer a permanent resident.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Currently, section 46 of the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act</i> (IRPA) lists 4 ways for a person to lose permanent resident status.</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>46. (1)</b> A person loses permanent resident status</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>(a)</b> when they become a Canadian citizen;</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>(b)</b> on a final determination of a decision made outside of Canada that they have failed to comply with the residency obligation under section 28;</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>(c)</b> when a removal order made against them comes into force;</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>(d) (c.1)</b> on a final determination under subsection 108(2) that their refugee protection has ceased for any of the reasons described in paragraphs 108(1)(a) to (d); or</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>(e)</b> on a final determination under section 109 to vacate a decision to allow their claim for refugee protection or a final determination to vacate a decision to allow their application for protection.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>So what does this mean for most permanent residents of Canada?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>s.46 (1) (a)</b> is clear, when you become a Canadian citizen you cease to be a permanent resident. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>s.46 (1)(b)</b> may seem less clear, but it simply means, that if you are outside of Canada and you apply for a Permanent Resident Travel document (a document issued to permanent residents who are outside of Canada without PR cards) and it is refused, and you do not appeal the decision; or you appeal but the appeal is not allowed, you cease to be a permanent resident (final determination).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For Permanent Residents who are in Canada, <b>46(1)(c)</b> applies. The process for losing status is more complicated, and it does not mean that a permanent resident card is not issued, while during the application for a new card, your compliance with your residency obligations under S. 28 of the Act will be examined, they still must issue you a PR card until a removal order made against you comes into force. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>How does a Removal Order come into force under these circumstances? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, first a Report must be written against you, usually either at the port of entry or as a result of your application to renew the PR card. Then this Report gets forwarded for a Minister’s Delegate to review for a hearing, then at a hearing a Removal Order gets issued. Now if you do not appeal, within the period prescribed by law, the Removal order comes into force, and you cease to be a permanent resident. However, if you appeal then you only cease to be a permanent resident, when and if, you lose the appeal. Of course, it has to be understood that winning the appeal is NOT easy, but you have to know that they can be won, particularly if you have good counsel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another issue that comes up in relation to the loss of permanent resident status is the issue of relinquishment/renouncement of permanent resident status. To be quite blunt, while this is accepted by Canada Immigration authorities, there is no such provision in Canadian law at present. How one complies or fails to comply (and therefore may lose) the permanent resident status is clearly prescribed in s. 28 of the IRPA; renouncement is not one of them. What we have seen is that Visa Posts have clients sign statements that they are relinquishing their status, and then make “decisions” that they are no longer permanent residents and advise the clients of their appeal rights, once the time period for filing has expired, immigration state that the clients are no longer permanent residents. To say the least this practise is dubious, and we have found solutions even in these scenarios where the clients have sought to regain their PR status. There is however proposed legislation to allow for renouncement. The proposed legislation reads:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>46(1)(e)</b> on approval by officer of their application to renounce their permanent resident status;</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>46(1.1)</b> Effect of renunciation – A person who loses their permanent resident status under paragraph (1)(e) becomes a temporary resident for a period of six months unless they make their application to renounce their permanent resident status at a port of entry or are not physically present in Canada on the day on which their application is approved.</span></blockquote>
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Lee and Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01367853532585114856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426401639847046946.post-86566698463357139572014-02-24T14:39:00.001-08:002014-03-11T10:44:19.946-07:00Marriage of Convenience<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A recent article in the Toronto Star, confirms much of what we have come to know as the truth over many years of practice. The article reports on the study by McMaster University professor <a href="http://www.sociology.mcmaster.ca/people/satzewic">Vic Satzewich</a> on how marriages are assessed by immigration officers. <br /><br />(<a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2014/02/01/a_rare_look_inside_the_black_box_of_canada_immigration.html">www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2014/02/01/a_rare_look_inside_the_black_box_of_canada_immigration.html</a>). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Immigration officers reviewing spousal applications look for what they see as red flags; differences in age, social class, education, ethnicity and any pattern in courtship, which they see as non-conforming to the particularly social norm. They think that this is how they catch marriages of convenience. Admittedly, this is sometimes true. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true, there are fraudsters around the world, which make it their business to manufacture marriages, they provide everything from the spouse, to the ceremonies, to cards and pictures and even guests. We have seen a case, where they even manufactured a wife (the woman did not even exist !), the fraudsters created fake documentation for an non-existing Canadian woman. Therefore, many cases of such marriages of convenience pass without an interview being convoked because they FIT the profile the visa officers expect to see in these applications, and the prospective immigrants are never tested. However, what often happens is that once the officers have seen the same wedding party guest for the 100th time, the bells go off and the fraud is detected. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the other hand, real marriages are seldom quite as cookie cutter as an officer may expect them to be, particularly in a country as culturally diverse as ours and where social divisions are not what they used to be. It is not unusual for first generation immigrants to end up in genuine relationships with people from other cultures, where couple’s only shared language may be English. Age differences may be larger than expected, but as the old adage goes: "love knows no bounds". So how do such seemingly "imperfect" relationships make it through? The answer is simple. Preparation. Counsel must anticipate the areas of concerns which may be raised by a visa officer and prepare the clients for a tough interview. It is not unusual that even genuine marriages are routinely refused by visa officers, however, if the relationship is genuine and logical and reasonable explanations are provided for any potential issue that may be red flagged by immigration, couples will save themselves much angst and frustration of going through the lengthy appeals process, so they can look forward to starting their married lives together, sooner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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