Posts by Michael Niren

Below is an interesting guest post about Work Permit Applications, written by my colleague Jeff Jiehui Li who actually used to work for me a few years back. Jeff now has is own practice where he assists clients in family, tax, litigation and immigration law. Thank you Jeff for your contribution! __________________ I have recently encountered a […]

Many people who want to visit Canada are often surprised to learn that one can be denied entry to Canada because of something like a criminal record, even for a non-violent crime. If you have a criminal record for a crime like a DUI or a criminal record from decades ago, you could still be […]

We have mentioned Bill C-43– the Faster Removal of Criminals Act – which would result in the deportation of permanent residents from Canada for minor offences. The Bill, which passed its second reading in Parliament earlier this week, would also allow Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney more authority when it comes to who […]

Do you need to renew your permanent resident status in Canada? The answer is, yes if you want to travel. Although what you will really be doing is renewing your permanent resident card, which expires every five years.  Renewing your permanent resident card in Canada means that you must make an application as well as […]

Don’t get me wrong. I like what I do. Helping individuals, families and companies with their cross border needs is very rewarding and challenging. And I am proud of our track record and hope to continue doing what I do best for the forseeable future. But the truth is that I wish it all weren’t necessary. […]

To determine if you are a foreign national of a country whose citizens require a visitor visa (also called a tourist visa or a temporary resident visa) to travel to Canada, please see this list. As you can see, there are many countries whose citizens are required to obtain a visa to come to Canada, […]

A new study conducted by researches at several prominent Canadian universities (including the University of Toronto, McGill University and the University of Western Ontario), second-generation immigrants in developed countries like Canada, the United States and Australia tend to be more successful with respect to wage earning than the “mainstream” population. According to the report, “In […]

If you have a permanent resident card in Canada, you should know that it needs to be renewed every five years. There is an expiry date on the card, and we recommend applying to renew your permanent resident card (PR card) about three months before it is due to expire whenever possible.  In order to […]

Canada doesn’t really have a “green card” per se, but our “Canada Green Card” is similar to a Canadian permanent resident card or permanent resident status. Like a United States green card holder, a permanent resident of Canada is someone who is foreign born and has immigrated to Canada but is not yet a Canadian citizen. The […]

Did you know that if you are a United States citizen or green card holder (lawful permanent resident of the United States), they can sponsor you or their other family members to the US? Spousal Sponsorship in the USA To sponsor someone to the United States, the sponsor must be either a United States citizen […]

Finding a good immigration lawyer is tough. While we are definitely out there, so are immigration lawyers that are not-so-great. When looking for an immigration lawyer in Toronto to help you with all of your immigration needs, you need to do your research and ensure you ask all of the right questions. We’ve put together […]

If you are a Canadian permanent resident, you should be holding a valid permanent resident card. As of 2002, permanent residents who land in Canada receive their permanent resident card (also called a PR card) automatically. If you landed in Canada prior to this time, you have to apply for one on your own. To […]

Many Canadians love to visit the United States every year to shop, vacation or visit family and friends. Canada’s relationship with the United States is a positive one, so most Canadians only need to flash their valid passport before they are allowed on in to the United States of America. But are there circumstances where […]

A work permit is a special document that allows a foreign national to work in Canada on a temporary basis. There are different types of work permits, and each of these types of work permits may have a different length of validity which eventually expires. Here is what to do if your Canadian work permit […]

The Provincial Nominee Program in Ontario is a way that Ontario employers can bring the workers they need to Ontario by nominating someone and their family for permanent residence in Canada by offering a them a pre-approved job offer. The employers are essentially applying for the approval of bringing foreign nationals to Ontario or work, […]