Posts by Michael Niren

When you are notified by Citizenship and Immigration Canada that your immigration application, whatever type of application it was, has been denied – it can come as a huge shock. It is especially disheartening if you have waited years for your application for immigration to Canada to be processed – as many do – only […]

A permanent resident card, or PR card, is also known as a Canadian green card. It is very similar to the United States green card, which is why it is referred to as such. It will allow someone to live and work in Canada as long as they make sure they maintain their permanent resident […]

The Toronto Star published an article about several couples in Canada who have found a way to circumvent all of the red tape involved with the live-in caregiver program.  The live-in caregiver program offers nannies who come to Canada the chance to apply for permanent residence after being a caregiver for two years. However, many new […]

Being denied entry to Canada is no laughing matter. It can be embarrassing, and all of the plans you had in Canada – whether you were visiting family, going on a nice vacation or attending an important meeting – will be effectively cancelled and you have to turn around and go back where you came […]

Can a Canadian work in the United States? The answer is, yes! However, like every foreign national who wishes to work in the United States, they do require a work visa. But Canadians are usually luckier than other foreign nationals because there are more opportunities for them to obtain a work visa for the United […]

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 […]