Posts by Michael Niren

Appealing a Refused Sponsorship Application Unfortunately, the people processing your application to sponsor a close family member for entry into Canada are not infallible. Mistakes do happen, which is why the appeals process exists. There are many variables to consider when applying to sponsor somebody, many of which are out of your control. For example, the […]

Recently Emma Hughes became the first successful Express Entry candidate to achieve Canadian permanent residence under the new express entry system, having first applied just over two months ago. Originally from Ireland, Hughes was quick to complete her Express Entry profile within just days of the system’s January 1 launch, where she scored 1094 points via the Comprehensive Ranking […]

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) now referred to as the USMCA, established the TN Visa to allow authorized Canadian and Mexican nationals to work temporarily in the United States. The goal was to improve commercial and trade relationships between the US, Canada, and Mexico. These citizens have the option of applying for one […]

E2 Investment Visas Investing in a foreign country is always a risky proposition, even if that country is a bastion of capitalism like the United States. Gaining entry into the United States for the purposes of business creation and investment falls under the E2 visa. The E2 is called the treaty investor visa, which shouldn’t be confused […]

Moving to Canada and starting a whole new life can be an exciting opportunity, but at VisaPlace, we know there are also plenty of challenges involved. Many of our clients come to us with questions about what to expect when moving to Canada, in terms of culture, Canadian laws and how to interact with their new […]

Before the new Express Entry system came into effect, we could only predict how much it would affect Canadian immigration. However, four months in, it’s safe to say that Express Entry has revolutionized immigration in Canada for the better. Thousands of candidates have already received invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence. If you’re interested in applying for Express Entry, […]

Hello, this is Michael Niren, immigration lawyer and founder of VisaPlace.com. I’m proud to announce that we have been awarded one of the three best rated immigration law firms in Toronto by ThreeBestRated.ca, which is an online review company that looks at reviews, customer satisfaction rates, and other metrics to determine whether or not a […]

(Below is a transcription of this video) So we were asked, “What happens if my visa application is refused?” Hi, this is Michael Niren, an immigration lawyer and a founder of VisaPlace.com. This is a very common question. We get asked this question a lot, and I can answer it this way. If your application […]

(Below is a transcription of this video) Hi, this is Michael Niren, immigration lawyer and founder of visaplace.com. A lot has been discussed about immigration lately, during the election in the media, and most of it has been generally negative. Candidates have been calling to build a fence, immigrants have blamed for virtually everything, including […]

Bureaucracy works best when it melts into the background, remaining an undetected process that takes place behind the scenes to take care of the paperwork and processing of documentation. When bureaucracy fails to do its job, it sticks out like a sore thumb, becoming a source of contention.   Recently, newcomers to this country dealing […]

Visas For Cross Border Consultants Due to policies that attempt to make sure that Americans have the first shot at any domestic job opportunities, obtaining a visa to live and work in the United States can be nearly impossible unless you meet a specific set of criteria. Typically, the U.S. only grants working visas for […]

Are you interested in investing in the U.S.? If you meet the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’s requirements for the E2 Visa, which include investing for the purpose of establishing a new business or purchasing a business that already exists, you may be able to. Since, in either case, your investment must be considered […]

If it’s always been your dream to immigrate to the United States, an EB-5 immigrant investor visa could be your perfect opportunity – provided you follow all the necessary requirements. Background of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa The EB-5 immigrant investor visa was created by Congress to make investing in the US an attractive prospect for potential immigrants, while […]

In a split decision, the Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that Canadians living abroad for more than five years do not have a right to vote in federal elections. The amendment to the Canada Elections Act allowing the disenfranchisement of expats was brought into effect in 1993 but up until 2007, Elections Canada considered […]

Sponsorship Appeal Timelines If you get a negative result after you attempted to sponsor a family member, you have 30 days to launch an appeal of the process. When you receive a date for your appeal, you have to submit all the necessary documentation no later than 20 days before the hearing. The Minister’s counsel […]