How did you become proficient in immigration law?

 

First, I had to work on my own immigration application. I served as corporate counsel at two of Canada’s largest immigration service providers: Golden Group and WWICS. I studied an immigration consultant diploma, and before being a lawyer in Canada, I became a regulated immigration consultant. Being an immigration consultant helped me to pay for my law school expenses and gain significant experience in Canadian immigration matters.

Canada was a fresh start for me. I had to study law again and it took six years to get back to the field.

In Canada, immigration law is not a mandatory course in law school, therefore it is like a self-studied field of law. My immigration consultant diploma was an intensive six-month program. This is the reason I am proficient in Canada immigration law.

 

In the past, you have said that the most important thing for newly arrived immigrants to focus on is becoming part of a community. Can you expand on this?

 

Adaptability is one the main factors for successful immigration. Adaptability, by definition, means one’s ability to change, or be changed, to fit different circumstances. For the purposes of immigration, adaptability is the immigrant’s ability to adjust to life and prosper in their new home. Social integration is the process during which newcomers are incorporated into the social structure of the host society – in our case, Canada. The good thing about Canada is the country has a very clear road map for all new immigrants. As I did, newcomers must simply follow it.

Integrating is the most important step of the whole immigration process. For example, I learned the Canadian culture by going to language schools and universities. I spent almost five years on my Canadian education. As an immigration lawyer, I always guide my clients on how to become a part of the community in Canada.

What developments are you currently observing in the immigration space? What trends do you expect to see in the coming years?

 

Although the government of Canada is planning to receive around 1.5 million immigrants before the year 2025, the figure is less than 1000 people annually under business immigration systems such as the self-employed or start-up visa programs. In this context, Canada’s immigration policy has been heading south since 2014. While I am not against refugee, I do not understand why the government of Canada prefers to receive refugee claimants rather than entrepreneurs and investors.

 

Some of my current concerns are:

Is there a particular piece of advice that you would give to a less experienced immigration lawyer looking to emulate your success?

 

The opportunities for talented immigration lawyers in Canada will be both endless and demanding. Skilled practitioners know that immigration law is more than filling out forms. In fact, good service requires imagination, attention to detail and ‘soft skills’ that can help clients as they navigate the immigration process and begin to call Canada home.

Immigration practitioners are integral to the support that new economic immigrants need. Business and enterprise immigrants to Canada understand the significance of the opportunity to establish roots here, and this is where soft skills can combine with strong practice skills and knowledge to make a big difference for clients and their businesses.

What, then, is the extra dimension that good immigration lawyers can bring to the table to help them stand out in an area of specialty where there is both lots of demand and lots of competition? Here are a few ideas: