CILA Webinar Recordings

Drafting Refugee BOC Narratives (June 2025)
CA$50

This webinar is the third installment in CILA’s six-part CLE series, “The ABC’s of Representing Refugees.”

 

This essential session is designed to provide immigration and refugee lawyers with practical tips and strategies for preparing Basis of Claim (BOC) narratives for refugee clients.

 

This session covers key topics related to the preparation and use of BOC narratives, including:

  • The role of the BOC narrative in refugee claims
  • RPD rules regarding BOC filing and requests for extensions
  • How RPD members assess BOC narratives
  • Techniques for obtaining complete and accurate client information
  • What to include in the narrative
  • How and when to make amendments to the BOC
  • How to address client-generated narratives and the use of AI
  • Key case law regarding omissions from the BOC narrative
Canadian Immigration Customs & Relocation Issues (June 2025)
CA$50

Featuring expert panelists from CBSA and Houston Murphy Relocation Inc. This session will cover critical issues related to bringing personal belongings and commercial goods into Canada. Topics include: • Key steps for foreign workers and students before arriving in Canada with personal belongings • What happens when foreign workers or students transition from temporary status to Permanent Resident (PR) while still having goods to follow • Pre-arrival considerations for foreign nationals approved for PR and their goods upon landing • Customs declaration for re-entry after traveling outside Canada for foreign workers and students • How personal belongings are treated when a spouse enters as a visitor and later becomes a PR • Importing motor vehicles: Special considerations to know • Key steps for foreign workers bringing commercial goods into Canada, including necessary paperwork and whether a commercial broker is needed • What to know about traveling with pets and importing them into Canada

Considerations: Practising U.S. Imm Law in Canada (May 2025)
CA$50

With large numbers of Canadian immigration lawyers offering U.S. immigration services, concerns regarding the ethics and oversight of foreign licensed attorneys and the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) are important considerations. This discussion aims to address the legal, ethical, and regulatory challenges and considerations surrounding UPL, the obligations of foreign-licensed attorneys in Canada, and the impact of non-compliance on clients. Attendees will gain insight into existing regulations, the role of Canadian law societies in enforcement, and best practices for ensuring compliance.

Global Residence & Citizenship Solutions (May 2025)
CA$50

Learn how you can enhance your immigration practice with global residence and citizenship solutions. Discover how Henley & Partners' Introducer Program can create additional revenue streams for your practice and offer valuable alternatives for clients who may not qualify for Canadian immigration.

The AI Toolbox (Apr. 2025)
CA$50

Gain insights into how AI-powered tools like OpenAI Plus, Claude, Microsoft Co-Pilot, and Grok 3 can enhance research efficiency, assist in structured legal drafting, and streamline content creation. Whether you are looking to optimize workflows or explore AI’s evolving capabilities, this session will provide actionable techniques and real-world applications.

Canadian Citizenship by Descent (Apr. 2025)
CA$50

Canada’s current first-generation limit denies citizenship rights to children born abroad to Canadian citizens who were also born outside Canada. Bill C-71: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2024) arose from a constitutional challenge at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, which declared in December 2023 that the first-generation limit for those born abroad is unconstitutional. In this session, our panel of seasoned professionals will provide their perspectives and insights into these proposed changes and discuss: • Backgrounder on the Citizenship Act and impacts on the first-generation limit • Constitutional challenge in Bjorkquist and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision and ongoing litigation • What is Bill C-71 and its proposed amendments to the Citizenship Act • How will these changes impact Canadians and their families? • Parliament prorogued and possibly will be dissolved for an election and what it means for citizenship reforms.

Understanding the Convention Refugee Definition (Apr. 2025)
CA$50

This webinar is the second installment in CILA’s six-part CLE series, “The ABC’s of Representing Refugees.”

 

Based on the UNHCR Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status, this session will provide an in-depth understanding of the Convention refugee definition and its application in Canada.

Lawyers’ Responsibilities vis‐à‐vis Bad Actors (Mar. 2025)
CA$50

Navigating the world of immigration involves multiple key players, including lawyers, consultants, recruiters, employers, government officers, and educational institutions. Unfortunately, some individuals in these roles engage in unethical or incompetent practices that harm clients and undermine Canada’s immigration system. This informative webinar will help you identify these “bad actors” and understand how their actions can affect both clients and the integrity of the immigration process. You’ll also learn strategies for combatting unethical behaviour while staying true to your professional responsibilities, including upholding solicitor-client privilege and protecting your clients’ interests.

Heading East: Atlantic Immigration Programs (Feb. 2025)
CA$50

Join our esteemed panel, featuring Sara Espinal Henao, Janet Thompson-Price, Meghan Felt, and Grace Allen as they share their knowledge and experiences. In this session, you’ll gain an understanding of key immigration pathways to Atlantic Canada, including: • AIP (Atlantic Immigration Program) • NS PNP (Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program) • NB PNP (New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program) • PEI PNP (Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program) • NFLD PNP (Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program) Our experts provide practical insights on when and why you might recommend clients explore opportunities in these regions.

Navigating the Maze: C10/C11/C12 Work Permits (Jan. 2025)
CA$50

Navigating the Maze: Practical Tips & Strategies for C10/C11/C12 Work Permits, Sponsored by Visa Business Plans Canada This practical CLE session is designed to empower you with actionable strategies for handling C10, C11, and C12 work permits. You’ll discover how to: • Enhance Your Submission Letters: Craft strong “significant benefit” arguments tailored to each work permit category. • Assess Client Needs: Effectively evaluate clients for different categories (C10, C11, C12) and understand their unique requirements. • Structure Business Plans: Learn best practices for creating business plans that meet immigration standards, presented by Visa Business Plans Canada. • Develop Pathways to PR: Implement effective strategies to guide your clients’ journey toward permanent residence through temporary business immigration. • Handle Refusals and Litigation: Gain insights into managing refusals, settlement negotiations, and litigation effectively. This session will also feature a 25-minute presentation by our sponsor, Visa Business Plans Canada, focusing on how to craft an effective business plan tailored to immigration requirements. Join our expert panel for invaluable insights and techniques to confidently navigate these complex routes and achieve the best outcomes for your clients. At Visa Business Plans Canada, we recognize that every business plan is unique, reflecting the individual approach of each attorney. We work closely with immigration lawyers and their clients to craft customized, professional business plans tailored to specific needs. Our comprehensive plans include market analysis, competition insights, trends, and marketing strategies. As leaders in immigration business plan writing, we boast extensive experience across various visa types and industries, from hospitality to import/export and oil. Our clients trust us for accurate, timely results, backed by the support of hundreds of immigration professionals. Your satisfaction is our top priority.

Trauma-Informed Client Service in Refugee Law (Dec. 2024)
CA$50

This webinar is the first installment in CILA’s six-part CLE series, “The ABC’s of Representing Refugees.”

 

Join our esteemed panel, featuring Dr. Lisa Andermann (trauma expert), Norma Hannant (social worker), Pia Zambelli (refugee lawyer), and Preevanda Sapru (refugee lawyer), as they share their knowledge and experiences. This workshop presents the opportunity to learn how trauma impacts your clients and how to adapt your legal practice to provide compassionate and effective advocacy. Equip yourself with essential knowledge to support vulnerable clients and improve outcomes in your cases. This webinar is the first in CILA’s new six-part CLE series, “The ABC’s of Representing Refugees.”

AI 101 for Immigration Lawyers (Dec. 2024)
CA$50

Sponsored by Mitratech INSZoom, our presentersJoshua Schachnow, Parush Mann, Andra Dumitrescu, and Mark Holthe share their knowledge and experiences with AI in legal practice. This practical CLE session will cover the essentials of AI and its implications for immigration law. You’ll gain insights into: -Basics of AI: Understand the fundamentals and its impact on the legal industry. -Advantages and Challenges: Explore the key benefits and hurdles of integrating AI into your practice. -Current Regulations: Get up to date on regulations, best practices, and law society guidelines affecting AI use. -Practical AI Tools: Discover how to effectively leverage tools like ChatGPT and more for your legal work. -Terms of Use & Privacy Policies: Learn to navigate AI tool terms to make informed decisions. -Future of AI in Law: Gain insights into the evolving role of AI in the legal profession.

Business Immigration: Popular Options (Oct. 2024)
CA$50

Join Presenters Siavash Shekarian and Howard Greenberg for a comprehensive overview of the most prominent federal (e.g., Start-up Visa), PNP, and WP streams for entrepreneurs. The session will delve into the pros and cons of each stream, what to be mindful of, tips to prepare strong applications, and more.

Mastering Study Permits (Oct. 2024)
CA$50

Presented by esteemed immigration lawyers Will Tao and Laura Schemitsch. Join Will and Laura for an in-depth discussion and practical workshop on successfully filing Study Permits!

Avoiding Lawsuits Through Best Practices (Oct. 2024)
CA$50

Presented by esteemed lawyers Marina Sedai, Eoin Logan, Abhinav Sharma, and Karina Mateo-Sanchez! Topics Covered: -Pitfalls that can lead to a lawsuit and how to avoid them -What constitutes a negligence lawsuit and its application in immigration law -How to prevent legal issues and maintain regulatory compliance -Best practices from experienced immigration practitioners -How technology can support best practices -Practical steps to help your office stay compliant

Master Canadian Immigration ATIP Requests (Sep. 2024)
CA$50

Mastering Canadian Immigration ATIP Requests presented by esteemed immigration lawyer Andrew Koltun and moderated by renowned expert Lou Janssen Dangzalan. Join two highly respected immigration lawyers from the Canadian Immigration Bar for an in-depth discussion and practical workshop on successfully filing ATIPs and more.

Family Sponsorships: How-To Workshop (June 2024)
CA$50

Purchase the workshop "Family Sponsorships: How-To", presented by Adrienne Smith and Aryana Rousseau. Join two highly respected immigration lawyers of the Canadian Immigration Bar for an informative workshop on tips for filing a family sponsorship applications under the categories of spouse (FC1), common-law partner (FCC), and conjugal partner (FCE).

Canada's latest visa requirements for Mexicans (May 2024)
CA$50

The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) and Barra Mexicana Colegio de Abogados (BMA) are pleased to co-host a special webinar on Canada's latest visa requirements for Mexican nationals. Join Alejandra García (Presenter) and her colleague CILA Co-President Vance Langford (Moderator), as they answer your questions and discuss: -History of Canada’s visa requirements for Mexicans -Canada’s travel requirements for Mexican citizens who hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa or have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years -Canada’s travel requirements for Mexican citizens who do not meet these conditions -How Mexican citizens can obtain a Canadian electronic travel authorization (eTA) -Brief overview of the application process for Mexican citizens seeking a Canadian work or study permit -How Mexican and Canadian immigration lawyers can support their Mexican clients in obtaining visas to Canada

Canadian Immigration + AI (April 2024)
CA$50

Join us for an exciting workshop about artificial intelligence (AI) to learn more about what AI is and how it is being used in the practice of law, presented by Josh Schachnow. This presentation will explain various applications for AI in a law firm and specifically how immigration lawyers can make the most of AI in their immigration practices in 2024 and beyond. Josh will demonstrate with examples what AI is, the risks and benefits it poses in a law firm setting, specific types of use and tools to consider for improving your sales/marketing, operations, customer service, and more. We hope, by the end of the presentation, you won’t be afraid of AI but instead ready to embrace it, to assist you with everyday tasks, saving you time and money.

C-20 Work Permits (March 2024)
CA$50

Purchase "All Things Reciprocal: C-20 Work Permits", presented by Kevin Zemp and Peter Rekai. Join two of the most respected business immigration lawyers in the Canadian Immigration Bar for an in-depth discussion of a variety of scenarios where C-20 might be applicable, the criteria and various interpretations by different decision makers (GSS, POE, IMWU and visa offices), strategies for when to deploy and typical evidence to submit.

How-to H&C Workshop (Feb. 2024)
CA$50

Access the how-to workshop on preparing Humanitarian and Compassionate Applications, presented by Ronalee Carey. Geared towards junior lawyers, this workshop will cover practical questions such as when to consider an expert opinion, how best to present the facts including immigration history, and how to structure fees for H&C cases. Handouts will include precedents as well as Ronalee’s own case law bank.

Protecting “Lost Canadians”: Bjorkquist Case (Feb. 2024)
CA$50

Protecting “Lost Canadians”: the Bjorkquist et al. case, presented by Sujit Choudhry and moderated by Naseem Mithoowani. CILA’s featured presentation series is an opportunity for both CILA members and non-members alike to benefit from topical presentations on current issues in the Canadian immigration domain.

Golden Age of Francophone Immigration in Canada (Jan. 2024)
CA$50
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