This is a follow-up to our February session.

What You Will Learn

• The End of the FGL: Analyzing the impact of Bjorkquist v. Canada and the transition away from the “two-tier” citizenship scheme.
• The “Substantial Connection” Test: Mastering the 1,095-day physical presence requirement for parents born abroad.
• Retroactivity & Reinstatement: Distinguishing between automatic citizenship for those born before December 15, 2025, and prospective rules for those born after.
• International Adoptions: Navigating the new pathways and connection tests for non-biological lineages.
• Filing Strategies: Practical advice for updated IRCC forms and managing files previously caught in the interim measures.

This webinar is designed for immigration lawyers who need to master the latest policy shifts to provide high-level strategic counsel. We will dive deep into the U.S. EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA), specifically focusing on why the September 30, 2026, grandfathering deadline is a non-negotiable date for your clients. We will also analyze Canada’s “sustainable growth” targets and the new priority sectors—including AI and Health Tech—that are now the primary pathways for corporate and entrepreneurial moves.

What You Will Learn

• The EB-5 “Golden Window”: Why filing I-526E petitions before September 30, 2026, is essential to lock in grandfathering protections and current investment thresholds ($800k/$1.05M).
• EB-5 Set-Asides & Speed: How to leverage Rural and High Unemployment Area set-asides to “skip the line” for clients from backlogged countries like China and India.
• Canada’s Post-SUV Landscape: Navigating the transition from the old Start-Up Visa to the new 2026 Entrepreneur Pilot and the 50% reduction in federal business spots.
• Sector-Specific Prioritization: Identifying how Canada’s focus on STEM, Healthcare, and Skilled Trades impacts ICT (Intra-Company Transferees) and C11 work permit strategies.
• Cross-Border Troubleshooting: Practical tactics for managing clients who are hedging their bets between Canadian permanent residency and U.S. investor visas in a high-scrutiny environment.

The purpose of this presentation is to provide some insight into litigating immigration and refugee law at the Federal Court in 2026.

The presenters will discuss several important steps in the litigation process at the Federal Court, providing both substantive legal developments from caselaw and policy for each of these steps. Following that, we will provide tips for litigating at the Court.

Generally, each tip derives from and is meant to further three principles of litigating: (1) make the judge’s life easy; (2) start from first principles; and (3) maintaining an ethical reputation.

Join us for an intensive, high-impact webinar designed to give you a comprehensive roadmap through the RAD process. We aren’t just reviewing the law; we are providing the practical tools you need to build a winning appeal.

What You Will Learn:

• The Framework: Understanding the specific role of the RAD and the standard of review.
• The Paperwork: Exactly what must be included in your Appeal Record to avoid rejection.
• The Strategy: How to draft a Memorandum of Fact and Law that is persuasive, concise, and legally sound.
• The Evidence: Navigating the strict “New Evidence” rules—knowing when and how to introduce fresh material effectively.
• The Procedure: Calculating complex deadlines with precision and mastering motions, including applications for extensions of time.
• The Oral Hearing: Understanding when the RAD has the power to grant a hearing and how to advocate for one.

What You Will Learn:

• The End of the First-Generation Limit (FGL): A detailed breakdown of the 2023 Ontario Superior Court ruling in Bjorkquist et al. v. Attorney General of Canada and how Bill C-3 fully remedies the unconstitutional “two-tier” citizenship scheme.
• The “Substantial Connection” Test: Mastering the new requirement for parents born abroad. Learn how to calculate and document the 1,095 days of physical presence required prior to a child’s birth or adoption to ensure citizenship transmission.
• Retroactive Reinstatement vs. Prospective Rules: Identifying clients born before December 15, 2025, who may now be automatic citizens, versus the specific criteria for those born after the law’s commencement.
• The Impact on International Adoptions: Understanding the new pathways for children adopted abroad by Canadian parents and how the connection test applies to non-biological lineages.
• Practical Filing Strategies: Navigating the updated IRCC application forms for Proof of Citizenship (Certificates) and managing files previously submitted under interim measures.

This was a discussion with Sabino Dipaola (CPA, CA), Cédric Marin, Ravi Jain and Grace Allen about arriving at the decision to hang out a shingle, the bumps along the road, and the things we wish we knew before we started our own Canadian immigration law firms.

Discussion Topics:
Bottom line: is it the right business decision?
Things to consider re: Admin (Accounting? Succession Plan? Whether or not to invest in software? Advertising?)
HR: how to know when/whether to bring on staff or to stay small? How to know who to hire?
Any regrets?

This webinar is the fourth in CILA’s new six-part CLE series, “The ABC’s of Representing Refugees”. We will review the law on assessment of credibility and evaluation of documents at the Refugee Protection Division (RPD)—crucial information for effective representation of refugee clients.



What You’ll Learn:

How the RPD assesses credibility in the refugee context;
How the RPD evaluates documents from overseas;
How to ensure your client’s testimony is fairly assessed by the RPD;
How to ensure your client’s corroborative documentation is accepted as trustworthy;
How and when to make objections and interventions during an RPD hearing;
How to make effective oral submissions on credibility issues.

This session will explore the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in Western Canada and discuss the best practices for navigating these pathways.

In this session, you’ll gain insights into the key elements of PNP programs in Western Canada, including:

• Pathways for BC, AB, SK, and MB: An overview of the specific PNP options for British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, including key eligibility requirements.
• Best Practices for Preparing PNP Applications: Practical examples and tips for preparing successful PNP applications for each province.
• Common Misconceptions About PNP Programs: A discussion of some of the common myths and misunderstandings surrounding PNPs in Western Canada.
• Managing Client Expectations: How to manage client expectations when applying for PNP programs or switching between programs in different provinces.
• Post-Nomination Considerations: What to do if your client informs you that they plan to move to another province after receiving their nomination, and more.

In this session, you will get an overview of the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), including when you will need to apply for an ETIAS, how the new system will work and considerations before you travel.

Learn about the key tax issues and considerations that immigrants face when settling in Canada, as well as best practices for providing guidance to clients on how to manage their tax responsibilities.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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.