The Pace Immigration Podcast

How can you sponsor your foreign spouse to get a green card and US citizenship? Immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke gives an overview of the spousal sponsorship rules and how long the process takes.

The government of Canada has announced new measures to attract high tech workers. Immigration lawyer Andy Semotiuk provides the highlights.
1. Streamline Canadian Work Permits For H-1B Visa Holders
Starting from July 16, 2023, U.S.-based H-1B workers and their immediate family members will be able to apply for open Canadian work permits of up to three years, enabling them to explore employment opportunities with almost any Canadian employer.
2. Innovation Stream Under The International Mobility Program
- Canada plans to launch the Innovation Stream by the end of 2023
- will exempt highly skilled workers from the labor market impact assessment (LMIA) process (similar to PERM labor certifications in the US)
- streamlines the hiring process for high-growth employers
3. Promote Canada As A Destination For Digital Nomads
- digital nomads currently need only visitor status to relocate to Canada for up to six months while they perform their job remotely for a foreign company
- additional policies to attract digital nomads to Canada are being considered, including paths to temporary and permanent residency
4. Strengthen Existing Programs For High-Skilled Tech Workers
Global Talent Stream: two-week standard for processing labour market impact assessments for employers, two-week standard for work permit applications
Start-Up Visa: allow applicants to apply for an open work permit of up to three years, rather than a one-year work permit that limits them to work solely for their own start-up.
https://pacelawfirm.com/immigration/

Canada has announced a new immigration stream for health care workers which can lead to permanent residency in Canada. Immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke provides the highlights:
- part of the Express Entry program
- by July 5, 2023, 2,000 health-care workers will have received invitations to apply for permanent residency in Canada
- more invitations in the coming months
- includes foreign doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, optometrists and more
https://pacelawfirm.com/immigration/

Immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke explains how Australians between the ages of 18 and 35 can work and travel in Canada through the International Experience Canada program.
3 different kinds of work and travel experiences are available:
- Working holiday
- Young professionals
- Int’l Co-Op (Intern)
Working Holiday:
- earning some money so you can travel
- don’t have a job offer
- want to work for more than one employer in Canada
- want to work in more than one location
Requirements:
- be an Australian citizen
- be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive)
- have a valid Australian passport for the duration of your stay in Canada
- your work permit in Canada can’t be valid longer than your passport
- have a minimum of C$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada
- have health insurance for the duration of your stay
- not be inadmissible to Canada
- not be accompanied by dependants
- pay the fees
Fine Print:
- valid for up to 24 months
- you may participate in the Working Holiday category only once
may be possible to participate in IEC one more time through the International Co-op (Internship) category
- if you participated in IEC one or more times before 2015, you might be eligible for a final participation of up to 24 months in the category of your choice
Young Professionals Category
- must have a signed letter of offer or a signed contract of employment (up to 24 months) before applying
- employment offer must be in your field of expertise (through schooling or work experience) and contribute to your professional development
- no self-employment
International Co-Op Category:
- enrolled at a post-secondary institution in Australia
- must be registered students for the duration of the internship
- work placement or internship in Canada to fulfil part of their academic curriculum (up to 12 months)
- have a signed letter of offer, or a signed contract for a work placement, or an internship in Canada that meets the requirements of your academic curriculum in Australia
https://pacelawfirm.com/immigration/

As of December 2, 2023, qualified engineers will no longer require Canadian work experience to practice their profession in Ontario, Canada. Immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke explains the new legislation in Ontario and what it means for engineers and other professionals.
https://pacelawfirm.com/immigration/

Indigenous people in Canada can work in the United States through the Jay Treaty, but do they need a social security number? Immigration Michael O'Rourke explains the benefits of getting one, what the process is like, and how long it takes.
0:00 Introduction
0:31 What is the Jay Treaty?
02:32 Should I get a social security number?
03:38 Who is eligible?
04:40 How long does it take?
06:11 Contact Michael O'Rourke
https://pacelawfirm.com/people/michael-orourke/

If you have a drug conviction on your record, can you get into the United States as a tourist or immigrant? What happens if you are caught with drugs or drug paraphernalia at the US border? Immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke has the answers in this episode.

H-1B visa holders, especially those in the tech sector, have been hit with mass layoffs. What alternatives are there to the H-1B so that workers can stay in the country? Immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke provides answers. For more information on the L-1 visa: https://youtu.be/TZ87_AmzLKI

Pace Immigration lawyer Andy Semotiuk talks about the delays in visa processing and how long it can take a to get a US visa, passport, or green card. Contact Andy with any questions.
00:00 Introduction
00:38 Visitor Visas
02:40 Spousal Sponsorship
04:25 Passports
05:50 Green Card (Permanent Resident Card)
07:51 Visa allocation per country
10:16 E-2 Visa
11:28 EB-5 Visa
13:51 Contact Andy Semotiuk

Travel expert Judith Coates from Wired For Travel joins us with another travel update. Topics covered include ArriveCAN, random testing at the border, and how to avoid some long lines at the airport. Reach Judith at www.wiredfortravel.com.

Immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke talks about the huge backlog of applications and processing delays in Canadian immigration.

Pace Immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke talks about what he learned at the American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference in NYC, the looming problem of E-2 and E-1 Visa processing, an EB-5 update, and where to find the best Eggplant + Chicken Parmesan in Manhattan. https://paceimmigration.com/

An Australian man was recently deported from the US for not having the proper airplane ticket to exit the USA. What happened? Immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke explains the Visa Waiver Program and a rarely discussed rule that could get you into trouble.

What is the process for sponsoring children to the United States? US and Canadian immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke describes what happens when a family member wishes to sponsor a child to the US, but the parents cannot travel with the child.

The US has made announcements regarding Temporary Protected Status for citizens of Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, and Cameroon. US immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke discusses who can qualify for Temporary Protected Status in the US, and how they can apply for it. For an in-depth look at TPS status, watch Michael's video here.

Can you get into the US if you have a criminal record? Can you get a waiver to enter the country after a criminal conviction? What happens if you're stopped at the border in possession of marijuana or other drugs? In this episode, US immigration lawyer Michael O'Rourke breaks down the rules behind criminal inadmissibility and what you can do to possibly secure a waiver. https://paceimmigration.com/

Иммиграционный адвокат Полина Елизарова о новой программе въезда для граждан Украины – Канадаско-Украинское разрешение на чрезвычайную поездку (CUAET). Программа позволяет получить визу в Канаду и разрешение на работу и учебу гражданам Украины и членам их семей сроком до трех лет.

Pace Immigration lawyer Polina Elizarova explains the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) program. Canada introduced this program to support the people of Ukraine. It offers Ukrainians and their family members free, extended temporary status and allows them to work, study and stay in Canada until it is safe for them to return home. You can find the Russian language version of this episode on our podcast, too.

Travel expert Judith Coates returns to give us an update on the latest Canadian travel rules. Do you need a COVID test to enter Canada? What about for unvaccinated travellers? Judith has the answers. Contact her at The Travel Agent Next Door. jcoates@thetravelagentnextdoor.com.
Here is the news release from the government website which Judith mentions.

Kanadai ügyvédi iroda ukrán nyelven nyújt segítséget az ukrajnai háború elől menekülők részére - kanadai és amerikai beutazás, bevándorlás, menekültügyi kérelem, munkavállalási engedély ügyintézése. | In this episode, Pace Law Firm Vice President Stefánia Szabó gives an update in Hungarian on how Ukrainians fleeing armed conflict can receive assistance from Pace's Ukrainian-speaking lawyers and consultants.