For tens of thousands of applicants, the Canadian immigration process has devolved into a digital “black hole.” You submit your application for Permanent Residency or Citizenship, only to watch the “In Progress” status bar remain frozen. It’s not just PR or Citizenship applications there’s been inordinate delay across business lines at IRCC (like work permit
One of our recent files illustrates the edge of Canada’s misrepresentation rules and visa offices’ growing focus on program integrity. Our client had sought a visitor visa to Canada (there was a PR application in play as well) but was sidelined by a misrepresentation finding and resulting 5-year inadmissibility finding under s. 40(1)(a) of the
We want to alert colleagues about a troubling development involving the unauthorized and undisclosed use of generative AI by risk assessment decision-makers. This stems from a JR we handled regarding a PRRA refusal [Singh v. MCI IMM-8235-24]. In Singh we raised challenges at the intersection of administrative law, procedural fairness, and generative Artificial Intelligence
Navigating Alberta’s Referendum on Immigration: Insights from the CBC West of Centre Discussion Raj Sharma, founding partner of Stewart Sharma Harsanyi and an immigration lawyer with extensive experience in Canadian policy and practice, appeared on CBC’s West of Centre podcast on February 20, 2026, guest hosted by Jason Markusoff. The discussion focused on Premier Danielle
Update on Bill C-12: Immigration Measures Advance Without Amendments, Introducing Key Restrictions on Asylum Claims As immigration lawyers dedicated to helping clients navigate Canada’s complex immigration system, we at Stewart Sharma Harsanyi are closely monitoring developments in federal legislation that could impact asylum seekers and other immigrants. On February 23, 2026, The Canadian Press
Raj Sharma KC, an experienced immigration lawyer, delivered his annual presentation to Student Legal Assistance (SLA) on the intersection of criminal law and immigration law in Canada. He outlines the critical hierarchy of immigration statuses, details how different levels of criminality affect non-citizens, explains the post-conviction enforcement process, and provides practical advice for SLA caseworkers
Analysis of Canadian Immigration System Challenges and Responses Raj Sharma, provides a comprehensive analysis of the Canadian immigration system’s critical challenges, including massive application backlogs, the rise of unauthorized “ghost consultants” using AI, and government policies aimed at reducing temporary resident populations. He further details the complexities of security-based inadmissibility findings, particularly for applicants with
Analysis of Current and Future Canadian Immigration Policy Trends This discussion between Rishi Nagar, News Director of RedFM Calgary and Raj Sharma KC, immigration lawyer and partner at Stewart Sharma Harsanyi, provides a critical analysis of the Canadian immigration system, focusing on the challenges and evolution of the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), the increasing
Congratulations to Faraz Bawa, KC! We at Stewart Sharma Harsanyi are thrilled and incredibly proud to announce that our esteemed colleague, Faraz Ul-Haque Bawa, has been appointed King’s Counsel (KC) by the Province of Alberta! This prestigious honour recognizes Faraz’s expertise, integrity, leadership, and dedication to the legal profession. As a partner specializing in Immigration
The end of the year is a natural inflection point; looking back towards the year that was and looking forward to the year that is to come. After 20 years of practice in this area, it is clear that this past year was a significant one in terms of immigration developments. As 2025 draws to
Navigating Deferral Requests and Stay Motions in Federal Court: Key Considerations for Facing Removal from Canada As immigration practitioners, we often encounter clients facing the daunting reality of an enforceable removal order. In our book, Inadmissibility and Remedies, co-authored by myself (Raj Sharma KC) and Aris Daghighian, we dedicate significant attention to the mechanisms available to challenge or delay removal, particularly through
Facing a deportation order due to a criminal conviction can be one of the most stressful experiences for a permanent resident in Canada. In this blog post, we share a generalized overview of what clients can expect during an appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), based on common scenarios involving serious criminality (e.g., a conviction
In the midst of a wave of extortion-related crimes plaguing British Columbia’s South Asian communities, a new development has sparked outrage and scrutiny over Canada’s immigration processes. Fifteen foreign nationals, identified as suspects by B.C.’s Extortion Task Force, have claimed refugee status after coming under investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). This move has effectively paused
In the world of Canadian immigration, spousal sponsorships represent one of the most personal and emotionally charged pathways to family reunification. It’s a devastating blow when a visa office refuses an application on the grounds that the marriage isn’t genuine. Fortunately, applicants have the right to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) of the
The Immigration Appeal Division or IAD handles a number of immigration appeals, including refusals of family class sponsorships (overseas) like shortfalls to minimum necessary income, residency appeals, and some removal order appeals by PRs (most often arising from misrepresentation or criminality). It is an important backstop and safety net for the loss of PR status
In Idelfonso v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 392, Justice Zinn granted judicial review of an Immigration Division (ID) finding of misrepresentation under s. 40(1)(a) of the IRPA, setting aside a five-year exclusion order against a Brazilian foreign national who omitted resolved Canadian criminal charges (a conditional discharge for mischief, with assault charges stayed,
The Liberal government’s newly tabled 2025 federal budget signals a significant pivot in Canada’s immigration strategy, with a sharp reduction in new international student permits set to reshape opportunities for global talent seeking education in the country. Key Changes to International Student Permits To mix metaphors, what goes up has to come down; and the
Canada’s immigration system is built on trust. At its core lies a simple but powerful principle: tell the truth. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), misrepresentation is one of the most serious grounds of inadmissibility. But what exactly does it mean to “misrepresent”? And why does it carry such severe consequences? The IRPA
Section 40 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) is one of the most severe inadmissibility provisions in Canadian immigration law. A misrepresentation finding not only results in refusal but imposes a five-year bar on re-applying and casts a long shadow over future dealings with IRCC. The Federal Court has consistently held that a
Canadian immigration law treats misrepresentation harshly. Section 40(1)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) provides that a foreign national or permanent resident is inadmissible for “directly or indirectly misrepresenting or withholding material facts … that induce or could induce an error in the administration of the Act.” A finding under this provision carries
