Firm Founder Raj Sharma and US Attorney Ashwin Sharma Discuss Immigration Developments on RedFM Calgary Punjabi Language Broadcast

The Humanitarian and Compassionate Application: A Powerful Tool for Immigration Relief in Canada

I recently joined Steven Meurrens, Deanna Okun-Nachoff, and Hannah Lindy on the Borderlines podcast (June 13, 2025) to discuss the Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application under section 25(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). This discretionary remedy remains a cornerstone of Canada’s immigration framework, offering a lifeline to individuals who face barriers to

The Humanitarian and Compassionate Application Discussing the H&C Application -Borderlines Podcast #169

Steven Meurrens:           All right. It is June 13th, 2025. We are here today with an all-star panel of H&C experts, Raj Sharma, who was supposed to be on a few weeks ago. We had the episode titled, but then he couldn’t make it, and I learned what happens when an episode airs with the title

Mastering Detention Review Hearings: Insights from the CBA National Immigration Conference

Mastering Detention Review Hearings: Insights from the CBA National Immigration Conference The Canadian Bar Association’s National Immigration Conference was held this year (June 6-7) in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia. The first such conference I attended was about 20 years ago, and like every year, the immigration bar comes out in force to gather, network, renew

The Liberals (New) Plan on Immigration

With the election behind us, what lies in store for immigration policy? Here’s an overview of the Liberal Party’s immigration platform announced just a few days prior to one of the most consequential elections in memory. This plan and we can emphasize plan is one that touts sustainability, economic growth, and system efficiency, but much

Overcoming an overseas spousal sponsorship refusal -Success at the Immigration Appeal Division

Spousal sponsorship appeals before the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) often turn on accusations of “bad faith” marriages, where the government questions whether a relationship is genuine or was entered into primarily to gain immigration status. These cases can be complex, placing the burden squarely on the appellant to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that

Understanding Canada’s Permanent Resident Residency Obligation: A Guide for Newcomers

For people who gained permanent resident status in Canada through work or other means, you must follow rules to keep it. A key rule comes from Section 28 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. This rule keeps your link to Canada strong. It offers some give, but the details can surprise you. The Core

Punjabi Language Broadcast Discussing the Political Impasse and the Trump Presidency on Immigration Policy and Processing

Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Lawyers · 2025 01 13 RedFM Interview I was interviewed on January 13, 2025 by Rishi Nagar, the inestimable news director of RedFM Calgary discussing the significant changes that the new year has already brought. The interview started by discussing the impact of the prorogued Parliament on immigration processing and policy.

December 27, 2024 Interview on CBC News Network on the Allegations of Widespread Human Smuggling

Natasha Fatah                   Raj Sharma, who’s joining us from Calgary, he is the founder and managing partner of Stewart Sharma Harsanyi, one of Canada’s largest dedicated immigration law firms. Raj, thanks so much for making time for us. Raj Sharma KC:                 Thanks for having me. Natasha Fatah:                 Raj, I know you follow what’s happening in the

Looking Ahead to 2025

Another year is in the books (more or less). 2024 saw reductions in immigration levels, restrictions to both the international student and temporary foreign worker programs, and a dramatic decrease in public support for immigration fueled by housing costs, availability or lack thereof of public services and a strain on infrastructure. What lies ahead? The

“May You Live in Interesting Times”

There’s a remark attributed to Vladimir Lenin, “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen,” likely referring to the Bolshevik revolution and other remarkable watershed moments near the end of the Great War; periods where change accelerates at an unprecedented pace. On some level the sentiment is applicable to the

Understanding the New Changes to Canada’s Visitor Visa Policy in 2024

Introduction In a notable shift, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised its approach to issuing visitor visas. As of the updates made public on November 6, 2024, the issuance of multiple-entry visitor visas is no longer an automatic process. If an officer was going to approve the default would be multi-entry and until the

CBSA Raids in Calgary and Increased Focus on Enforcement

Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Lawyers · 2024 10 07 RedFM Interview On CBSA Raids And Enforcement I was interviewed by RedFM news director Rishi Nagar on the recent reports about CBSA raids against employers and foreign workers engaging in unauthorized work. The interview is a Punjabi language broadcast and is above. By way of context,

2024 10 25 RedFM Interview On Reduction In Immigration Intake

Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Lawyers · 2024 10 25 RedFM Interview On Reduction In Immigration Intake I discussed the recent announcement by Immigration Minister Marc Miller regarding the reduction in immigration levels for permanent residents in Canada irecently on RedFM -it’s mostly in Punjabi and the audio is above but here’s some additional context: Reduction

The Challenging New Reality: Navigating the Seas of Law, Regulations, Policy and Bureaucracy

The COVID-19 pandemic is essentially over and stringent travel restrictions and limitations on removal have been repealed; but that response by this country and others has underscored the ambit and flexibility of immigration laws, including enforcement powers. The repercussions and consequences of the pandemic will continue to reverberate. As an example, the initial shut down

Relocating Refugees Marc Miller vs. the RoC September 16 2024 Interview on CBC

Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Lawyers · 2024 09 16 CBC Interview Relocating Refugees Loren McGinnis:               A row over a specific part of our immigration system. On one side you have Alberta Premier Danielle Smith saying We cannot handle an influx of asylum seekers moving to the province. On the other, you have federal immigration Minister

Borderlines Podcast -Discussing the Spousal Sponsorship Process from Interview to Rejection to Appeals before the IAD

I joined my friends Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff late August 2024 to discuss the spousal/common-law partner sponsorship process and some of the challenges including the interview and dealing with refusals based on genuineness/intent. A lot is at stake in such applications/appeals and it is important for those attempting to navigate it to understand the

Misguided Credibility Concerns and the Impact on Refugee Decision Making

Today’s hearing, where my client and I navigated the intense and often microscopic questioning from a member, was a reminder of the challenges refugee claimants face, even in cases that appear prima facie strong. My client, an LGBTQ+ individual fearing return to a repressive country, was subjected to a level of scrutiny that may have

Canadian immigration lawyer Raj Sharma KC interviewed in a Punjabi language broadcast for RedFM by News Director Rishi Nagar discussion immigration news and developments -August 8, 2024.

Canadian immigration lawyer Raj Sharma KC interviewed in a Punjabi language broadcast for RedFM by News Director Rishi Nagar discussion immigration news and developments -August 8, 2024. Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Lawyers · 2024 08 08 RedFM Interview

Firm Founder Raj Sharma Discusses Refusals of Visitors Upon Entry on RedFM Calgary Punjabi Language Broadcast