This year, 2023 was a year of both successes and challenges for Heron Law Offices. Our firm went through several new developments including staffing and contractor changes. We want to especially thank Xiaoyi ZHU and Katie LAY for their excellent contributions to our Firm and Firm culture this year. Xiaoyi is now an International Student Immigration Advisor at Vancouver Community College and Katie will joining our friends and colleagues at MKS Immigration Lawyers starting next month. Their legacies at Heron are forever embedded in our nest.
This year we also added a new team member, Dana Kyle, who is slowly emerging as a champion case manager. In addition to her wonderful writing, you will hear a lot more about her particularly with respect to our community projects and public awareness/education efforts in 2024.
Contract case manager, Leanne Deboski (practicing out of Alberta) will be starting to take on files in 2024 and brings seasoned and experience immigration consultation skills, and will work closely with Laura Schemitsch to build our budding business immigration practice.
A special thanks also to Jessye Kilburn, Laura Schemitsch, Candy Hui, Azza Omer for riding the year out with Will and Team in 2023!
We are also looking forward to an exciting decision to move to a new shared office space beginning February 2024. This move brings us back to our roots in Burnaby, B.C, and was a decision to improve the well-being of our team members through reducing travel time but also support our clients who can now walk to our office within minutes from Patterson Station.
We also are intentionally moving our offices more ‘virtually’ as we seek to assist more clients within B.C., Canada, and Globally through presence. Expect us to be travelling to your community more in the year to come!
Overall, this year we experienced both exciting accomplishments as well as difficulties along the way. The world of immigration law is always changing, alongside both a national and international shift in attitude. Cases are taking longer, the ability to lawyers to intervene often times more difficult but we always do our best support our clients in navigating the complex Canadian immigration system and their journeys to immigrate to Canada. We have stayed true to our aim to do law differently and provide, (com)passionate, informed, and ethical services to folks who need our support.
It is difficult to talk about wins without the losses. There were some cases where despite our best efforts we were unable to challenge either the discretion (and increasingly the automation) of these decisions. Yet, we also had some major wins. Focusing on the positives in this piece, we outline some of our favourite moments from the past year.
Laura Schemitsch’s Year in Review
A young international university student completed three years of a four year undergraduate degree in Canada. The student returned to their home county during the COVID-19 pandemic and completed an internship. The student returned to Canada with a valid study permit and applied for an extension. The student submitted a second application while the first was in processing. While in processing, the original permit expired. Both applications were rejected. With the assistance of an immigration consultant, the student applied for restoration of status which was rejected. The Applicant came to us for assistance following two refusals and re-applied for a study permit from outside Canada. Despite strong evidence including a job offer upon graduation and strong ties to their home country, the application was refused. Following a third refusal, the Applicant retained our services to apply to judicially review the decision in Federal Court. After a successful judicial review, we provided strong reopening evidence and submissions and the study permit was accepted.
An organization in Alberta was experiencing a labour shortage and came to us for assistance with their first C20 work permit application from outside Canada. The organization was successful in obtaining a C20 work permit to employ a coach for their upcoming ski season.
A small business in B.C. was experiencing a labour shortage and came to us for assistance with their first Labour Market Impact Assessment application. We guided them through the process and achieved a positive LMIA while informing them of their Employer Compliance requirements.
Laura looks forward continuing to expand her corporate immigration and entrepreneur immigration practice, while jumping into more complex litigation work in 2024.
Jessye Kilburn’s Year in Review
A family had been waiting almost 5 years for decisions on their permanent residence applications under the Convention Refugee In Canada Class. After a mandamus application in Federal Court, they saw movement in their long-delayed security assessment and their applications were finally approved.
A young student came to us after being previously refused for a study permit. Although the application was strong, this student was from a country with a refusal rate approaching 100%. After a successful judicial review, we provided strong reopening evidence and submissions, and the study permit was accepted.
Jessye wants to thank all her clients in 2023 for their support of her practice.
Katie Lay’s Year in Review
Writing on Katie’s behalf, she had exceptional success this year particularly in re-opening judicial reviews from refused clients and in submitting reconsideration requests.
Reviewing Katie’s files, she assisted several international students and temporary foreign workers who were refused their initial permits apply for leave and judicial review, settle their cases, and then submit further documentation which led to an overall approval. She also helped numerous clients submit reconsideration requests that led to IRCC changing their initial decisions.
Again, we wish Katie all the best in her new role at MKS Immigration.
Will Tao’s Year in Review
Will’s successes focused this year largely in the litigation space. He was able to secure consents prior to leave disposal for several clients, leading to the re-opening of their files and eventual approval. This includes for citizens of China, Pakistan, and Saudia Arabia (among others).
The other focus of his practice was around turning around files that were facing eminent refusal or had a history of refusal. A large part of this was in responding to Procedural Fairness Letters, carving new applications, and submitting humanitarian and compassionate grounds requests. A large focus of the practice was on rebuilding the narrative and correcting the mistakes previously made by either self-represented applicants or those with previous counsel.
Will also focused his attention in inadmissibility cases and allegations, including s.44 reports. He was able to successfully convince CBSA to not pursue a serious criminality allegation after providing detailed H&C submissions.
Will is particularly grateful for having helped several vulnerable and stateless individuals obtain positive results and wishes to continue to build a practice that is sensitive to those the system often rejects or leaves without remedy.
Will looks forward to dedicating his practice to more niche areas, and expanding his work in the AI/Administrative Law/Immigration space in 2024.
Thank you, Heron Friends & Family for a fantastic 2023. We are grateful for you support and look forward to serving you in 2024.
