Are you looking for a compassionate and experienced immigration lawyer in Burnaby or Vancouver? My name is Yussif Silva, and I am excited to be joining Heron Law’s stellar team as a Canadian immigration and refugee lawyer.
I was born in Manaus, Brazil, in the heart of the Amazon forest, as a third-generation immigrant. My maternal grandparents were Palestinians who immigrated to Brazil in the late 1950s in search of a better life. Their journey sparked my deep appreciation for migration stories and fueled my dedication to immigrant advocacy.
In 2010, I began my legal studies at the Federal University of Amazonas, where I joined a research project examining violations of employment and immigration standards for Haitian workers in Brazil. This formative experience shaped my early interest in immigration law.
In 2014, I became Legal Counsel to the State of Amazonas Court of Appeal after placing 4th among more than 40,000 candidates in Brazil’s civil service exam. I later specialized in Civil Procedure in São Paulo and was invited to teach seminars to judges and court staff on Brazil’s 2015 procedural code reform.
After five years of practice in Brazil, I moved to Canada to pursue a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Common Law at the University of British Columbia. Upon graduating in 2020, I joined Edelmann & Co., one of Canada’s leading immigration law firms, where I completed my articles under Erin Roth and worked alongside Will Tao. During my three years at the firm, I was involved in a wide range of high-stakes immigration litigation and complex applications.
My practice has included appeals and judicial reviews of refusal decisions, responses to procedural fairness letters, and litigation involving inadmissibility due to criminality, misrepresentation, medical concerns, and security issues. I’ve also handled humanitarian and compassionate applications, refugee claims and appeals, sponsorships, work permits, study permits, and permanent residence applications under Express Entry and other programs.
Now, I’m proud to join Heron Law Offices and reunite with Will Tao to continue advocating for migrant communities, challenge systemic injustices in Canada’s immigration system, and collaborate on research to advance policy reform. I offer services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and am available for in-person or virtual consultations.
When I’m not working, you can usually find me practicing judo, skiing, or exploring BC’s nature through hiking.
If you’re navigating Canada’s immigration system and need support, I look forward to helping you move forward with confidence.
Saravá!
