Immigration - Davis LLP

The Davis LLP Immigration Law Practice Group provides a broad range of immigration advice and services to our domestic and international clients, many of whom have received recognition as leaders in the forestry, mining, automobile manufacturing, food produce, export and import trading, shipping, high-tech, aerospace, telecommunications, architecture, travel and tour services, hotel services and amusement park industries, among others.

Companies carrying out business in Canada often require non-Canadian senior executives, senior managers, professionals, specialists and other skilled workers. Immigration law can have a significant impact on personnel planning, including recruitment and succession planning.

The experience gained by acting on hundreds of applications per year provides us with the knowledge, insight and contacts necessary to formulate and implement immigration solutions that best suit our clients' needs.

We have, over the course of many years, established an excellent working relationship within the spectrum of immigration-related government agencies. Our submissions are recognized by government agencies as being of the highest quality.

Our group consists of experienced solicitors and litigators. Particularly, our solicitors provide ongoing immigration services for some of Canada's largest companies.

Services we have provided include:

• Formulating and implementing immigration strategies that will enable businesses to recruit and start employing foreign workers within desired time frames and to best accommodate their families
• Assisting businesses to hire foreign workers already in Canada
• Federal Skilled Worker permanent residence applications
• BC PNP applications and Quebec Immigration applications
• Investor permanent residence applications
• Spousal / Common-law and other Family Class permanent residence applications
• U.S. working status applications
• Helping businesses retain foreign workers by formulating and implementing strategies that will lead to permanent residence and citizenship
• Strategizing on and implementing large scale employment situations, including HRSDC Labour Market Opinions and BC PNP nominations
• Accompanying clients to the border to make an application when the circumstances merit it
• Helping foreign nationals in enforcement-related matters to overcome inadmissibility issues, e.g., criminal, health or otherwise, by way of temporary resident permits, rehabilitation and other means
• Representing foreign nationals at immigration hearings and on appeals to Federal Court
• In conjunction with other groups, providing related legal services, such as corporate/commercial, employment, income tax, customs, corporate finance/securities, intellectual property and real estate.

Emerging Issues

We stay informed of changes in immigration laws and policies by serving on the executive of the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Immigration Section, and co-chairing the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Joint Committee and the HRSDC Joint Committee. We also monitor discussions and developments regarding:

• Contending with extra long processing times by immigration-related government agencies when formulating application strategies
• Anticipated changes in polices for the BC PNP and HRSDC
• The Simplified Application Process regarding economic class permanent residence applications, to be introduced September 1, 2006