We’re (still) here – what we've been up to

We’re (still) here.

Our priority always has been (and always will be) ensuring that our clients—new and old—are receiving the high level of service that they deserve.

As Canada’s immigration system shifts and world events changes migration patterns, our job is to be responsive in our approach to supporting people in their journey to settle in Canada. Here are a few things that we have been up to lately:

Responding to increased hate and targeted attacks against trans people all over the world, adjusting the ways that we support our trans clients

As the world shifts and changes, we need to adjust. In addition to continuing to support trans clients from all over the world, our office has faced an increasing number of calls from trans people in the US who fear for their lives in light of the Trump Administration’s targeted attacks on trans people.

After much thought and consideration, our office has begun to file refugee claims for trans people from the United States when no other immigration pathways are available to them. These applications are not without risk; they are incredibly novel, and we have yet to see how our government will respond. We make sure that clients fully understand the implications of filing a claim and are aware of what could happen next.

What we do know is that the fear that people are feeling is real. People are losing access to affirming healthcare, the right to a passport with their correct gender marker. Parents of trans children fear for their kids (and even their own) safety if they dare to support their children’s transitions in some states. We knew that it was time to take these steps and to support our clients in the best way we could.

Partner Joycna Kang became a Board Member at the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA)

Joycna Kang has been welcomed to the Board of CILA, and she has hit the ground running! She has been active in a variety of projects, including the development of a practical skills course on Judicial Review before the Federal Court for CILA’s members.

As refusals for immigration applications continue to rise, appellate advocacy is becoming an increasingly vital part of immigration practice.

The course is designed to walk participants step-by-step through the process of preparing, filing, and arguing a Judicial Review application with a focus on real-world practice skills and strategic advocacy. Their goal is for every participant to leave with the confidence and practical know-how to navigate the Federal Court system and build the strongest possible case for their clients.

Working with community organizations to provide free legal advice and information, like the HQ Immigration Law Clinic, Vivi’r LGTBQ+, PWA, and The 519’s Among Friends Program

It’s no secret that we love to work with the organizations that serve our communities. We know that knowledge is power, and offering capacity building workshops with the people who assist newcomers is an important step towards proper access to justice. Many clients turn to these organizations for more simple applications, especially when financial constraints make it challenging to cover legal fees. Giving clients and service organizations the tools to properly prepare things like work permit renewals, visitor extensions, and PR as a Protected Person applications means that people are less likely to run into complicated (and expensive) legal problems that can arise from mistakes on forms or in document collection.

Working with clients to apply for Proof of Citizenship under IRCC’s interim measures after the ‘First Generation’ limit was deemed unconstitutional in December 2023

There was a lot of buzz in the immigration community when the ‘First Generation’ limit was struck down by the Ontario Superior Court in late 2023. We knew that this would open pathways for many people to access Canadian citizenship—people who were previously blocked by this 2009 policy. And guess what? It did! While we are still waiting on the official policy to come out from Bill C-3, our office has been busy working to support clients in accessing citizenship under IRCC’s interim measures for discretionary grants of citizenship.

Not only has this ruling allowed for an expanded eligibility for Canadian citizenship, but it also means that these new citizens may have the opportunity to sponsor their dependents to Canada for Permanent Residency. As people continue to flee the United States, often due to safety concerns as queer and trans people, we have been thrilled to help work with many families find a relatively straightforward pathways to safety.

Connecting with service organizations that work with queer and trans individuals in Canada and abroad to discuss our concerns and plans for advocacy surrounding Bill C-2 and, subsequently, Bill C-12

In June 2025, Bill C-2 was introduced in Parliament. This bill included sweeping changes across many areas of the law…including immigration law. The changes that were proposed to our immigration and refugee system were concerning. We could immediately name several ways that our clients would be negatively impacted by the proposed changes.

After debate in Parliament, Bill C-2 was restructured and came back in different forms. In the case of the changes to immigration law, we were introduced to Bill C-12.  Bill C-12 contains many of the same catastrophic proposals as its predecessor. It places eligibility limits on refugee claims that seem arbitrary and punishing to many refugee claimants. It gives the Minister more power to mass cancel visas. Much like Bill C-2, the response from advocates in the immigration space was loud.

We knew that we wanted to be a part of that response. For us, it looked like meetings with service organizations who, like us, are stakeholders in this matter. We have followed the bill very closely, working to make public statements and action plans for our clients should the bill come into force. We are proud to see how our friends at organizations like Rainbow Railroad, CILA, the Migrants Rights Network and others have made their voices known.

We are still waiting with bated breath, hoping that the advocacy of so many will pay off; that the elected officials will listen to their constituents. In the meantime, we will do as we have always done—providing responsive service to our clients and preparing to shift and adjust immigration strategies at a moment’s notice.

Continuing to focus on providing exceptional client service for every single one of our clients

We are in a time of a lot of change and uncertainty in Canada’s immigration system. Express Entry scores continue to soar and the government’s priorities change. Some new programs are introduced while others are put on pause. This can create a lot of anxiety for people looking to stay in Canada or for those looking to travel here.

Our job as immigration professionals is to guide our clients through these challenges, finding creative but realistic pathways towards settling in Canada.

We are proud to have 330 five-star reviews from our wonderful clients on Google. We love reading about their experiences with our team. They speak of our professionalism and legal acumen, but also of our kindness and how supported our clients felt by our team. We are so grateful to have such an incredible team and to get to work with amazing clients, each with their own stories about what brought them to Canada.

We are incredibly grateful to be able to continue to do the work that we do, and to do it with incredible people. As we begin to close out 2026, we are looking forward to more work as a team, with our lovely clients, and alongside so many extraordinary community partners.

To learn more about how we can support you in your immigration journey, please reach out to us at 416-203-2899 extension 30 or Kate@MigrationLawGroup.com.