Borderlines

Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff

A podcast for the discussion of Canadian immigration law and policy, although we often delve into other topics. Each episode features 2-3 lawyers, academics, politicians, and stakeholders discussing current migration issues. Hosted by Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff, two immigration lawyers in Vancouver, British Columbia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. hace 4 días

    #221 - IRCC Surrendering Citizenship Certificates

    Recorded June 24, 2026. IRCC has thrown Canadian citizenship by descent into chaos. After thousands of people received Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3, some were suddenly told to surrender them, only for many to receive follow-up letters days later saying their certificates had been "revalidated." Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Lena Diab has confirmed that new Bill C-3 citizenship applications are not being finalized while IRCC reviews what went wrong. In this episode of Borderlines, we are joined by Amandeep Hayer and Lisa Middlemiss to unpack what happened, what Minister Diab's comments actually mean, and what this uncertainty means for Canadians by descent. We discuss: What prompted IRCC to issue citizenship certificate surrender letters. Why many certificates were later "unsurrendered." Whether affected individuals are still Canadian citizens. The difference between citizenship grants and proof of citizenship. Whether passports, SINs, work authorization, school enrollment, and sponsorships could be affected. Why IRCC's handling of the situation raises serious procedural fairness concerns. Whether these decisions are likely to face judicial review. What applicants should do if they are preparing to submit a Bill C-3 citizenship application. Theories about what may have caused IRCC's sudden reversal. How lawyers are advising clients while applications remain paused. We also answer dozens of live audience questions about urgent processing, historical records, documentary evidence, passports, study permits, pending applications, and what the future may hold for Canada's expanded citizenship by descent regime. If you have been affected by Bill C-3 or are considering applying for proof of Canadian citizenship by descent, this episode provides an in-depth look at one of the most significant developments in Canadian citizenship law this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 h 7 min

  2. 22 jun

    #220 - Inside IRCC: Answers to Representatives’ Emails #2

    We break down several IRCC e-mail responses to representatives that answer questions by immigration lawyers and consultants. Questions include: Can foreign remote work performed while living in Canada count toward Express Entry? Does someone who applies for a new work permit before their Post-Graduation Work Permit expires have maintained status? In Start-Up Visa applications, do all essential applicants have to pass the R10 completeness check? What happens if an applicant dies while their immigration application is still being processed? We also analyze one of the biggest immigration stories of the FIFA World Cup: Canada's refusal to admit a Ghana national team player. We discuss why the visa was refused, the role of alleged misrepresentation and criminal inadmissibility, Temporary Resident Permits, and why the Federal Court refused to grant an emergency injunction allowing the player to enter Canada. Finally, we answer questions from our live audience, including: Has Canada quietly delayed its target for reducing the temporary resident population? Are Iranian security screening delays likely to improve? What's happening with the Caregiver Program? Should applicants challenge Express Entry refusals involving concurrent foreign work experience? Why are so many immigration files experiencing lengthy processing delays? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min

  3. 8 jun

    #219 - Should I Stay or Should I Go? Temporary Residents Face Tough Choices

    Canada's immigration system is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. Refusal rates are rising, processing is slowing, and pathways that seemed viable just a few years ago are disappearing. In this episode, Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff discuss the realities facing temporary residents who are running out of options. They explore what happens when work permit applications are refused, why international students are being caught in technical traps, and how applicants should think about the difficult decision of whether to continue fighting to stay in Canada or prepare to leave. The discussion covers: • Canada's immigration slowdown and shrinking pathways to permanent residence • Post-Graduation Work Permit refusals and language test issues • Judicial reviews, reconsideration requests, and restoration applications • The human and financial costs of challenging immigration refusals • How lawyers assess whether a case is worth pursuing • The controversy surrounding so-called "dummy applications" and maintained status Audience questions answered include: • Can a procedural fairness issue affect an ongoing security screening? • Are interim measure applications finally moving out of the Program Support Unit? • Are words like "support" and "assist" hurting Express Entry work experience claims? • Will IRCC tighten French-language immigration pathways as more applicants learn French for category-based draws? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  4. 27 may

    #218 - Supreme Court Recognizes Intimate Partner Violence Tort

    In this episode of Borderlines, Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff are joined by immigration lawyer, mediator, and former Canadian Bar Association Chair Kamaljit Lehal to discuss the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision recognizing a new tort of intimate partner violence. We discuss how the Court addressed coercive control, financial abuse, isolation, surveillance, intimidation, and psychological manipulation within intimate relationships, and why the majority concluded that existing legal remedies were insufficient to fully capture the realities of family violence. Topics discussed include the Supreme Court of Canada’s recognition of a new tort of intimate partner violence, coercion and control, the differing views between the majority and dissenting judges, how courts assess damages in family violence cases, trauma-informed approaches in legal proceedings. The decision is Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min

  5. 20 may

    #217 - Duress and Criminal Inadmissibility: A Major Federal Court of Appeal Decision

    We break down a major new Federal Court of Appeal decision on criminal inadmissibility, duress, and refugee protection in Canadian immigration law. The case is Rodriguez Anzola v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration). The discussion explores whether individuals convicted abroad can still seek protection in Canada when the underlying criminal conduct occurred under coercion, threats, or fear for their lives. Topics discussed include: how criminal equivalency works in Canadian immigration law; the role of duress in inadmissibility proceedings; the Federal Court of Appeal’s comments on fairness, humanitarian principles, and public safety; growing judicial pushback against overly broad interpretations of inadmissibility law; organized crime, IRGC-related arguments, and security inadmissibility; unusual foreign convictions that have triggered inadmissibility findings in Canada; and broader concerns about proportionality, plea bargains, and moral culpability in immigration law. The episode also includes audience questions on citizenship by descent, study permits, and the future direction of Canadian immigration policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  6. 11 may

    #216 - Inside IRCC: Answers to Representatives’ Emails #1

    Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff review several responses from IRCC’s Immigration Representatives’ Mailbox, where immigration representatives ask questions about how Canadian immigration law and various immigration programs are interpreted and applied Topics discussed include: (1) whether rental assistance counts as social assistance for sponsorships; (2) study permit requirements for children of protected persons; (3) maintained status and “rolling” extension applications; (4) whether marriages count for immigration purposes if the commissionaire is joining remotely; (5) criminal rehabilitation applications and concurrent filings; (6) adding newborn children after COPRs are issued; (7) travelling to Canada by land with an expired PR Card; (8) whether C11 entrepreneur work permits count toward Express Entry; (9) foreign work experience performed remotely from inside Canada; (10) Express Entry NOC code refusals and category-based selection issues; (11) non-accompanying spouses and CRS score maximization; (12) proof of settlement funds in foreign currencies; and (13) PR portal travel complications and eCOPRs. We also answer a live listener question about ATIPs and CBSA. Whether you are an immigration lawyer, consultant, student, or applicant trying to understand how IRCC actually applies the rules in practice, this episode provides a detailed look into the operational side of Canada’s immigration system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 h 1 min

  7. 6 may

    #215 - The 2025 CSIS Report: Security Screening, Impact of Mandamus on CSIS, and Backlogs

    We take a look at the newly released 2025 report from Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), and what it tells us about immigration security screening in Canada. CSIS reports that it received 438,600 immigration security referrals in 2025, a notable drop from prior years. Yet, at the same time, overall inventories remain at historic highs. Topics discussed include the CSIS report, including what CSIS says are the impact of mandamus and NSIRA complaints on security screening. The CSIS Report can be found here - https://www.canada.ca/en/security-intelligence-service/corporate/publications/csis-public-report-2025.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min

  8. 28 abr

    #214 - Auditor General Report Exposes Major Issues in Canada’s International Student Program

    Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff break down the explosive findings from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada on Canada’s report on the international student program. Topics discussed include the unexplained drops in study permit approvals, IRCC's lack of funds to address fraud, risk profiling practices, the disconnect between government targets and real-world outcomes, and what stricter enforcement and new leadership at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada could mean going forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
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A podcast for the discussion of Canadian immigration law and policy, although we often delve into other topics. Each episode features 2-3 lawyers, academics, politicians, and stakeholders discussing current migration issues. Hosted by Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff, two immigration lawyers in Vancouver, British Columbia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Información

  • Creador
    Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff
  • Años de actividad
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodios
    231
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Borderlines

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