Immigration matters that affect newcomers’ ability to be in and stay in Canada have always been concerns that are brought by SPO clients, even more so due to recent policy changes affecting refugee claimants as well as temporary residents such as international students and temporary foreign workers. In October 2024, IRCC adopted a different interpretation of “consideration” to mean salaried staff at NGOs who provide immigration advice or representation will not be committing an offense under Section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), as long as no compensation for the service is provided by the client, directly or indirectly. 

While immigration advice is not allowed through provincial and federal settlement funding, with the creation of the new BC Safe Haven program that supports clients with form filling and immigration information and the changes in settlement staff over the past few years, it is important that settlement staff are aware of the scope of their role and the services they are allowed to provide. 

This webinar provided an understanding of immigration information and immigration advice, clearly defining each and showing the differences between immigration information and immigration advice, using case studies from BC Newcomer Service Program and BC Safe Haven client situations to illustrate. 

Presenter  

• Will Tao, Founder and Principal Lawyer, Heron Law Offices 

View the full webinar