Heron Law Offices - Canadian Immigration Law Firm

09/03/2026

We are excited to share that the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™ has continued to recognize Will Tao as one of the Best Lawyers in Canada™ in Canadian Immigration since 2019. The only one in !

Selection is based on a rigorous peer review, through evaluations by top lawyers. We are delighted that our principal lawyer, Will Tao, has been consistently recognized.

Congrats!

https://www.bestlawyers.com/canada/british-columbia/burnaby/immigration-law

07/08/2026

Tomorrow, our lawyers Laura Schemitsch and Karina Juma will present at Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC regarding immigration pathways after graduation.

This presentation is catered to international JD and graduate law school students and recent alumni.

The presentation includes guidance on staying in Canada to work, study and pursue permanent residence after graduation. Other topics include the Post-Graduation Work Permit and its eligibility and application, Express Entry, the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), common immigration pitfalls and more.

Still time to register below: https://allard.ubc.ca/about-us/events-calendar/immigration-pathways-canada-international-studentsalumni-allard-law-jd-and-graduate-students

This session will be a practical look at your options for remaining in Canada to study, work or live permanently after you complete your Allard Law JD or graduate degree.

05/29/2026

BC PNP has released updated Skills Immigration guides, effective May 28, 2026.

The new Skills Immigration Program Guide provides further details on the program changes announced on April 23, 2026, including eligibility criteria and requirements for the Temporary Rural / Remote Health Support initiative.

Registration for this temporary one-time initiative will be open from June 15 to August 31, 2026.

BC PNP has also updated the Skills Immigration Application Guide, formerly known as the BC PNP Technical Guide, to reflect current application processes.

A key reminder: BC PNP applications are assessed based on the criteria and policies in place at the time the application is submitted.

BC PNP will also host a webinar on June 10, 2026, focusing on the CARE objective and the Temporary Rural / Remote Health Support initiative.

https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/about-the-bc-provincial-nominee-program/documents

Explore programs that can help you become a permanent resident in B.C., Canada.

05/28/2026

Many PGWP applications were refused because IRCC's own portal never made the language test requirement clear. Our principal lawyer, Wei William Tao, spoke to The Canadian Press about it.

Since then, with the client's consent to share, the affected client's work authorization was restored, and most important, following months of collective efforts on this issue, IRCC updated the portal.

This IRCC update will improve guidance, clarity, and fairness for future PGWP applicants.


https://heronlaw.ca/will-tao-quoted-in-the-canadian-press-on-pgwp-language-requirement-confusion/

Vancouver immigration lawyer Will Tao spoke to The Canadian Press about IRCC's confusing PGWP language requirements and helped a client win a reconsideration.

05/26/2026

We are pleased to share that the B.C. Ministry has designated this webinar by Will Tao as mandatory training for all staff funded through the BC Newcomer Service Program.

This recognition reflects the ongoing relevance of this resource to frontline settlement work and the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that funded staff have a clear, consistent understanding of the boundaries governing immigration-related service delivery.

In this webinar, Will Tao of Heron Law Offices explains IRPA Section 91 and the important legal distinction between immigration information and immigration advice, with examples relevant to settlement workers and newcomer service organizations.

IRPA Section 91. Understanding Immigration Information versus Immigration Advice February 20, 2026Immigration 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 .....

05/25/2026

We are proud to share that , Principal Lawyer and Founder of Heron Law Offices, has been selected as one of 250 participants in the 2026 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC), one of Canada’s most prestigious and longstanding leadership development programs.

Running from May 22 to June 5, 2026, this year’s theme is Leading Canada’s Sustainable Prosperity, a call to leaders who are ready to think big about economic growth, social inclusion, and Canada’s role in an uncertain world.

At Heron Law Offices, we believe Canada’s prosperity is inseparable from its immigration system. The decisions made by leaders in business, government, and civil society directly shape the conditions in which newcomers build their lives and those decisions are better when they are informed by people who work with migrant communities every day.

We believe Will’s presence in that room matters, and we are glad the GGCLC brings together exactly this kind of cross-sector dialogue.

The 2026 cohort of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference brings together 250 leaders from across the country. Taken together, […]

05/15/2026

🎙️ Our lawyer, Karina Juma, was recently featured on CBC's The National and it's a story that matters to anyone navigating Canada's immigration system.

CBC journalist Priscilla Ki Sun Hwang investigated serious concerns at Canada's overseas Visa Application Centres (VACs), the offices where applicants submit biometrics and documents as part of their immigration journey. What she found was deeply troubling.

Applicants reported:
🔴 Appointment reselling: legitimate slots being bought and resold at inflated prices
🔴 Third-party fraud: unauthorized agents exploiting vulnerable applicants
🔴 Pressure to pay premium fees just to access basic services
🔴 Data security concerns around how personal information is being handled

Many of these centres are operated by VFS Global on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), raising important questions about oversight, accountability, and the protection of applicants' rights.

These aren't just bureaucratic issues. They are real barriers that affect real people trying to reunite with family, build a future, or find safety in Canada.

We are proud that Karina brought her expertise and voice to this important national conversation. If you or someone you know has experienced issues at a VAC, we encourage you to seek legal advice.

👇 Read more via the link below.

The report highlights how outsourced visa processing can create delays, access barriers, and uncertainty in the immigration process, raising questions about oversight, accountability, and fairness in Canada’s immigration system.

04/21/2026

A self-represented applicant came to us after receiving a visitor visa refusal citing failure to establish intent to depart Canada. Our team at Heron Law Offices challenged the decision through judicial review, arguing that the Officer's reasons lacked the transparency and justification required under the Vavilov standard.

The result? Within months of filing, the application was re-opened and a multiple-entry TRV was granted. ✅

A huge shoutout to Laura Schemitsch for her outstanding work on this case. This is exactly why having proper legal representation matters! 💪

Heron Law Offices successfully overturned a visitor visa refusal through Federal Court judicial review. Learn how we challenged an unreasonable TRV decision and secured a multiple-entry visa.