U.S. and Canadian Immigration Legal Services

02/07/2026

See this story about immigrants who withstood the tests of time and hardship to be together as a couple forever.

Not every immigrant story has a happy ending. But this one, involving a 15 year immigrant love story, has. Meet C.J. and Carla Harriott and read about their story.

02/05/2026

See my new Forbes immigrant love story article below.

Not every immigrant story has a happy ending. But this one, involving a 15 year immigrant love story, has. Meet C.J. and Carla Harriott and read about their story.

01/31/2026

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – SATURDAY, JANUARY 31ST, 2026


PRESS CONFERENCE: A 15-Year Love Story finally leads to a reunion — Toronto Couple Reunited After An Impossibly Long Separation

Toronto, Ontario — Monday, February 2, 2026 (12:00 PM EST)
Location: Pace Law Firm, Suite 1100, 191 The West Mall, Toronto, ON, Canada

Members of the news media are invited to attend a press conference at Pace Law Firm on Monday, February 2, 2026, at 12:00 noon EST, marking the long-awaited legal reunion of CJ Harriott and Carla Harriott, a married couple separated for more than 15 years by immigration barriers.

CJ and Carla Harriott were married in Toronto on April 21, 2010, and lived together in Canada until January 20, 2011, when Carla was required to return to Jamaica, her country of birth, after her authorized visitor status expired. What followed was a 15-year separation and living apart, despite remaining legally married and emotionally committed throughout.

Last Friday, Carla Harriott officially and legally returned to Canada as a permanent resident, sponsored by CJ Harriott, her Canadian citizen spouse, bringing their long journey to a successful conclusion.

A Case Years in the Making

Before he could even qualify as a sponsor, CJ Harriott was required to fully satisfy outstanding child-support and marital obligations from previous relationships—obligations he met in full.

Then, only after all those obligations were met, CJ’s spousal sponsorship application could be filed which took five years of intensive personal and legal effort.

Three years were spent by CJ Harriott and Pace Law Firm assembling a complex and highly documented application, including collecting, preparing and producing:
o Marriage licence and certificate
o Divorce certificates from prior marriages
o Extensive reference letters
o Financial remittance records from Canada to Jamaica
o Boarding passes, travel records, and supporting affidavits

The application required the coordinated work of six lawyers at Pace Law Firm, addressing legal, humanitarian, and procedural challenges, including a special exemption from standard processing. Two additional years were required for the Government of Canada (IRCC) to process and approve the application. In total, therefore, it took five years of personal and legal work and 15 years from separation to lawful reunion for this event to take place.

Hardship, Distance, and Resilience
Throughout their separation, the couple maintained daily virtual contact via WhatsApp, with CJ providing ongoing financial support to Carla in Jamaica.

Their ordeal was compounded by extraordinary hardship, including:
• The postponement of Carla’s visa interview at the Canadian Consulate in Jamaica due to a hurricane
• The destruction of Carla’s home in an earlier hurricane, requiring extensive rebuilding
• Years of enforced separation despite a valid marriage and continuous relationship
What Media Can Expect:
Journalists attending the press conference will be able to:

Meet, photograph and interview CJ and Carla Harriott
Receive a formal news release and background materials
Hear a statement on the legal and human impact of the case
Meet the team of lawyers at Pace Law Firm who worked on the file
Review copies of the marriage certificate and wedding photographs

Coffee and donuts will be served.

About Pace Law Firm
Pace Law Firm, an all-purpose law firm located in Toronto’s West End, represented the Harriotts throughout the sponsorship process and coordinated the successful submission to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), including securing an exemption from standard processing procedures based on the couple’s unique circumstances. Come and join us in celebrating this extraordinary achievement!

Media Contact:
Andy Semotiuk
Pace Law Firm
Per:
Andy J. Semotiuk
Andy J. Semotiuk
Suite 1100, 191 The West Mall
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(416) 342-5537 Direct office line Monday from 10 AM
(416) 236-3060 Extension 459
Email: [email protected]

P.S. This case stands as a powerful reminder that love, persistence, and the rule of law can prevail—even when the road is long and unforgiving.

01/30/2026

See my new podcast interview regarding US immigration and ICE actions in Minnesota recently.

A CONVERSATION WITH IMMIGRATION LAWYER ANDY SEMOTIUKWhen I think of immigration, I want to think of families. I want to think of unity. I want to think of a ...

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11/20/2025

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11/10/2025

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H1-B visa reform is needed now. In the global race for chips and AI, the U.S. cannot continue treating this most important H1-B talent entry point like a lottery ticket.