Family Class, Humanitarian and Compassionate, Special Measures, and Cross Border Issues
SEMINAR
LIVE
Pending
July 24, 2025 @ 1:00 p.m. - 5:25 p.m. PT
July 24, 2026
$54
ABOUT THIS SEMINAR
- Presenter: Sonia Sekhon, RCIC, Commissioner and Notary Public, Lawyer: Family Class Processing – Overview and Updates; In Canada and Overseas Spousal/Common-Law Partner Processing including Open Work Permits; Parents/Grandparents Processing and Super Visas
- Presenter: John Edwards, RCIC, LSO Licensed Paralegal – Humanitarian and Compassionate Processing – Overviews and Updates; Factors to be considered for Overseas Processing and for In Canada Processing
- Presenter: Mahsa Suarez Mehrvrez, RCIC-IRB: Special Measures – Overviews and Updates; Introduction to CLIP and FLIP Programs
- Presenter: Spencer McGrath-Agg, Lawyer – Cross Border Issues – Overview and Updates; Ports of Entry; USMCA and Safe Third Country; and Golden Visa Program
MEET THE SPEAKERS
John Edwards
RCIC, LSO Licensed Paralegal
Humanitarian and Compassionate Processing – Overviews and Updates
John Edwards has been a licensed immigration consultant since 2006 and is currently a member in good standing with the College of Immigration & Citizenship Consultants (CICC). He holds a BSc from the University of Guelph and worked in the environmental sciences field for approximately 10 years. He also taught English in South America and Asia prior to entering the immigration consulting profession.
Mr. Edwards is proud to have had the privilege of working alongside and under the guidance of Cecil L. Rotenberg, Q.C. (deceased), known as the "grandfather" or "dean" of Canadian immigration law, where he gained valuable experience in dealing with complex immigration matters.
In addition to being a licensed immigration consultant, Mr. Edwards is a licensed paralegal and a member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. His representation includes clients in both temporary resident classes and permanent residence applications. Over the years, he has successfully represented clients before the Immigration and Refugee Board at the Immigration Division, the Refugee Protection Division, and the Immigration Appeal Division. Currently, Mr. Edwards focuses on assisting clients with Humanitarian and Compassionate applications, immigration appeals, and with in-Canada and overseas applicants dealing with inadmissibility issues. He also enjoys teaching and has taught immigration consultancy students at two private colleges in Toronto, as well as paralegal diploma courses at a private college in Hamilton, Ontario.
Spencer McGrath-Agg
Lawyer
Cross Border Issues – Overview and Updates
Spencer McGrath-Agg is an experienced attorney helping clients with business and family immigration. He has worked with entrepreneurs to obtain U.S. work authorization for themselves and their employees in industries ranging from mineral exploration to film and entertainment. He has also guided engineers, executives, software developers, veterinarians, management consultants, performing artists, and other professionals through the immigration process to obtain United States work authorization.
Spencer has a proven track record of effectively responding to U.S. immigration agencies’ denials and requests for evidence alleging fraud, criminality, and immigration violations. Additionally, he has successfully assisted with long-pending immigration applications using tools such as expedite requests, inquiries through the USCIS Ombudsman, and requests for congressional assistance.
At U.S. ports of entry, Spencer has helped clients overcome inadmissibility, Nexus denials, and mitigating fines issued by the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Office. He has counselled permanent residents with long absences from the United States on reducing the likelihood of abandoning their permanent residence, and obtaining re-entry permits.
Mahsa Suarez Mehrvrez
RCIC-IRB
Special Measures – Overviews and Updates
Mahsa immigrated to Canada at the age of 16 from Iran. She holds a BA degree in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. She also completed her Immigration Consultant Diploma in March 2020 from Ashton College in downtown Vancouver. She started her own immigration business in January 2021 after successfully passing her Entry to Practice Exam. Mahsa established “Mehrvarz Immigration” with the goal of assisting people who want to immigrate to Canada for a better life and career opportunities. Mahsa provides services in many areas of immigration, refugee, and citizenship and she has been representing clients before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada for the past two years. Mahsa has been a tutor/mentor for the past 10 years and she is excited to curate her passion for teaching and affinity for immigration.