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 14 weeks, 25 immigration lawyers, equals 312 hours pro bono
Immediately following the earthquake disaster in Haiti last January, lawyers in the National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section spearheaded an initiative to offer initial legal consultations and to prepare immigration applications pro bono for Canadians and permanent residents in Canada who wished to sponsor family members.
In February, the CBA and its Quebec Branch, l’Association québécoise des avocats et avocates en droit de l’immigration (Association of Quebec Immigration Lawyers), the Barreau du Québec, Pro Bono Québec, and la Maison d’Haïti joined together to offer an expanded pro bono service that included in-person consultations during specified business hours. The Maison d’Haiti in Montreal reports that in 14 weeks, 25 immigration lawyers took part in the initiative, and offered over 300 hours of pro bono legal services.
Haiti Update: February 23, 2010
The CBA, its Quebec Branch, l’Association québécoise des avocats et avocates en droit de l’immigration (Association of Quebec Immigration Lawyers), the Barreau du Québec, Pro Bono Québec, and la Maison d’Haïti have joined together to offer an expanded pro bono service to Canadians and permanent residents in Canada who wish to sponsor family members living in areas affected by the earthquake disaster in Haiti. Free-of-charge, in-person consultations are being offered by immigration lawyers in Montreal during specified business hours.
The service is in addition to CBA’s original offering, which includes names and contact information of immigration lawyers outside Quebec, and an email address for inquiries from Quebec.
On the CBA’s Pro Bono Haiti initiative: “I would like to recognize and applaud the CBA’s efforts to support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.” - John Sims, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, at the 2010 CBA Mid-Winter Meeting
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has committed to fast-tracking new and existing applications under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act from Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have close family members directly affected by this disaster in Haiti. For more information, please visit:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/notice-special.asp
Here’s how to access the CBA’s assistance:
1. Visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/index.asp to download all the necessary forms and documentation.
2. Click “Find a lawyer” below to find an immigration lawyer near you.
3. If you are outside Quebec, contact the immigration lawyer to arrange a consultation. If you are within Quebec, send an email to the address indicated for referral to a lawyer.
4. Bring the downloaded forms and all the necessary documentation with you to meet the lawyer, who will help you complete the forms.
5. File the documentation with CIC. You are responsible for any applicable filing costs.
Please note that the services offered do not extend to other applications, such as non-family members wishing to adopt or sponsor a child affected by the earthquake disaster. Lawyers will determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether applicants are eligible for free services. This service applies to initial consultations on sponsorship applications and the preparation of applications only and does not oblige the lawyer to provide further legal services unless the applicant and the lawyer agree to this in writing. Applicants should gather all documentation as best as possible before consulting a lawyer.
As individuals, we can also choose to make a financial contribution. The federal government will match individual donations to registered Canadian charities aiding relief efforts in Haiti. Our dollars will deliver water, temporary shelter and medical supplies to those who have lost everything. For your convenience, here is a list of registered charities accepting donations.
Canadian Red Cross
www.redcross.ca/helpnow
1-800-418-1111 or at any Red Cross office
The Salvation Army
www.salvationarmy.ca
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
The Humanitarian Coalition (CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec, Save the Children)
www.humanitariancoalition.ca
Médecins Sans Frontières
www.msf.ca
1-800-982-7903 or 416-964-0619
Partners in Health
http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti
Disclaimer: The advice offered is provided on a volunteer basis by the lawyers on the referral list. The CBA, its officers or employees do not take any responsibility for the advice given pursuant to this project. For more information about our disclaimer, please click on the link on the bottom of the page. By accessing, reading and making use of this Page, you agree, on your own behalf and on behalf of any entity on whose behalf you may be acting, to be bound by this Disclaimer. If you do not wish to be bound by this Disclaimer, you should not use this Page or any of the contents thereof.
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