9th Annual Northern Border U.S./Canada Immigration Law Conference Advising Clients and Dealing with Change Friday, October 20, 2017 Holiday Valley Mountain Resort Ellicottville, NY
Welcome to the ninth annual Northern Border U.S./Canada Immigration Law Conference, sponsored by the Upstate New York chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. This conference brings together leading immigration law practitioners from both the United States and Canada to discuss issues touching on immigration to both countries generally, with a focus on the Northeastern U.S./Canada border posts. The theme of this year s conference, Dealing with Change, is not a mere cliché. Since last year s conference, the electorates in both Canada and the United States have installed new leadership at the federal level. A more restrictive immigration attitude has taken hold in the United States, and practitioners must adjust accordingly. We also said hello to a new Consular Section chief at the U.S. consulate general in Toronto. Conference presentations this year will focus on the effects of these changes. Continuing legal education (CLE) credit is offered, including a credit for ethics. We look forward to seeing you at the conference. Richard Link, Chair of the Upstate NY chapter of AILA, conference co-coordinator Sergio Karas, Karas Immigration Law PC, Toronto, conference co-coordinator This conference is cosponsored by: The Ontario Bar Association In cooperation with: Mackenzie Hughes LLP The ABA Section of International Law
About the Holiday Valley Mountain Resort The Holiday Valley Mountain Resort and Conference Center is located in beautiful Ellicottville, New York, approximately an hour south of Buffalo. A ski resort in the winter and a summer getaway for swimming, golf, and mountain biking, Holiday Valley will be a relaxed venue in October with striking autumn color. Guest rooms are available at the Holiday Valley properties. Reserve your room by calling (800) 3230020. To get to Holiday Valley, take Interstate 90 West (the NYS Thruway) to Exit 55 and get on Rt. 219 South. Follow 219 for 50 miles to Ellicottville, then 1 mile farther south on 219 to Holiday Valley. The address is 6557 Holiday Valley Road, Ellicottville, NY 14731.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM 7:00 am 8:25 am Full breakfast, check-in, networking 8:25 am Welcome and Introduction Conference coordinators: Richard Link, Chair, Upstate NY Chapter of AILA (Rochester) Sergio R. Karas, Karas Immigration Law PC (Toronto) 8:30 am 9:30 am: Updates from the Border: Entering the U.S. New trends and developments in border practice Permissible searches at the border Moderator: Richard Link, Chair, Upstate NY Chapter of AILA (Rochester) Panelists: Rosanna Berardi, Berardi Immigration Law (Buffalo), AILA Upstate NY CBP Liaison Danielle Rizzo, Harris Beach PLLC (Buffalo), Chair, AILA CBP Liaison Committee 9:40 am 10:40 am: Updates from the Border: Entering Canada New trends and developments in border practice Entering Canada from the U.S. to seek asylum Moderator: Sergio R. Karas, Karas Immigration Law PC (Toronto) Panelists: David Garson, Guberman Garson LLP (Toronto) Naseem Malik, McCarthy Tetrault (Toronto) Chantal Desloges, Desloges Law Group PC (Toronto) Kim Upper, Chief Rainbow Bridge, Canada Border Services Agency 10:40 am 11:00 am: Coffee Break 11:00 am 12:00 pm: Overcoming Inadmissibility in the U.S. and in Canada Canada: Temporary Resident Permits to overcome inadmissibility at the port of entry; criminal rehabilitation applications at a visa post U.S.: Waivers of inadmissibility; 212(d)(3), 212(i), 212(h), I-601 for 3/10 year bar; when, where, how to apply; tips for success Moderator: Eileen Martin, Lippes Matthias Wexler Friedman LLP (Buffalo) Panelists: Randy Hahn, Guberman Garson LLP (Toronto) Nisha Fontaine, Serotte Reich Wilson (Buffalo)
12:00 pm 1:00 pm: Lunch featuring keynote speaker Juan Alsace, Consul General, U.S. Consulate, Toronto Introduced by Joseph C. Grasmick, Law Office of Joseph C. Grasmick (Buffalo) 1:10 pm 2:10 pm: Treaty-Based Immigration Options Future of NAFTA and how immigration may be impacted US: Current TN issues, E visa update Canada: NAFTA work permits, investment options Moderator: Ramon Rivera, Mackenzie Hughes LLP (Syracuse) Panelists: Nan Berezowski, Chair, Canada Chapter of AILA (Toronto) Andrew Wilson, Serotte Reich Wilson, LLP (Buffalo) Liz Martin, Hodgson Russ LLP (Buffalo) 2:20 pm 3:20 pm: Loss of Nationality Acquisition and loss of U.S. citizenship The formal process in Canada for a Certificate of Loss of Nationality Effect of loss of nationality Moderator: Daniel Joyce, Hodgson Russ LLP (Buffalo) Panelists: TBD 3:20 pm 3:40 pm: Coffee Break 3:40 pm - 4:40 pm: Ethical Issues Coming to the Forefront Hot topics in professional responsibility Advising clients in light of more restrictive visa eligibility criteria Practicing across borders: What is required, what is permissible Moderator: Jerry Kreindler, Kreindler Law (Toronto) Panelists: Barbara Jo (BJ) Caruso, Corporate Immigration Law Firm (Toronto) Richard Grayson, The Law Offices of Richard E. Grayson (White Plains, NY) 4:45 pm 7:00 pm: Social and Networking Happy hour hosted by the Upstate NY Chapter of AILA Presentation of the Upstate NY Chapter 2017 Pro Bono Champion Award
OBTAINING NEW YORK CLE CREDIT FOR THE CONFERENCE Mackenzie Hughes LLP is Accredited Provider of NYS CLE credits through the NYS CLE Board. All NYS attorneys may use this course for NY CLE credit, including those newly admitted (<24 months) for a total of 7 CLE credits (6 credits in the area of Professional Practice and 1 credit in the area of Ethics). CLE credits will be awarded by Mackenzie Hughes LLP. Ramon Rivera of Mackenzie Hughes will be moderator of this event. Participant MUST complete the following in order to receive NYS CLE: (1) attend the entire program; (2) verify their attendance by signing in AND out on the Attendance Verification form; and (3) include the time he/she signed in and signed out. Financial assistance is available for attorneys who wish to attend this program co-sponsored by Mackenzie Hughes LLP, and receive New York State CLE credits, but who are unable to attend due to cost considerations. Financial assistance will only be available for the cost of registration. Other costs such as travel and hotel will not be covered by financial assistance. Attorneys can contact Jennifer Murphy at jmurphy@mackenziehughes.com or (315) 233-8206 for an application. All information will be kept confidential. CANADIAN CPD CREDIT FOR THE CONFERENCE LSUC accreditation: This program contains 1 Professionalism hour and 6.5 Substantive hours. Only Professionalism Hours must be accredited by the Law Society. Lawyers and paralegals must determine for themselves whether an activity is an eligible educational activity for CPD and qualifies for Substantive Hours.