George Lee Law Corp.
608-4538 Kingsway V5H 4T9 Burnaby, BC, Canada

Firm founder and principal lawyer George Lee speaks on television about recent developments in Canadian immigration law and policy [in Mandarin Chinese]. Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpyfGiVYSqU

Family law practice concerns the legal aspects of all matters relating to relationships between members of a family. We offer expertise in dealing with matters relating to separation, divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, and division of property. In particular, we have extensive experience in dealing with complicated cross-national lawsuits where the parties have family assets situated in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China or Korea.

Joanne Lee became an associate of George Lee Law Corp after articling with the firm. She speaks fluent Korean and English. Ms. Lee graduated in 2009 from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. In 2013, she received her Juris Doctor degree from Dalhousie University. During law school, she served the community by volunteering at organizations such as Pro Bono Students Canada, Access Pro Bono, Law Students Legal Advice Program, and Da...lhousie Student Advocacy Service. She was called to the British Columbia bar in 2015. Ms. Lee has a general law practice, handling both civil and criminal cases with a focus on family law. She also practices immigration law, representing clients in immigration appeal hearings.

Dr. George Lee is the founder of our law firm. He speaks fluent English, Mandarin and comprehensible Cantonese. Originally graduated from Wuhan University, he attended the University of Calgary in 1992 and achieved an M.A. in English Literature. He was awarded Juris Doctor from the University of Victoria Law School in 2000. Mr. Lee was called to the British Columbia Bar in January 2002. Since then he has been in private practice. For the past decade, Mr. Lee has represented c...lients in all level of court and tribunals including BC Provincial Court, BC Supreme Court, Federal Court of Canada, and Immigration Appeal Division. As an advocate for equal access to justice, Mr. Lee is very active in the community. He volunteers his time and expertise for legal aid services and organizations including the Law Society of British Columbia, the People's Law school, AM1320 Radio Station, Fairchild TV, and SUCCESS. Mr. Lee is also on the advisory committee of the Violence Against Minority Women Project 2010, funded by the Ministry of Attorney General. Mr. Lee is a speaker in a special feature of Talking About Abuse in Mandarin, televised across Canada.

Breaking News: Quebec Announces Allocation For Skilled Worker Program The government of Quebec has announced that it will receive a maximum of 6,300 application...s for a Quebec Selection Certificate through its Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP), which is due to reopen later this year. The cap for the most recent application cycle, which was filled within four months between April 1 and July 30, 2014, was 6,500. New rules regarding the intake of and processing of new applications for the QSWP were expected to be announced by April 1, 2015. While the government of Quebec has announced that the new regulations will be in effect for the period April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016, it has not yet specified precisely when it will begin accepting applications under the program. Recent application cycles for the QWSP did not require candidates to have a job offer from an employer in Quebec, and this factor is not expected to change. Immigration to Quebec through the QSWP is a two-step process. Potential candidates are assessed based on a points-based system that awards points for a candidate’s age, level of education, area of training, work experience, language proficiency, adaptability, and whether or not the candidate has a validated job offer from an employer in Quebec. Points may also be awarded for the characteristics of an applicant’s spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, if applicable. It remains to be seen whether any changes will be made to the existing points grid, which was updated as recently as December, 2014, before the program begins receiving applications later this year. Eligible candidates who successfully submit a complete and accurate application are issued a Quebec Selection Certificate, at which point they may apply for a Canadian permanent resident visa. Though successful applicants to the QSWP become permanent residents of Canada, which entails the freedom of movement and labour rights within Canada that comes with permanent resident status, candidates are required at the outset to have the intention to reside in Quebec. Interest in the program is thought to be substantial because it operates completely outside the government of Canada’s new Express Entry immigration selection system. Candidates eligible for the QSWP may submit an application directly to the program, whereas candidates in the Express Entry pool may only submit an application if they are invited to apply for permanent residence. On January 26, 2015, Quebec released the Area of Training list that is expected to apply to the upcoming application cycle for the QSWP. The new list was positive news for individuals who have degrees in areas such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Accounting, Banking and Financial Operations, as these areas of training, among others, will be awarded significantly more points than was previously the case. A candidate may be exempt from the program cap of 6,300 if he or she: is eligible for an submit an application under the Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise); has enclosed a valid employment offer with the application for a selection certificate that was submitted under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program; has been informed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada that it has agreed to process his or her application for permanent residence in Canada; or is a temporary resident and eligible to submit an application for a Quebec Selection Certificate. Immigration to Quebec The Quebec Skilled Worker Program is typically quite popular, and this year it may even be more popular than usual. First and foremost, Quebec is an attractive immigration destination, particularly the Greater Montreal Area. Indeed, Montreal was recently named by The Economist magazine as the second-best city in the world to live in. Furthermore, potential candidates may be particularly attracted to the program this year as they may make an application directly. Whereas candidates in the Express Entry pool may be reliant on improving their ranking, candidates for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program are in charge of their own destiny. That being said, the most recent application cycle for the program filled up in a rather short period of time, which benefited applicants who had made a head start by collecting documents to prepare an application. I would encourage anyone thinking of applying this year to do likewise.

Check out our new website, there are English, Korean Japanese translations. www.visa649.ca

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE IEC VISA What is the IEC Program? One of the most popular options for young people who wish to come to Canada is the IEC Visa. The IEC (Int...ernational Exchange Canada) programme allows individuals work and travel around Canada for up to two years. Obtaining an IEC visa is a fantastic way to see Canada while earning some money, and there is no obligation to have a job lined up in advance. Who is eligible for the program? Canada has IEC agreements with many countries including most of Europe but it’s best to check if your country of citizenship allows you to take part in the IEC. Eligibility requirements vary and are specific to each country. In most cases, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30. You must also have health insurance and be able to finance yourself in Canada. You can check if you and your country are eligible on Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC). There is a limited amount of IEC visas available per country, and they are issued on a ‘first come, first serve' basis. There is also only a certain timeframe that you can apply for IEC each year. For 2015, CIC have stated that the IEC visa will not be available before mid-February. It’s important to check the CIC website regularly for updates on the program. How to apply There are two ways to apply for Canada’s Working Holiday program. You can either apply directly to the Canadian government, or you can use the services of a recognized organisation. If you choose to apply directly, you must follow these steps: Create a Kompass account. You can only create an account when IEC is open for your country. You must then gather the relevant documents and complete your IEC application for a Conditional Acceptance Letter (CAL). Your Kompass account will help you select which documents you need for your application. You can also take a look at the official Application Guide for assistance with this. Submit your application, required documents and payment. If your application is approved, and you receive your CAL, create a myCIC account to apply for a work permit. CAL’s are only valid for 15 days, so make sure you upload your CAL to your myCIC account within the timeframe. It generally takes six weeks for a work permit to be approved. If it is not approved, you will be provided with a letter of explanation. If your work permit is approved, you will be sent a Letter of Introduction (LOI) confirming your approval.

Good news for Canadian Chinese, 10-year visa issue started March 9, 2015.

Burnaby Office: 608 - 4538 Kingsway (Crystal Office Building)

Richmond Office: 1025 - 4000 No.3 Road (Aberdeen Square)