Vancouver Immigration Lawyer
Joshua is the managing partner of Slayen Immigration Law (“SIL”), which is a 24/7 emergency immigration law firm that provides full-range immigration services to individual and corporate clients world-wide.
Joshua assists clients with immigration processing, admissibility issues, procedural fairness matters and refusals. He regularly appears before the Immigration and Refugee Board (“IRB”), its Appeal Division (“IAD”), and the Federal Court of Canada. Joshua specializes in cases that involve misrepresentation, criminality, security, residency, detention, and application delays (Mandamus).
Joshua has a diverse background in immigration law, which includes litigating complex immigration matters and the processing of various temporary residence, permanent residence / citizenship applications, and labour market impact assessments (“LMIA”) to Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada / international Canadian visa offices, Canada Border Services Agency, and ESDC / Service Canada.
Joshua is well-known in the industry for accompanying clients to ports-of-entry across Canada to resolve admissibility issues, and to facilitate the processing of complex work permit applications. He also works with individuals and families – with an emphasis on employment, investment, humanitarian / compassionate and family sponsorship-based applications.
Joshua prides himself in his client-responsiveness, and endeavors to bring his positive and upbeat attitude to every file, regardless of the difficult circumstances that the client may find themselves in. Joshua is passionate about immigration law – and is committed to helping clients turn visions into working realities through creative and innovative immigration strategies and a client-focused approach.
Joshua graduated from law school in 2009 with distinction and a gold medal. He was first called to the Bar in North Dakota, and later called to the Bars in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. Prior to founding SIL, Joshua practiced immigration law with other leading immigration firms in Canada. Joshua has been listed as a top-10 Vancouver immigration lawyer.
Joshua started law-blogging for The Huffington Post in 2012 – and is regularly consulted by media outlets regarding Canadian immigration law and policy. He previously sat on the Canadian Bar Association’s Executive Committee – Immigration Division, where he participated policy developments that impacted the Canadian legal profession. He has become a regular on the immigration-lecture circuit nation-wide, where he enjoys sharing his working knowledge of complex immigration issues with fellow and prospective immigration professionals and students. Joshua also serves as an adjunct-professor at Queen’s School of Law in Kingston, Ontario, where he teaches Family-Class Immigration.
Outside of work Joshua enjoys trying new restaurants, walking and sailing “Seneca” in the Gulf Islands and Puget Sound.
Joshua also has law offices in Surrey, Victoria and Abbotsford, British Columbia. He can be contacted at joshua@slayenlaw.com and 604-754-2405.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Winnpeg
- Juris Doctor, University of North Dakota
Attention to Detail
Joshua has a diverse background in immigration law, which has included litigating complex immigration matters, and the processing of various temporary residence, permanent residence and citizenship applications to Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and international Canadian visa offices.
Experience
Prior to creating his own firm, Joshua practiced immigration law with other leading immigration firms in Canada. He was first called to the Bar in North Dakota (2009), and later called to the Bar in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
Miguel A. Martins Pereirinha Immigration Lawyer | Partner
Miguel’s academic journey began at the University of Kent, where he earned an LLB with honors. While at Kent, he was actively involved in the Legal Advice Clinic, offering pro bono legal services and gaining invaluable experience across a range of legal matters.
After graduation, Miguel served as the case manager for his local Member of Parliament. During this time, he developed a deep passion for helping newcomers to Canada. This experience gave him unique insights and a strong foundation for his career as a Canadian immigration lawyer.
As an associate lawyer, Miguel specializes in a wide range of immigration-related services, including work permits for businesses and individuals, study permits, visitor visas, and permanent resident applications. When necessary, he represents clients in Federal Court.
Miguel’s approach is characterized by a detailed and compassionate understanding of each client’s unique situation, ensuring they receive the best possible guidance and support throughout their immigration journey. His dedication to making the complex immigration process accessible has earned him the trust of his clients.
Called to the bar of British Columbia in January 2021, Miguel is a member of the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association.
Steve Parr Of Counsel
Steve Parr practices with Parr Business Law which is in collaboration with Slayen Immigration Law. Steve and his team bring a wealth of expertise and a straightforward approach to every client interaction.
An entrepreneur at heart, Steve founded and sold a vacation rental company before launching Parr Business Law in 2017. Steve earned his law degree from the University of Victoria in 2014 and also holds a B.A. in Women’s Studies.
When he’s not in the office, you’ll find Steve pursuing his passion for learning new languages, surfing, playing pickleball, spikeball or hitting up some sauna and cold plunge locale. Forever committed to inner work, Steve has also been a member of the Vancouver personal growth community, the Arka Brotherhood for nearly a decade.
Practice Areas
- Company Formation (Incorporations)
- Commercial Drafting
- Estate Planning
- Power of Attorney, Representation Agreements, Wills
- Family Trusts
- Complex Corporate Reorganizations
Memberships
- Society of Trust and Estate Professionals (STEP): Steve holds the prestigious TEP designation
- Entrepreneurs Organization Accelerator (EOA)
- Certified Executor Advisor (CEA): Steve is a Certified Executor Advisor
- Boutique Counsel Network (BCN): Steve helped found this community for British Columbia lawyers, which currently boasts over 350 members
Dean Szikinger Of Counsel
Dean practices with Zaifman Immigration and in collaboration with Slayen Immigration Law. He has been assisting individuals and families with all types of Canadian immigration applications for over a decade. He has experience resolving complex matters involving refused applications, inadmissibility, procedural fairness, and out of status applicants. He regularly represents clients before the administrative tribunals of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and in Federal Court. Dean also works with employers and businesses to guide them through the process of obtaining positive Labour Market Impact Assessments, and he assists individuals to obtain work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program.
Dean is Past Chair of the Manitoba Bar Association Immigration Law Section and Past President of the Community Legal Education Association. He is involved in the community by volunteering with other organizations such as the Newcomer Employment and Education Development Service.
Dean immigrated to Canada from Hungary with his family in the 1990s. He knows firsthand the unique needs and challenges faced by immigrants and their families, and he considers it a privilege to be in a position to help.
Guin Sykes Administrative Assistant
Guin is our talented Administrative Assistant who now assists with a wide range of matters after initially joining the firm as a receptionist.
Outside of the office, Guin enjoys rock climbing, fine art, and coffee.
Emily Mountain Junior Legal Assistant
Emily joined the firm in August of 2022 as a Junior Legal Assistant. Being one of the youngest members of our firm, she is passionate about her studies in criminology, which is what sparked her interest in working in the legal industry, and is quickly learning the ins and outs of law. Emily has an extensive background in Customer Service, and loves learning and exploring new skills.
On the weekends, you can find Emily at home with her family, including her cat, Flicker, and her two dogs. She enjoys being outdoors, especially on horseback, and loves hiking up mountains to admire the multitude of colours of autumn from above.
Selena Fan Global Immigration Specialist
Selena Fan is a licensed Canadian immigration consultant and Global Immigration Specialist, working alongside Slayen Immigration Law on “world” immigration matters. With 15 years of experience, Selena assists individuals and corporate clients in immigrating to Canada, the USA, Mexico, Grenada, Panama and Europe. Her specialties include investor-focused immigration programs, particularly the Canadian Start-Up Visa and the U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, where she works closely with high-net-worth clients to navigate their unique needs.
With extensive experience in international immigration, Selena offers strategic support to clients looking to explore opportunities in different countries. She takes a personalized approach, crafting solutions that fit each client’s unique immigration goals, whether they involve investment, residency, or citizenship. Known for her quick responses and attention to detail, Selena is dedicated to making the global immigration process as smooth and successful as possible for her clients.
Selena holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and commerce from the University of British Columbia and graduated with honors in immigration law from Ashton College. As a member in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), she offers informed, reliable guidance grounded in both academic and practical experience.
Whether you’re an individual or a business seeking investor immigration solutions in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Grenada, Panama or Europe, Selena provides a full suite of services tailored to high-net-worth clients. Trust her expertise and commitment to make your immigration journey successful and stress-free.
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