Tag Archives: borders

France Has Reopened Borders To Canadian Travelers

In case you missed it, on June 30, France and the other Member States of the European Union adopted a recommendation on the reopening of Europe’s external borders from July 1, 2020, to a first list of fourteen countries, including Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia [this may not be the case considering Covid developments there the past few days] , Thailand, as well as China, subject to reciprocity. This list will be reviewed every two weeks.

In view of the satisfactory epidemiological evolution on European territory, new measures have been adopted following the decisions taken on June 15 with regards to the reopening of European borders (Schengen area) and the opening of borders to international visitors after July 1.

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The first countries eligible for this reopening are: Australia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Thailand, Uruguay, three North African States (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), two Eastern European States (Montenegro, Serbia) and Georgia.

The United States, Russia, Israel, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are, at this stage, excluded from this list, as the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic is considered to be more serious there than in Europe. The reopening of borders with China is moreover suspended on the principle of reciprocity (China has not yet reopened its borders to European travellers).

As a reminder, the internal borders of the European Union – Schengen area reopened June 15 (and Spain’s on June 21). All health and security measures are being taken on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the border restrictions are lifted in the best possible conditions.

However, the British government (the United Kingdom being, in the post-Brexit transition period, still considered as an EU Member State) has decided to impose since June 8 a 2-week period quarantine on foreign travellers, therefore France is applying the rule of reciprocity until further notice. However, the 2-week period quarantine measure should evolve in the near-future.  For the Silo, Marie-Andree.Boucher.

France was visited by 1.2 million Canadians in 2018.

More information on reopening and sanitary precaution’s in France can be found on France.fr.

5 Tips For Choosing Good Immigration Lawyers

You increase your chances of approval when working with a specialist in immigration law. However, you must be careful when choosing a lawyer in order to avoid falling into the wrong hands. Many fraudsters take advantage of applicants who are doing everything they can to move to Canada or any other country. You may pay a high fee for poor services if you make the wrong decision. Some rogue lawyers or consultants do not even deliver the service but give endless excuses after receiving the fees. Here are some tips to help you choose the right immigration lawyer.

1. Utilize Your Consultation Fee Fully
You have an opportunity to ask all manner of questions and judge the quality of services during the consultation process. Ask as many questions as you can about the process. You may only have a few minutes to interact with the lawyer if the firm charges a low consultation fee. However, you can utilize that time fully and determine if the lawyer has enough experience in handling the immigration process.

2. Hire a Specialist
The major reason why you should hire an immigration lawyer is to ensure that your application is completed and submitted within the deadline. If a lawyer handles all types of legal cases, he or she may not have expertise in your type of application. The lawyer may miss some requirements if immigration is not his or her specialty. Ask about the range of services during the consultation process to determine if the lawyer is a specialist in immigration law.

3. Ask About the Fees Before Signing the Contract
A fraudulent lawyer will rush you to sign a contract even before you discuss the fees. Do not fall for this trick with any lawyer. Discuss the fees and agree before signing a contract. The best lawyers will give you an option to choose fixed fees payable in installments. Determine the best rate depending on the nature of services or case and ensure that the agreement appears on the contract. This brings us to another important tip.

4. Ensure that Both of You Sign a Written Contract
Insist on a written contract even if you trust the lawyer. Many lawyers know that clients expect a written document before agreeing to use their services. Fraudulent lawyers will leave out some important clauses such as the fees charged. Others will push you to sign the documents but fail to sign their part. Do not take any excuses for delays in signing the contract. Go through the document to ensure that it is accurate and comprehensive. Ensure that the lawyer signs the necessary parts and keep a copy of the contract.

5. Trust Your Gut
If you develop any doubts during the consultation process or regular communication, stop the negotiations immediately and get another lawyer. Discontinue the process if the lawyer gives dishonest answers even for the simplest questions. If your intuition tells you that a lawyer is not interested in meeting your needs, trust it and move on. If it feels wrong, there are high chances that you are talking to the wrong immigration lawyer.

NewZealand Immigration
Hiring the right immigration lawyer is the best decision you can make if you want to move to another country. An immigration specialist will make sure the application process is fast and easier and will relieve much of the stress associated with the whole process. Taking the time to ensure that you have the right lawyer is an essential first step in the process. For the Silo, Dimitry Karloff.