The Immigration Journey of Spouses and Dependent Children of International Students: Eligibility, Application, Challenges and Options
8:30 am to 12:00 pm
This workshop will explore the different options available in the legislation for dependents of international students to come to Canada, the challenges they face and how to determine which option is best for each situation. Participants will discuss what should be included in a template application as well as how to adapt the template to the personal circumstance of each individual. The workshop will also cover the procedure for extending the stay during and after the principal applicant’s studies.
By the end of this workshop, participants should expect to:
- Develop an in-depth understanding of the relevant sections of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) related to dependants of international students.
- Be better equipped to advise students and their dependants on how to build strong applications.
- Develop a better understand of how to address potential concerns that processing officers may have when assessing applications from dependants of international students.
Facilitators
Imaru Baquero Manager, International Student Services (University of Lethbridge)
Imarú (Ima) Baquero has worked in international education for over 12 years, in both college and university environments, and currently works as the Manager, International Student Services at the University of Lethbridge. Her responsibilities have included international strategic planning, international student support and advising, education abroad, partnership development, and international student enrolment management. Imarú has been a RISIA since 2017. She is one of the instructors of the CBIE International Students and Immigration Education Program. She is a member of the CBIE Immigration Advisory Committee and also serves as a co-chair of the CBIE Student Advising Professional Learning Community.
Patrick Bissonnette, International Student Advisor at (Université Laval)
Patrick Bissonnette is passionate about immigration, international education, and intercultural understanding and has been involved in the field for almost 20 years. Since 2006, Patrick has been an International Student Advisor at Université Laval. He holds the RCIC designation as well as a Bachelor’s in Social Work (Université Laval, 2004). He has also taught in the Programme d’études sur l’immigration et les étudiants internationaux (PEIEI) and is a frequent guest lecturer for the International Student Immigration Education Program (ISIEP). Since 2019, Patrick has sat on the CBIE Immigration Advisory Committee. He has a lifelong interest in international education and is fluent in French, English and Spanish.
Inadmissibility, Enforcement, Recourses, and International Student Immigration Advising
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
This interactive workshop will examine the most common grounds of inadmissibility encountered by international student immigration advisers, namely, misrepresentation and failure to comply with a provision of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The workshop will explore the legislation, policy directives, and case law related to these grounds of inadmissibility as a basis for denying entry and enforcing removal from Canada.
By the end of this workshop, participants should expect to:
- Develop an in-depth understanding of the grounds of inadmissibility and the procedures international students may undergo when inadmissibility is suspected or determined.
- Based on your scope of practice, be better equipped to advise international students facing allegations of inadmissibility or enforcement proceedings.
- Be better equipped to guide students when confronted with the possibility or confirmed inadmissibility.
- Understand the complexities of ‘misrepresentation’ and ‘failure to comply’ as the most common grounds of inadmissibility encountered in international student immigration advising.
Facilitators
Tatiana Gomez, LLB
Tatiana Gomez is an immigration and refugee lawyer who worked in private practice from 2009 to 2021. In 2021, she joined the International Student Office at Concordia University as an Immigration Specialist. Tatiana taught in the Immigration Consulting Program at Vanier College from 2011 to 2015. She also taught in the Certificate Program in Immigration at the University of British Columbia (UBC) from 2015 to 2021. Currently, she collaborates with CBIE on the International Students and Immigration Education Program as a content developer and course instructor. She has a vast scope of experience as an immigration practitioner and instructor in the field of immigration and refugee law. She is the daughter of working-class immigrant parents.
Uplift, Leverage and Empower: A Safe Space for IBPOC Practitioners In International Education
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
This workshop aims to create a safe and supportive space for international education (IE) practitioners who identify as Indigenous, Black or People of Colour (IBPOC). Highlighting the voices and lived experiences of being IBPOC professionals within IE, this session will deepen participants’ understanding of foundational concepts related to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), identifying and responding to bias and microaggressions as well as empowering individuals to strategically navigate workspaces where their perspectives, identity and contributions continue to be valued and celebrated. Complimentary interactive activities, dialogue formats and practical strategies will allow participants to leave the session with greater self-awareness and connection to the community within IE.
Note: This session is intended for IBPOC individuals only. In creating this space, CBIE and the facilitators recognize that identity is complex, and everyone will come to this space with different lived experiences and terms that reflect identity. Registering and attending the session is based on each individual’s self-identification. We welcome those who feel they belong in this space in connection to IBPOC identities.
By the end of this workshop, participants should expect to:
- Describe foundational concepts related to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and connect these concepts to lived experience.
- Develop a deeper understanding of how to situate and ground oneself when faced with biases and microaggressions.
- Apply strategies to influence workspaces, teams and the students they care for by bringing diverse perspectives and nuanced understandings as an IBPOC professional/practitioner.
Facilitators
Rohene Bouajram, Associate Director of Strategic Indigenous, Black and Persons of Colour (IBPOC) Initiatives, University of British Columbia
Rohene Bouajram is an uninvited settler from Zimbabwe, and her experience of upheaving everything she knew to be true, safe and in alignment leads her to embody these values in everything she becomes involved in. With over 19 years of experience in higher education, Rohene is a purpose-driven educator, leader and sought-after expert on Canadian immigration legislation, transformational systemic change and strategic program development and partnerships. Rohene is currently the Associate Director of Strategic Indigenous, Black and Persons of Colour (IBPOC) Initiatives at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, where she leads the advancement of equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization and anti-racism in policies, initiatives and programming for IBPOC students. She has studied in Zimbabwe, Canada, Finland and China, holds an MA in International and Intercultural Communication, a BA in Psychology and is certified as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). She enjoys being of service to many communities – from designing curriculum on Canadian immigration legislation and international education, serving on executive boards of the UBC Black Caucus, Society of Intercultural Training and Research (SIETAR) BC Chapter and Queen’s National Advisory Committee to lending her expertise to task forces, national and provincial working groups, speaking at national and international conferences and writing publications to raise awareness of complex issues affecting individuals from marginalized and underrepresented groups. When she isn’t lost in a book, you can find her on the sidelines of a soccer field cheering her son on.
Teresa Brooks, Associate Director of International Student Services, Langara College
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Teresa Brooks 黃德蘭 is a first-generation immigrant who witnessed the challenges her parents faced and has herself experienced racism and othering while growing up. Though she didn’t realize it at the time, this would fuel her passion for instilling equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) throughout her work. Currently, Teresa is the Associate Director, International Student Services at Langara College. With over 20 years of experience in International Education, her work focuses on international student support, transition and engagement. More recently, Teresa served on Langara’s Internationalization Strategy Development working group and now serves on the Working Committee for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Principles. Teresa’s professional EDI journey began in 2014 when she heard Elder Bob Joseph speak. This was a pivotal mind-opening moment, and since then, she has never stopped Indigenous, intercultural and EDI learning. Teresa has an MEd in Counselling Psychology, holds a Certificate in Anti-Racism Awareness from the University of British Colombia (UBC), as well as a certificate in D&I and Anti-Racism Education from CCDI, and is an IDI Qualified Administrator. She is passionate about continuous learning to unlearn oppressive attitudes and relearn strategies to engage within inequitable systems and empower.
