Barbara Jo Caruso
Toronto, Canada
Corporate Immigration Law Firm
5 Church Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1M2
Phone: +1 416-368-1111
Fax: +1 416-368-9994
Barbara Jo Caruso’s Story
Education & Affiliations
University of Guelph, BA, 1989
University of Windsor, LLB 1992
Law Clerk -Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Fall 1991
Called to the Bar of Ontario, 1994
Certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Immigration Law, 2004 to Present
University of Windsor, LLB 1992
Law Clerk -Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Fall 1991
Called to the Bar of Ontario, 1994
Certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Immigration Law, 2004 to Present
Chair Canadian Bar Association – Immigration Law Section, Sept 2018 – Aug 2019
Highlights
- Co-Founded Corporate Immigration Law Firm.
- Practiced law for over twenty-five years in the area of citizenship and immigration law initially as an Associate at Smith Lyons LLP, and subsequent to the merger, with Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP as a Partner.
- Co-author of the leading Canadian immigration and citizenship text books: The Annotated Immigration Refugee Protection Act and Citizenship Act published by Thomson Reuters.
- Early professional experience includes working as a Canadian Customs Officer at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
- Experienced and successful in securing temporary and permanent visas to Canada for a variety of newcomers, including senior executives of major multi-national corporations; highly skilled and technical workers; professionals, such as engineers, accountants, actors, athletes, lawyers, doctors, veterinarians, computer system analysts, and management consultants; and spouses, children and parents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
- Earned an enviable reputation for personal service.
- Responsible for securing over 100 work permits for employees of a major retail chain to ensure they had experienced managers, supervisors and support staff available to help with the opening of their first Canadian store.
- Secured approval of work permits for CEOs and Presidents of major corporations on very short notice, to ensure a seamless change in leadership and minimal disruption to local business operations.
- Experienced in adjusting immigration status for key personnel already in Canada, and minimizing the risk of a disruption to business and loss of business opportunities.
- Assisted individuals and families with criminal or medical issues to enable them to enter Canada.
- Successfully obtained visas to reunite family members.
- Developed and advised on strategies to permit individuals to protect and maintain their permanent resident status in Canada.
- Provided critical input to employers with respect to various implications of hiring foreign nationals.
- Prepared and successfully advocated applications for Canadian Citizenship.
- Has appeared before the Immigration Appeal Division and Federal Court with respect to both immigration and citizenship matters.
- Has appeared before Senate Committee hearings with respect to amendments to the former Immigration Act and Bill C-24 to Amend the Citizenship Act.
- Canadian Bar Association Immigration Section Executive Member at Large September 2009 to Present.
- Barbara is a past contributor to the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Bulletin, a presenter at the Ontario Justice Education Network, and has guest lectured at Seneca College and the Canadian Bar Association Continuing Legal Education program