Canadian-side counsel for cross-border immigration and business.
Our office is about 5.5 kilometres from the Peace Arch border crossing, and a large part of what we see involves both countries: a spouse sponsoring a partner who currently lives in the US, a company doing business on both sides of the line, or a family with property or beneficiaries in both places. We're licensed to practise law in British Columbia, and we're direct about where that licence ends.
Two countries, two legal systems.
Living or doing business near the border doesn't mean a legal problem stays on one side of it. A Canadian sponsoring a US-based spouse, a business owner selling into Washington State, or a family with a vacation property south of the line all have one thing in common: part of their matter is Canadian, and part of it isn't.
We are members of the Law Society of British Columbia, not the bar of any US state. Under the Law Society's own rules on practitioners of foreign law, a BC lawyer who isn't also qualified in a foreign jurisdiction cannot give legal advice on that jurisdiction's law. We handle the Canadian side of a cross-border matter directly, and we say plainly when a piece of it needs a licensed US attorney instead of guessing or stretching what our licence covers.
What we can help with.
On the Canadian side of a cross-border matter, we regularly handle:
Canadian immigration sponsorship
Spousal and family sponsorship applications to bring a partner or family member from the US into Canada under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and Canadian permanent residence matters generally.
Canadian business and asset structuring
Incorporating and structuring the Canadian side of a business that also operates in the US, and advising on how a Canadian entity holds assets or does business across the border.
Wills and estates with cross-border assets
Wills and estate plans for BC residents who hold property, investments, or beneficiaries in the US, covering the Canadian half of the plan.
What a cross-border move involves, generally
A plain explanation of the Canadian legal steps involved in relocating, investing, or doing business across the border, so you know what's ahead before it starts.
What requires a US-licensed lawyer.
We don't give legal advice on US law, and these matters need a licensed US attorney:
US immigration petitions
Applications and petitions filed with US Citizenship and Immigration Services, or matters before US immigration courts, including employment-based visa categories.
US corporate, securities, and tax law
Forming a US entity, US securities compliance, and advice on US federal or state tax obligations.
Representation in US courts
Any matter that requires appearing before a US court or a US administrative body, which requires admission to that jurisdiction's bar.
What happens at the border.
Entering Canada at a land crossing like the Peace Arch starts with primary inspection: a Canada Border Services Agency officer checks your identification and travel documents at the first checkpoint. Being sent to secondary inspection for a closer look at documents, goods, or a declaration isn't an indication of wrongdoing; it's a routine part of how the CBSA processes travellers, and officers there can help complete a declaration that wasn't finished at primary.
Travellers carrying CAD$10,000 or more in currency or monetary instruments must declare it to the CBSA when entering Canada; a similar reporting threshold applies to US Customs and Border Protection when entering the United States. What happens at the US side of the crossing is governed by US law and CBP's own procedures, which fall outside what we can advise on directly.
When you need a referral to US counsel.
Part of handling a cross-border matter well is recognizing early when it needs to move to someone licensed on the other side of the line. We can identify which parts of your situation are Canadian and which need US counsel, explain how the two pieces fit together, and work alongside a US attorney you retain, instead of leaving you to figure out the split on your own.
If you already have US counsel for the American side of a matter, we can coordinate directly with them on the Canadian side, so the two halves of your file move in step instead of past each other.
Practice areas most relevant to cross-border clients.
Cross-border matters tend to cluster around a few practice areas on the Canadian side, depending on whether the issue is about people, a business, or an estate.
Immigration law
Spousal and family sponsorship, permanent residence, and Canadian immigration status for people moving between the US and Canada.
Business and commercial law
Canadian-side contracts, structuring, and compliance for businesses that also operate or sell across the border.
Corporate services
Incorporating and maintaining the Canadian entity in a cross-border corporate structure.
Wills and estates
Estate plans for BC residents with property, investments, or beneficiaries on the US side of the border.
Explore the services most relevant to cross-border matters: Immigration law, Business and commercial law, Corporate services, Wills and estates
Sort out the Canadian side first.
If your situation touches both sides of the border, book a free consultation and we'll walk through what's actually Canadian, what needs a US attorney, and how the two fit together, before you spend money moving in the wrong direction.