Queen’s Marque
600-1741 Lower Water Street
Halifax, N.S.
B3J 0J2
sespinalhenao@stewartmckelvey.com
Language(s) spoken: English, French, Spanish
Bar Admission(s): Nova Scotia, 2018
Legal Assistant(s): Linsay Newell
Sara works with foreign nationals and permanent residents who are seeking advice on immigration matters. She also assists Canadian businesses involved with the immigration system. Sara:
- Advises clients on their immigration options, from temporary status to permanent residence and ultimately, citizenship.
- Assists clients with the preparation of complex federal and provincial immigration applications.
- Advocates for clients at various levels of the Canadian immigration system.
- Assisting clients in overcoming criminal and medical inadmissibility issues
- Assisting individual clients seeking immigration into Canada as traders, investors, self-employed persons, and entrepreneurs
- Provide industry-specific immigration strategy for companies engaged in the IT sector
- Provide immigration strategies for francophone individuals
- Providing and implementing immigration strategies for corporations and individuals.
- Assisting with Labour Market Impact Applications, Work Permit applications, and Business Visitor documentation.
- Advising on permanent residency options and requirements.
- Guiding employers on their responsibilities when hiring and employing foreign workers.
- Acting as immigration representative on various applications for temporary workers and prospective permanent residents.
- Facilitating the short-term entry of managers and professionals through work permit exemptions.
- Assisting multinational companies in securing work permits for individuals transferring to a Canadian subsidiary for temporary work assignments.
- Assisting companies in securing work permits for highly skilled foreign workers from various countries worldwide.
- Advising employers on how to respond to immigration audits, maintain proper records related to the employment of foreign workers, and obligations as an employer of foreign workers.
Practice Areas
Education & Career
Education
McGill University, B.C.L./LLB, 2017
McGill University, BA (joint honours in International Development Studies and Political Science), 2013
Activities
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Vice-Chair of the CBA NS – Citizenship and Immigration Section, September 2022 – Present
Atlantic chapter head, Canadian Hispanic Bar Association
Legal volunteer, reachAbility Association, April 2018 – present
Corporate secretary, Fusion Halifax, 2017 – present
Case worker, McGill’s Humanitarian & Compassionate Project, 2015 – 2017
Legal volunteer, Legal Information Clinic at McGill, 2015 – 2016
Senior editor, Inter Gentes – The McGill Journal of International Law and Legal Pluralism, 2014 – 2016
Accolades
McGill University Dean’s List
Thought Leadership
Beyond the Border: A Year End Immigration Wrap-Up
December 13, 2022
think: international talent
November 29, 2022
Nova Scotia: Canada’s emerging immigration hub
November 17, 2022
Atlantic Canada offers immigration pathways for workers in Trucking, Health, Construction and Food Service Industries
July 27, 2022
Beyond the border: Immigration update – July 2022
July 18, 2022
Canada launches new measure to support Ukrainians at home and abroad; The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel
March 18, 2022
Beyond the border: Immigration update – October 2021
October 20, 2021
Canada’s bid to attract entrepreneurs: the Start-up Visa Program
October 16, 2020
Beyond the border: Immigration update – January 2020
January 31, 2020
Presentations
“Avoiding and Dealing with a Study Permit Refusal”, Memorial University
“Study Permits: Refusals and Re-Application”, MUN Internationalization Office session
January 18, 2022
“The legal implications of chronic illness or disability on the pursuit of citizenship”, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
July 31, 2018