Presenter/s: Patricia Mendes RISIA and
Date: 10 June 2026
Time: 2 - 4 pm Pacific
Location: webinar
Type: webinar and recording
Price: $50.00
CPD approval:
- LSBC 2 hours - 2 CPD hours approved. Video recording will expire 31 December 2025. Attendance to this course will provide you with .5 hours/30 minutes of ethics and professional responsibility component for your BC Law Society reporting.
- Law Societies of Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia
- For members of these Law Societies, consider including this course as a CPD learning activity in your mandatory annual requirements.
Outline:
- Understanding refusal trends across Study Permits, SOWP, and PGWP
- Most common refusal reasons and how to proactively address them
- Key weaknesses in applications (documentation, intent, financials)
- Officer decision-making: what matters and why
- Strategies to strengthen applications before submission
- Reconsideration requests: when, why, and how to use them effectively
- ATIP requests: how to obtain and interpret GCMS notes
- Using refusal notes to improve reapplications
- Brief overview of judicial review (when escalation is appropriate)
- Case studies and practical analysis (for extended sessions)
Competency mapping
RCIC
Foundational Knowledge
1.4 Differentiates the principal categories and classes of temporary and permanent immigration.
1.4.2 Analyzes the requirements, procedures and limitations for each category and class of immigration.
Professionalism
6.1 Demonstrates and maintains competence in practice
6.1.2 Stays current and complies with legislation, regulation, professional standards, policies and guidelines.
Communication, Counselling and Advocacy
8.2 Uses effective counselling skills when interacting with the client.
8.2.4 Dynamically assesses and sorts through the information for importance and relevancy to the issues
RISIA
Foundational knowledge
1.4 Differentiates the principal categories and classes of temporary and permanent immigration, with greater focus on student class.
1.4.2 Shows familiarity with the requirements and limitations for each category and class of immigration.
Student Advising and Coaching
2.1 Conducts a preliminary assessment of the student's profile and needs to determine the appropriate approach to the case.
Professionalism
5.1 Demonstrates and maintains competence in practice
5.1.2 Stays current and complies with legislation, regulation, professional standards, policies and guidelines.
Patricia Mendes RISIA
Patricia is a Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA) with over five years of experience supporting international students as they navigate both academic and immigration pathways. She began her career in 2020 at an immigration consultancy and, in 2021, joined a well-respected school in Toronto, where she discovered her passion for helping students and institutions alike. Since obtaining her RISIA license in 2023, Patricia has been with the University of Niagara Falls Canada, developing practical strategies to guide students toward success.
While speakers and topics are confirmed at the time of publication, sometimes things happen which are beyond the control of Imm Seminars. If that happens substitutions or cancellations to speaker/s and/or topic/s may be necessary. In those cases, Imm Seminars will advise all registrants by email as soon as possible. We will also update the Imm Seminars website.
