B.A., J.D.
Michael O’Rourke
Michael O’Rourke has practised immigration law almost exclusively since 2010.
Barrister & Solicitor (Ontario, British Columbia)
Attorney-at-Law (Washington, Oregon, Nevada)
Foreign Legal Consultant (Ontario)
Michael works diligently with clients to develop strategic immigration plans that meet their short-term and long-term needs. Michael understands how confusing it can be to navigate the immigration systems in Canada and the U.S. and provides his legal services with compassion and dedication to his clients.
Michael provides his legal services to corporate and individual clients on a wide variety of Canadian immigration matters including Intra-company transfers, NAFTA work permits, Labour Market Impact Assessments, and Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class permanent residence applications through the Express Entry System. On the U.S. side, Michael focuses on the preparation and filing of green card applications, naturalization applications, treaty trader and treaty investor company registrations, L-1 intracompany transfers and TN visa applications. Michael has also assisted many clients in abandoning their green cards and renouncing U.S. citizenship. Michael also works closely with clients on both sides of the border to deal with admissibility issues they may encounter including the filing of temporary resident permit applications, criminal rehabilitation applications and nonimmigrant waivers.
Michael frequently liaises with the various offices of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the U.S. Consulates in major Canadian cities. He also deals with officers at various ports of entry along the Canadian and U.S. border and American pre-flight inspection offices at Canadian international airports. In his role as Chapter Chair of the Canada Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Michael is at the forefront of the latest developments impacting cross-border mobility.
Michael is fluent in French and German and has a good working knowledge of Spanish and he is available to assist our clients worldwide.
Admissions & Associations
Called to the Oregon State Bar (2000)
Called to the Washington State Bar (2002)
Called to the Ontario Bar (2014)
Called to the British Columbia Bar (2016) American Immigration Lawyers Section – Canada Chapter
Chapter Chair and Board of Governors Member 2019-2020 Canadian Bar Association – Immigration Law Section Refugee Sponsorship Support Program
Education
J.D., Brooklyn Law School (1998) B.A. (cum laude), Wayne State University (1992)