Enjoying a Long Career and Still Growing with Corporate Immigration Law Expert Joel Guberman

Joining me on the podcast today is Joel Guberman, Senior Immigration Counsel at CILF-Caruso, Guberman, Appleby. For over 35 years, Joel has been practicing in the field of immigration law, advising his clients on immigration issues related to conducting business across international borders, including applications for visas and work-permits. He also advises on matters such as North American free trade, treaty investors and treaty traders, and other issues related to worldwide skilled worker immigration.

In our conversation today, Joel describes how his career in immigration law got started, the biggest challenges he feels Canadian business owners face when selling to the US market, immigration process solutions for these businesses, and Canadian visas for Americans. He also delves into the intricacies involved in obtaining green cards and resident status in the US, the moves that he has made throughout his career, the biggest challenges in the legal profession today, and what has surprised him the most over the years in his work. Joel finishes up by detailing his saving pattern, his highly articulate definition of financial independence, and what the future holds for him.

Listen to the Podcast – Download the Transcript

Highlights:

Joel started his Canadian immigration career doing U.S. immigration, and he still does a lot of U.S. immigration from everywhere in the world, but Canada in particular.
Despite its success, Joel didn’t enjoy the amount of bureaucracy in his day within a large firm, so he left to create his own boutique (but not small) firm of three partners, 10 lawyers, and about 20 staff.
Joel’s main role in his firm is to do the strategic thinking for the immigration work.
For Joel, financial independence is not just the savings, but it’s also the ability to earn income, which still maintains interest for him.
His plans for the future include growing his business, playing with his grandchildren, and possibly doing more public speaking and teaching.

Quotes:

“There are lots of solutions for Canadian businesses within the Free Trade Agreement and even outside the Free Trade Agreement.”

“Tax people in the United States cannot understand the Canada tax and Canada to U.S. tax situation as well as Canadians who are licensed on both sides of the border.”

“Cybersecurity is the biggest thing that we have to deal with right now, without a question.”

“I think that’s a key to financial independence. Love what you’re doing, not necessarily your employment, but love your retirement, love where you are in the world, and that’s independence.”