Sergio R. Karas, B.A., J.D., is a Canadian Barrister and Solicitor and a Certified Specialist in Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Law by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Mr. Karas is an honors graduate in Political Science from York University and obtained his Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. He speaks fluent English, French and Spanish and has a working knowledge of Italian, Portuguese and German. Mr. Karas is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association Citizenship and Immigration Section, Past Chair of the International Bar Association (IBA) Immigration and Nationality Committee, Vice Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Canada Committee, Section of International law, member of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He has been invited on numerous occasions to address other lawyers and human resources managers at major international professional gatherings, such as the annual IBA Conferences and the sessions of the Center for International Legal Studies in Salzburg, Austria. He is listed in "Who is Who in Corporate Immigration Law" as a leading immigration legal practitioner.
Mr. Karas contributes to the press providing current information about Canada's immigration law and policies. He provides immigration policy insight and commentary to Canada's national press. He is a regular guest on local, national and international radio and television programs, and hosted his own show "Immigration and You" in ITV and Vision of Asia in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Karas is the Editor of "Global Business Immigration Handbook". Mr. Karas is contributing writer on immigration issues for Canadian HR Reporter and Canadian Employment Law Today. He also taught immigration law at Sheridan College in Toronto.
Mr. Karas has been instrumental in effecting changes to Canadian immigration visa policies through his involvement in US-Canada relations and border security issues. Multinational corporations and community organizations alike engage Mr. Karas in an advisory capacity, conducting staff seminars and providing guidance. He was a member of the Board of Directors of JIAS (Jewish Immigrant Aid Services) in Toronto for ten years, and is currently a board member of other community organizations.
In addition to his primary role as an immigration lawyer, Mr. Karas' involvement in the international scene goes far beyond the provision of routine legal services. He was catapulted to the world spotlight for his work in defense of the rights of Holocaust survivors and their heirs claiming dormant Swiss bank accounts and gold stolen by the Nazis during WWII, and has been profiled in the book "Hitler's Silent Partners: Swiss Banks, Nazi Gold and the Pursuit of Justice" by Isabel Vincent, award-winning Canadian journalist, published worldwide in English, French, German and Italian. Adam LeBor, foreign correspondent for the Times of London, has also quoted him extensively in the book "Hitler's Secret Bankers". His work in this subject has earned him international praise from individuals and organizations.
Mr. Karas' law firm, Karas Immigration Law Professional Corporation, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is dedicated to the successful settlement of qualified immigrants including professionals, self-employed, entrepreneurs, and investors, and to assisting corporations to implement successful migration strategies for managerial, executive and technical personnel. It also represents family class immigrants and sponsored relatives. It assists clients with US Consular processing and NAFTA petitions. Karas Immigration Law Professional Corporation is a multilingual law firm and provides services to its international clientele in Canada and worldwide, through VISALAW International, a global alliance of immigration lawyers.
