Jan 22, 2024 Canada Implements Stricter Measures to Reform International Student Program Update: As usual, IRCC bungled the role of what, from a policy perspective, is a good decision to curb low value degree-mill schools and to protect the quality of education in Canada for international students. But the requirement imposed that requires the provinces to provide applicants with a letter of... Read More
Jan 13, 2024 First Express Entry Draw of 2024 In the latest draw, IRCC extended invitations to 1,510 candidates to apply for immigration. This round was a general draw, encompassing candidates from various Express Entry managed programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Unlike targeted draws,... Read More
Dec 15, 2023 Canada Extends Support for International Students: Updates on Temporary Policies In a recent announcement, Minister Miller shed light on crucial updates regarding three temporary policies affecting international students, all of which were originally set to conclude at the close of 2023. Let's delve into the details of these extensions and how they impact the experiences of international students in Canada.... Read More
Dec 7, 2023 Latest Express Entry General Draw Has a High Score IRCC's most recent draw on 5 December under the Express Entry system for General candidates (meaning Skilled Workers, Canadian Experience Class, etc) had a cut-off score of 561. The latter is a high score, meaning that many individuals in Canada hoping to receive an Invitation to Apply were not given... Read More
Dec 7, 2023 Immigration Minister Introduces Stricter Criteria for International Students In a press conference held on Thursday, Immigration Minister Marc Miller declared that the federal government is taking significant steps to address fraud and abuse within Canada's international student program by imposing stricter limitations on study permits. Expressing a firm stance, Miller emphasized that "enough is enough." Effective January 1,... Read More
Nov 28, 2023 Navigating Procedural Fairness: Recent Federal Court Ruling Reinforces the Role of IRCC Officers in Application Reviews In a recent landmark ruling, Canada's federal court has reaffirmed a critical aspect of procedural fairness in immigration matters. The ruling underscores that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officers are not obligated to inform applicants of deficiencies in their applications before rendering a decision. This decision serves as a... Read More
Nov 22, 2023 IRCC Reveals Digital Platform Modernization Project Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) revealed its immigration strategy named "An Immigration System for Canada’s Future". This strategy aims to provide efficient, user-friendly services both domestically and internationally. A key element of this strategy is the development of a new, advanced operating platform, Digital Platform Modernization (DPM). DPM is... Read More
Nov 1, 2023 Overview of Canada’s 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan On November 1, 2023, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, presented the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan in Ottawa. This plan outlines Canada's immigration objectives in response to demographic challenges and labor market needs. The plan highlights the following: Immigration Numbers: The Government of Canada has set a... Read More
Oct 31, 2023 Unveiling Canada’s Comprehensive Immigration Strategy for a Prosperous Future Today IRCC unveiled a detailed plan titled "An Immigration System for Canada’s Future." This blueprint aims to address the immigration framework for Canada's future. Keep in mind the strategy is simply a plan of what the department is hoping to achieve, as opposed to a rock-solid commitment to implement every... Read More
Oct 30, 2023 Canada Introduces New Work Permit Program with the Philippines A new initiative has been set in motion by the Canadian Government to address the nation's labor needs and foster stronger ties with the Philippines. Announced by Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the CAN Work Philippines pilot program is launching from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s... Read More
Oct 27, 2023 Fraud Prevention for Foreign Students and Changes to Post-Graduate Work Permits IRCC has announced important changes to the study permit processing, in effect as of December 1st: - Starting December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLI) will be required to confirm every applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with IRCC. This new, enhanced verification process aims to protect prospective students from... Read More
Oct 19, 2023 Auditor General Releases Critical Report on IRCC Processing Times As a law firm, we move with our clients through their immigration journeys, and sometimes the ride is bumpy with regard to processing times. A recent report from the Auditor General, released last Thursday, has cast a critical spotlight on some systemic issues that are serious for Immigration, Refugees, and... Read More