Jan 31, 2025 USCIS May Stop Concurrent Processing of H-4 and L-2 Applications in 2025 Starting January 18, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may no longer be required to process H-4 and L-2 dependent applications concurrently with their principal’s H-1B or L-1 visa petitions. This change would mark the end of a federal settlement agreement that has helped streamline processing for these dependent... Read More
Jan 28, 2025 New Changes to Super Visa Health Insurance Requirements Make Family Reunions Easier In a move aimed at strengthening family bonds across borders, Canada has revised the health insurance requirements for the super visa program, making it more accessible for families to come together. What is the Super Visa? The super visa is designed for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent... Read More
Jan 27, 2025 New Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots Set to Launch in 2025 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the launch of new immigration pilot programs for home care workers, set to open on March 31, 2025. These programs, collectively referred to as Canada’s Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, will replace the previous permanent residence (PR) pathways for caregivers, which have... Read More
Jan 27, 2025 Canada Tightens International Student Cap for 2025: A Breakdown of the New Allocation System As Canada continues to reshape its immigration and education policies, the federal government has introduced stricter controls on international student admissions for 2025. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has finalized provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap, reducing the total number of study permits by 10% compared... Read More
Jan 20, 2025 IRCC Announces 3,300 Cut To The Processing Work Force IRCC has announced the planned reduction of approximately 3,300 positions at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will affect staff responsible for processing a variety of applications, including: Temporary Resident Visas: Permits for individuals seeking to visit, study, or work in Canada on a temporary basis. Permanent Residency Applications: Processes... Read More
Jan 14, 2025 Major Restrictions to Work Permits for Spouses of Students and Workers in Canada The Government of Canada is making significant changes to spousal open work permit (SOWP) eligibility for family members of international students and foreign workers. Effective January 21, 2025, these changes will greatly restrict which spouses are eligible to obtain a SOWP. Updated Spousal Open Work Permit Eligibility Criteria Under the... Read More
Jan 8, 2025 Latest Express Entry Invitation Round: Canadian Experience Class (January 8, 2025) The latest Express Entry round of invitations, targeting candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), took place on January 8, 2025. This round issued 1,350 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates eager to make Canada their permanent home. Key highlights of this round include: Minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score:... Read More
Dec 17, 2024 Breaking Immigration News 17 December 2024 Today, the Immigration Minister announced significant policy changes that are expected to have wide-reaching implications for immigration in Canada. 1. Cancellation of FlagpolingThe first major announcement is the cancellation of the practice of "flagpoling," a process used by foreign nationals in Canada to renew, extend, or apply... Read More
Dec 9, 2024 Canada Hits the Pause Button on Refugee Sponsorship Applications for Groups of Five and Community Sponsors On November 29, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a temporary pause on the intake of new refugee sponsorship applications from groups of five and community sponsors under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program. This pause will remain in effect until December 31, 2025. This decision was... Read More
Dec 4, 2024 I’m in the U.S. Can I Claim Refugee Status in Canada? Since the U.S. election, a number of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals living in the United States have reached out to us to find out about claiming refugee status in Canada. Navigating Canada’s immigration system requires a thorough understanding of the eligibility criteria and legal framework that define who qualifies... Read More
Dec 1, 2024 Canada’s New Visitor Visa Policy: What You Need to Know On November 6, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced significant changes to its Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) process, marking a shift in how visitor visas are issued. Under the updated policy, IRCC officers now have greater discretion to issue single-entry visas or limited-duration multiple-entry visas, depending on an... Read More
Nov 27, 2024 Understanding Canada’s Entry/Exit Program Overview of the Entry/Exit Program The Entry/Exit Program is designed to record the biographic information of travelers as they enter and exit Canada. This data includes personal details such as name, date of birth, nationality, and travel document information. Mechanisms of Data Collection The program operates through a bilateral information-sharing... Read More