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
Nov 25, 2024 Proposed Immigration Changes: Further Restrictions on Refugee Applicants Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently announced that further reforms to Canada's immigration and asylum systems are on the horizon, highlighting ongoing challenges and inefficiencies. His testimony before the House of Commons immigration committee on November 25, 2024, shed light on the state of the refugee process and the federal government’s... Read More
Oct 24, 2024 Canada Announces Reduced Immigration Targets in 2025–2027 Levels Plan With Almost No Details On How Targets Will Be Achieved October 24, 2024 The Canadian government has released its 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, outlining a significant reduction in both permanent and temporary resident targets over the next few years. Key Reductions in Permanent Resident Targets Compared to previous projections, the new plan sets lower targets for permanent resident admissions: 2025:... Read More
Oct 21, 2024 Upcoming Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program to Increase Minimum Wage Requirements for High-Wage Workers The federal government is set to introduce a significant change to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), specifically targeting the high-wage stream. In a move aimed at encouraging employers to hire more Canadian workers, Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault is expected to announce a boost to the minimum hourly wage required... Read More
Oct 3, 2024 Major changes for Intra-Company Work Permits from non-FTA countries Today IRCC announced major changes to Intra Company Work Permits (ICTs) that vastly restrict the types of foreign companies that can send Executives, Managers, or Specialized Knowledge workers to Canada on ICTs. These changes only apply to R205 work permits, not R204 applications from countries that have Free Trade Agreements... Read More
Sep 18, 2024 Major Changes to Canada’s Post-Graduation and Spousal Open Work Permit Programs Recent changes have been introduced to Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program and spousal open work permits, impacting international students and their spouses. In a nutshell, the PGWP and spousal open work permit regimes are about to become greatly restricted. Here’s what you need to know: Changes to the Post-Graduation... Read More
Sep 13, 2024 Quebec Judge Certifies Ridiculous Class-action Lawsuit Against Closed Work Permits A Quebec Superior Court judge has certified a lawsuit on ridiculous grounds that, in my opinion, amount to an embarrassment for Canada. In a nutshell, the Superior Court Justice Silvana Conte has certified a lawsuit on the grounds that "closed" work permits, meaning work permits that are limited to a... Read More
Aug 28, 2024 Canada Discontinues Policy Allowing Visitors to Apply for Work Permits from Within the Country Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the immediate termination of a temporary public policy that permitted visitors to apply for work permits from within Canada. Initially introduced in August 2020 as a response to COVID-19 pandemic-related travel restrictions, the policy enabled visitors in Canada to obtain work permits... Read More
Aug 26, 2024 Canada’s New Temporary Foreign Worker Policy: A Shift Towards Canadian Labor Today Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will reduce the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers that businesses can hire, urging employers to prioritize Canadian workers instead. This change marks a major adjustment in the country’s approach to labor, reflecting evolving economic conditions and a renewed focus on strengthening... Read More
Aug 6, 2024 LMIA Changes. New Measures to Combat Fraud in Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program On August 6, 2024, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, announced a series of enhanced measures to address fraud in the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, which issues Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) opinions. These measures aim to reduce misuse and fraud of the TFW program.... Read More