Judicial Review of Canadian Immigration Decisions: What Applicants Should Know
Receiving a negative Canadian immigration decision can be stressful, but depending on the circumstances, there may be legal options available. One potential option is to make an application for leave and for judicial review at the Federal Court of Canada. This is a two-part process whereby a person is able to appeal the refusal of […]
FAQ: What Is Misrepresentation in Canadian Immigration Law?
Misrepresentation can have serious consequences under Canadian immigration law. People applying under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) are required to answer truthfully questions put to them for the purpose of examining their application and to produce relevant evidence and documents that an immigration officer reasonably requires. A finding of misrepresentation can result in […]
C20 Reciprocal Employment: IRCC Guidance No Longer Contains Prior Foreign Employment Requirement
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes program delivery instructions concerning reciprocal employment under paragraph 205(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), commonly associated with administrative code C20. The current C20 guidance no longer contains language that previously stated that a foreign national had to be employed by the company abroad before the […]
FAQ: What Is Express Entry and How Does the CRS Score Work?
Express Entry is Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) online application management system for certain economic immigration programs. Many prospective immigrants have questions about how Express Entry works, what the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is, and how candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence. This FAQ provides an overview of Express Entry and the […]
Could You Already Be Canadian? Citizenship by Descent for Americans
For some Americans with Canadian ancestry, Canadian citizenship may be closer than they realize. Changes to Canada’s Citizenship Act that came into effect on December 15, 2025 significantly modified the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent and extended citizenship to certain people who were previously excluded under the former rules. As a result, some Americans […]
FAQ: What Is Permanent Residence in Canada?
Permanent residence is an immigration status that allows eligible foreign nationals to live, work, and study in Canada on a permanent basis, provided they continue to meet the legal requirements to maintain their status. Permanent residents enjoy many of the same rights and responsibilities as Canadian citizens, although there are important differences. Understanding what permanent […]
IRCC Introduces New Transparency on Permanent Residence Application Processing
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its public application processing information to provide a clearer picture of how permanent residence applications are managed. For the first time, the department is publicly reporting what proportion of permanent residence applications in its inventory are being actively processed and what proportion are waiting for admissions space […]
FAQ: What Should You Do After IRCC Approves Your Immigration Application?
Receiving an approval from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is an important milestone, but it is not always the final step in the immigration process. Depending on the type of application that was approved, there may be additional steps to complete before you can begin working, studying, travelling, or exercising your new rights in […]
IRCC Pauses New Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Applications: What Families Need to Know
Family reunification is a longstanding objective of Canada’s immigration system. Through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), eligible Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered under the Canadian Indian Act may sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence in Canada. On July 15, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that it is […]
Canada Doubles Employer Compliance Penalties Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has announced that employer compliance enforcement under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) increased significantly during the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year. Between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, more than $10.2 million in administrative monetary penalties were issued to employers found to be non-compliant with program requirements, […]