Immigration Policy Changes Archive

UAE is becoming visa exempted.

Canada is lifting visa requirement on the UAE. Emirati citizens will no longer be required to obtain a visa as of June 5, 2018, if they travel to Canada for a visit for a less than six months. For more details, please click here.

Biometrics expansion.

As early as July 2018, you may need to provide your fingerprints and photo when you apply for visitor visa, study permit, work permit or permanent residence. You are required to give your biometrics once every ten years. To find out more, please click here.

Parents and Grandparents Program reopening in new year.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents will soon be able to take the first step in applying to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada, when the Parents and Grandparents Program reopens in early 2018.

For more information, click here.

New Entry rules for citizens of Romania and Bulgaria.

As of 9 a.m. ET (4 p.m. EET) on December 1, 2017, citizens of Romania and Bulgaria no longer need a visa to travel to Canada for short stays (normally for up to six months) for visiting, business and tourism activities.

However, similar to other visa-exempt travellers, they will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport.

For more information, click here.

New definition of age of dependents now in force

Expanded definition of dependent children will help more families stay together in Canada

October 27, 2017 – Ottawa, ON – The Government of Canada has changed the definition of the age of dependants from “under 19” to “under 22,” fulfilling a key mandate commitment of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. This change will help more immigrant families stay together. When newcomer families are able to stay together, their integration into Canada, and their ability to work and contribute to their communities all improve.

For more information, click here.

Changes to the Citizenship Act as a Result of Bill C-6

As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to provide greater flexibility in meeting requirements for those who wish to obtain Canadian citizenship, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced today a significant milestone in implementing changes to the Citizenship Act through the adoption of Bill C-6.
Changes to eligibilities for Citizenship application come into effect on October 11th 2017.

For more information, click here.

Parents and Grandparents Program: Second round of application intake

IRCC did not receive 10,000 complete applications by August 4, 2017. A second round of emails will be sent to invite additional potential sponsors to submit an application. These additional potential sponsors will be selected using the same randomized list that was prepared to identify the first 10,000 potential sponsors invited to submit an application.

For more information, click here.

Express Entry and other news

Express Entry changes took in effect:

• French speaking
• Siblings in Canada
• Job bank registration

For more information, click here.

Global Talent Stream information

Information can be found here and here.

OINP Human Capital target candidates with points lower than 400

Information can be found here.

Canada to benefit economically and socially by increasing the age of dependents

For more information, click here.

Sponsorship 2 year probation cancelled

For more information, click here.

CIC announced changes on Express Entry that would be implemented in June.

• French speaking
• Siblings in Canada
• Job bank registration

For more information, click here.

US Travel Ban Lifted

The US travel ban was lifted on February 4th. The State Department has reversed visa revocations. Airlines now allows passengers from the previously barred seven countries to board US – bound flights. People with valid US visas are now able to enter the country as usual.

OINP re-opens and is accepting applications

OINP reopened and started to accept applications for Master Graduate, PhD Graduate and Human Capital Priorities on February 21st. Due to high volume of applicants, Master Graduate and PhD Graduate streams reached their intake limit on February 23rd. Applicants who successfully registered a profile will have 14 calendar days to submit the application.

For more information, click here.

The 2017 Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) re-opens

The 2017 Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) re-opened, and accepted online submissions for sponsorship applications from January 3rd to February 2nd.

For more information, click here.

U.S. Travel ban for Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen

On January 27th 2017 President Donald Trump signed an executive order that bans travel into the United States for citizens of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The ban will be in effect for 90 days from the date of the order.

Nationals of one of the seven countries listed above are not permitted to enter the US and will not be issued an immigrant or non-immigrant visa by the US Government.

Foreign Worker Program changes on Low-rage jobs

The US travel ban was lifted on February 4th. The State Department has reversed visa revocations. Airlines now allows passengers from the previously barred seven countries to board US – bound flights. People with valid US visas are now able to enter the country as usual.

The four-year cumulative duration rule will no longer apply to lower skilled temporary foreign workers effective immediately. The cumulative duration rule, known as the “four-in, four-out” rule, was put in place in April of 2011, limiting work for some temporary foreign workers in Canada to four years who then became ineligible to work in Canada for the next four years.

Low-wage employers, where appropriate, will be required to advertise their positions targeting more than one, and up to four, under-represented groups in the work force such as youth, persons with disabilities, indigenous people and newcomers. No implementation date for this change was announced.

The cap on the proportion of low-wage temporary foreign workers that can be employed at a given worksite at 20% will be maintained for employers who accessed the Program prior to June 20, 2014, and at 10% for new users of the Program after that date. The exemption on the cap for seasonal industries seeking temporary foreign workers for up to 180 days during the 2017 calendar year will be extended until December 31, 2017.

For more information, click here.

Government of Canada delivering faster processing and shorter wait times for spousal reunification

December 7, 2016 – Ottawa, ON – The Government of Canada is making it faster and easier for Canadians and permanent residents to reunite with their spouses. At the direction of the Minister, earlier this year Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) began a concerted effort to reduce processing times. From the start of 2016 to the fall, processing times were reduced by 15 percent for in-Canada applications and just over 10 percent for applications outside Canada.

Starting today, processing times will be reduced even further with most spousal applications now being processed in 12 months. Complex cases may require more time. Applicants who already filed an application will not have to wait an additional 12 months to have them finalized. IRCC will continue to process applications in the order they have been received. Most families who have been waiting should have a decision on their sponsorship application no later than the end of December 2017.

These new changes are expected to benefit more than 64 000 applicants by the end of 2017, and are the latest measures to bring families together.

For more information, click here.

Parents sponsorship now an online submission

Starting January 2017, Parents sponsorship will now be online submission indicating interest in PR in Canada. CIC will randomly select 10000 candidates who meet sponsorship requirement and send them invitation.

For more information, click here.

Changes to Express Entry

Changes to Express Entry, which will take effect on November 19, are part of a number of improvements the Government is making on a continual basis to bring changes for a more fair and responsive immigration system that will address emerging needs and ensure long-term economic growth for the middle class.

Other valuable information links: [1] [2] [3]

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program implements a temporary pause

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program implemented a temporary pause to most OINP streams due to the cap of OINP applications.

For more information, click here.

Visa-exempted foreign nationals will need an eTA

As of March 15, 2016, visa-exempted foreign nationals who fly to or transit through Canada will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). U.S. Citizens and travelers with a valid visa are exempted from this requirement.

For more information, click here.

IRCC has increased number of applications it will take in through the PGP Program

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has formally increased the number of applications it will take in through its Parent and Grandparents (PGP) Program. Beginning 2016, the number of new and complete PGP applications accepts for intake is 10,000, doubling the previous cap of 5,000 applications.

For more information, click here.

CIC's electronic Employer Portal for employers who plan to hire temporary foreign workers

CIC created the electronic Employer Portal which is designed for employers who plan to hire temporary foreign workers. As of November 21, 2015, employers are required to submit an Offer of Employment to a Foreign National Exempt from Labor Market Impact Assessment (IMM5802) to CIC through this online Employer Portal.

For more information, click here.

CIC's electronic Employer Portal for employers who plan to hire temporary foreign workers

Liberal party took over as the majority government after federal election, and promised several major changes in the current immigration regulations and policies which include:

• 25000 refugees from Syria intake
• Double the number of application intake for parents and grandparents sponsorship from 5000 to 10000
• Granting immediate permanent residency to newly landed spouses under spouse sponsorship
  Restore residency time credit for foreign students and temporary residents applying to become Canadian citizens.
• Redesign the point system calculation in Express Entry for better flexibility

The full document can be viewed here.

Other news for October 2015:

• Express Entry is at its 19th round of invitation with 489 as the lowest ranked score.
• Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) announced closure of the Investor stream.

Citizenship Reform: CIC implemented new changes to the requirements of becoming Canadian citizen.

The former Citizenship requirements	Changes to the Citizenship Act now in effect
The old residency requirements require you to be: Living in Canada for 3 out of 4 years (1,095 days) for citizenship eligibility; No requirement to be physically present.	The new residency requirements require you to be: Living in Canada for 4 years (1,460 days) out of 6 years for citizenship eligibility; Physically present in Canada for 183 days (minimum) per year in 4 out of 6 years.
In addition, you:	In addition, you:
Can count time spent as a non-permanent resident (non-PR) toward residence for citizenship; Demonstration of “intention to reside” in Canada is not required.	Cannot count time spent as a non-permanent resident (non-PR) toward residence for citizenship; Must prove that you “intend to reside” in Canada.
Citizenship applicants ages 18–54 have to:	Citizenship applicants ages 14-64 have to:
Meet language requirements and pass knowledge test; May use an interpreter to meet the knowledge requirement.	Meet language requirements, and pass the citizenship test; Must meet knowledge requirement in either English or French (cannot use an interpreter).

Changes under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

OINP implemented two new streams under Express Entry which enable the OINP to nominate individuals who have qualified for CIC’s Express Entry pool and who have the required education, skilled work experience, and language ability to help them successfully establish and integrate into Ontario’s labour market and communities.

1. Human Capital
2. French Speaking Skilled Worker

For more information, click here.

OINP no longer has the authority to issue support letters for open work permits. This only applies to nominees in streams under the Human Capital Category and includes all streams that do not require a job. All Ontario nominees with a job offer may still qualify for a temporary work permit, and Ontario will continue to support temporary work permit applications of nominees.

For more information, click here.

Compliance Reporting for DLI

Government of Canada Overview here.

To monitor compliance, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) developed a compliance reporting portal through which designated learning institutions at the post-secondary level will provide the academic status of their international students to CIC (e.g., full-time, academic suspension, no longer enrolled).

All designated learning institutions (DLIs) at the post-secondary level, with the exception of institutions located in Quebec, must use the DLI portal to complete regular reports on the academic enrolment status of their international students and to submit these reports to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Reporting is scheduled for every April and November, starting April 15, 2015. The primary contact at each post-secondary DLI will receive an email notification from CIC when a report becomes available for completion and submission.

Changes under the International Mobility Program

• Employer compliance system and fee imposed for work permit applicants who are LMIA exempted:
  1. Employers are now required to submit the Offer of Employment IMM 5802 to CIC prior to the submission of the work permit application prepared by the foreign worker.
  2. Along with the submission of IMM5802, Employers are now required to pay a $230 Employer Compliance Fee.
• $100 open work permit holder fee

For more information, click here.

Express Entry is launched

• Express Entry launched: Applicants who meet certain requirements are now able to express their interest in becoming permanent resident of Canada by creating an online profile. They will be invited to apply for permanent residence if selected by CIC. Four immigration categories applied under Express Entry include:
  1. Federal Skilled Worker
  2. Federal Skilled Trade
  3. Canadian Experience Class
  4. Provincial Nominee Program

  For more information, click here.

• Parents and Grandparents sponsorship opened up for 5,000 applications. The new intake into the PGP program will pause until next year, after the 5000 caps are filled.For more information, click here.

Termination of backlog applications in the federal Immigrant Investor Program and federal Entrepreneur Program (Bill C-31)

Full Governemnt of Canada Notice here.

The federal government decided to place a termination of applications in the backlog of the federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) and federal Entrepreneur Program (EN)

• IIP and EN applications have been terminated if a selection decision was not made by an immigration officer before February 11, 2014.
• Eliminating the longstanding backlog of applications in the IIP and EN will allow Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to focus resources on immigration programs that will bring maximum benefit to Canada’s economy.

New regulations for international students implemented. Some of the changes with prominent impacts include:

• Study permit is only issued to applicants who are studying at designated learning institutions in Canada.
• Study permit will automatically authorize the student for off-campus work for up to 20 hours a week, provided that the study permit holder is studying on a full-time basis.
• Study permit becomes invalid 90 days following the completion of studies.
• Eligible international graduates are allowed to work full time after their studies are completed until a decision is made on their applications for Post Graduate Work Permit.

For the full Government of Canadan notice, click here.

• The sponsorship for parents and grandparents reopened with a maximum of 5,000 new complete applications. The new intake into the PGP program will pause until next year.
• CIC increased the minimum necessary income for sponsoring PGP’s equivalent to the annual Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30%.

Full Government of Canada bulletin here.

• CIC banned six occupations from being eligible for CEC due to an overrepresentation in CEC applications.
• The six occupations include:
  1. Cooks (NOC 6322)
  2. Food Service Supervisors (NOC 6311)
  3. Administrative Officers (NOC 1221)
  4. Administrative Assistants (NOC 1241)
  5. Bookkeepers (NOC 1311)
  6. Retail Sales Supervisors (NOC 6211)
• CIC set the maximum number of new applications of CEC to 12,000 to accept from November 2013 to October 2014.

Full Government of Canada Backgrounder available here.

Spouse sponsorship Conditional Permanent Resident Status

Full Government of Canada backgrounder available here.

CIC introduced amendments to the IRPR which apply to spouses, common-law or conjugal partners in a relationship of two years or less with their sponsor and who have no children in common with their sponsor at the time they submit their sponsorship application. The sponsored spouse must cohabit with the sponsor for two years from the day they receive the PR status in Canada.

Fig 1. Sponsoring Spouses to come to Canada - a timeline, via Conditional Permanent Resident Status.

Cessation of Processing of Federal Skilled Worker Application (Bill C38)

For more information, click here.

Federal Skilled Worker termination: New legislation was introduced dictating that any application that had not received a positive decision as of March 29th, 2012 would be terminated. The applications submitted prior to 28 February 2008 as well as government processing fees would be returned to the senders. Because of this decision, approximately 95% of the remaining pre-2008 applications will be returned. This amounts to the elimination of approximately 300,000 applications. About 280,000 candidates are affected.

On November 5, 2011, CIC issued Ministerial Instructions (MI4) which introduced a temporary pause on new sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents in the Family Class for up to 24 months.

For more information, click here.

Changes to Federal Immigrant Investor Program will bring to Canada more resources to fund economic development and job creation initiatives

For more information, click here.

• Changes in the eligibility criteria: investor net worth of $1.6 million up from $800,000, and make an investment of $800,000 up from $400,000.