What is the IEC Young Professionals program for?
IEC Young Professionals candidates will need to have a valid job offer in Canada prior to their arrival, and participants will need to work for the same employer, in the same location, during their stay in Canada.
Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots
The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots for Child Care and Home Support facilitate the permanent immigration of skilled workers with job offers in these sectors to Canada.
The Rural Community and Francophone Immigration Pilot
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot is designed to provide rural areas with access to initiatives that tackle labor shortages and assist local enterprises in securing the workforce they require. Meanwhile, the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot aims to enhance the influx of French-speaking immigrants into Francophone minority communities located outside Quebec.
Spousal Open Work Permits
Starting January 21, 2025, only the spouses of specific international students and foreign workers will be permitted to apply for a family OWP. Moreover, the foreign worker must have a minimum of 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time their spouse applies to the OWP. Dependent children of foreign workers will no longer qualify for the work permit.
LMIA processing time, chnanges and updates, January 2025
Service Canada is experiencing significant delays in the processing of PR LMIA applications, with actual processing times being considerably longer than those indicated online. It is important to note that PR LMIAs encompass the majority of skilled LMIA applications submitted before September 26th.
Two new permanent residency pathways
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has recently announced the eligibility requirements for two new permanent residency pathways, which were published in the official Canada Gazette on December 14. The two new pathways are the Rural Community Immigration Class (RCIC) and the Francophone Community Immigration Class (FCIC).
Same-sex marriages
Same-sex marriage and immigration in Canada have evolved significantly over the years, reflecting the country’s progressive stance on LGBTQ+ rights. Since the Canadian government legalized same-sex marriage in 2005, it has been recognized as a legal union with the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual marriages.
The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) changes 2024
The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process in Canada has seen significant changes in recent weeks, reflecting the country’s evolving economic landscape and labor needs. The LMIA is a document that employers in Canada must obtain to hire foreign workers, ensuring the decision will not negatively impact the Canadian labor market.
Spousal Sponsorship Application and Genuineness (Bona fide relationship)
Bona fide can be defined as ‘made in good faith, without deception or fraud’. When applying for spousal sponsorship in Canada, one of the key components is demonstrating the genuineness of the relationship.
Common Law Relationship Defined
The number of Canadians entering into common law relationships is increasing year by year. As such, there is a greater need for prospective immigration applicants to understand what a common law relationship is in Canada is and what it encompasses. For example, what is the legal definition of a common law relationship? Do partners need to prove their relationship? If so, how?