Explore the latest ImmPulse Weekly for key Canadian immigration insights—or browse past editions to catch up.
In his May 2025 mandate letter, Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized two primary immigration objectives: reducing overall immigration to sustainable levels and attracting top global talent to bolster Canada’s economy. These priorities are among the top seven guiding objectives for the federal cabinet, reflecting a strategic shift in Canada’s immigration policy to balance population growth with economic development.
Canada has implemented stricter visa requirements for international students, leading to a 31% decline in study permits issued to Indian nationals in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This decrease is attributed to tighter eligibility criteria and increased financial requirements, signaling a broader push by Canada to manage the inflow of international students more stringently.
The Quebec government has announced a moratorium until June 30, 2025, on two popular permanent immigration programs: the Regular Skilled Worker Program and the Graduate Stream of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). This decision aims to address the surge in applications that could exceed the province’s capacity, with the number of immigrants potentially reaching 70,000 in 2025. The move has sparked criticism, particularly concerning its impact on international students.
Migrants in Canada are increasingly losing legal work status due to growing backlogs and delays in processing required documentation, such as labor market impact assessments (LMIAs). These delays, which have tripled from 58 to 165 business days between September 2023 and March 2025, leave affected individuals unable to work or access essential services like healthcare. The situation disproportionately affects those seeking to transition from temporary to permanent residency.
Amid renewed threats of deportation under President Trump’s administration, a surge of Haitian migrants—and others from nations like Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela—are fleeing the U.S. for Canada, particularly targeting Quebec due to its French-speaking population. In early April alone, 1,411 individuals crossed the border in upstate New York to claim asylum, surpassing March’s total of 1,356 migrants. This sharp rise stems from the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the Biden-era CHNV parole program.
A recent Toronto Star investigation reports that, as of March 2025, Canada’s immigration inventory declined to 1.97 million applications—down from 2.1 million in 2024. However, processing times have increased significantly in several key categories:
These delays are linked to reduced immigration quotas announced in October 2024, elimination of “flagpoling,” IRCC staffing cuts (3,300 planned), and stricter documentation requirements for LMIA-based work permits. Federal Court litigation has surged to 24,000 cases in 2024—four times pre-pandemic levels—further burdening applicants and the judicial system.
The report underscores the widening gap between IRCC’s service standards and operational outcomes, highlighting the urgent need for policy recalibration, enhanced staffing, and transparent processing metrics.
The May 2025 mandate letter from Prime Minister Carney provides additional context and priorities for the government’s approach to immigration and related economic policy:
Issue: Whether mandamus should be granted to compel IRCC to issue a decision on a delayed study permit application.
Facts: Mao, a Chinese citizen, applied for a study permit to attend a Master’s program at Simon Fraser University, submitting her application in May 2023. Despite exceeding the IRCC’s processing standard of nine weeks (her application was pending for approximately 35 weeks), IRCC did not issue a decision. Mao filed for mandamus to compel IRCC to decide. However, prior to the court hearing, IRCC refused the application, citing failure to complete a required medical examination.
Court Findings: The court found that the IRCC’s refusal, issued prior to the judicial review hearing, rendered Mao’s mandamus application moot. Since the specific remedy she sought—a timely decision—had already been provided, the court concluded that proceeding would not resolve any live controversy or provide any tangible relief.
Outcome: Application dismissed on grounds of mootness.
Why This Case is Important: This case clarifies circumstances in which mandamus applications become moot, specifically where IRCC issues a decision after a mandamus action is initiated but before the court hearing. It highlights procedural strategies IRCC might use to avoid court intervention and emphasizes the need for applicants to maintain timely compliance with procedural requirements (like medical exams) even during prolonged delays.
Issue: Whether procedural fairness was breached by IRCC in refusing a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) permanent residence application due to allegedly missing evidence.
Facts: Karsou applied for permanent residence under Express Entry’s CEC category. Her application was refused by IRCC due to a claimed absence of evidence regarding her job duties. However, Karsou had indeed submitted an employment offer letter outlining these duties through IRCC’s online portal. IRCC failed to consider this crucial document, resulting in an adverse decision. Karsou provided evidence—including an affidavit and screenshots—confirming the submission.
Court Findings: The court ruled that IRCC breached procedural fairness by not reviewing the complete record submitted by the applicant. The court accepted Karsou’s evidence demonstrating the submission of the employment letter, concluding that the refusal was based on an incomplete assessment through no fault of the applicant.
Outcome: Judicial review granted; IRCC’s decision set aside; matter returned to IRCC for redetermination by a different officer.
Why This Case is Important: This decision underscores IRCC’s obligation to carefully review all properly submitted documentation, especially when using digital portals. It emphasizes the applicant’s right to procedural fairness, mandating that immigration decisions must not be made based on incomplete records attributable to administrative error.
Issue: Whether IRCC’s refusal of a work permit due to criminal inadmissibility (foreign criminal conviction) was reasonable.
Facts: Raheem’s work permit application was refused because of a prior battery conviction in Illinois, U.S. The IRCC officer deemed this offense equivalent to assault under Canada’s Criminal Code, classifying Raheem as inadmissible due to criminality under section 36(2)(b) of IRPA. Raheem challenged the refusal, arguing that IRCC unreasonably disregarded his subsequent rehabilitation.
Court Findings: The court found the officer’s decision was reasonable, concluding that IRCC properly equated the U.S. battery conviction to a serious offense under Canadian law. The court held that the officer adequately considered rehabilitation and provided sufficient reasoning to justify the finding of inadmissibility.
Outcome: Judicial review dismissed; IRCC’s refusal upheld.
Why This Case is Important: This decision affirms IRCC’s discretion in criminal inadmissibility evaluations, highlighting the limited weight given to rehabilitation arguments without substantial evidence or clear legislative exemptions. It reinforces the principle that officers have considerable latitude in assessing equivalency of foreign convictions.
Issue: Whether IRCC reasonably assessed an application for a temporary resident visa (TRV) regarding financial sufficiency and family ties outside Canada.
Facts: Rostami, an Iranian citizen, applied for a TRV to visit her sister in Canada. IRCC refused her application, citing insufficient finances and weak family ties in Iran. Rostami had provided substantial evidence including bank statements and documents showing significant rental property income. The officer did not include these substantial assets in the assessment and incorrectly characterized her bank transactions. IRCC also ignored evidence of strong family ties, including a spouse and elderly parents residing in Iran.
Court Findings: The court found IRCC’s assessment unreasonable. The officer unjustifiably disregarded clear evidence of the applicant’s financial stability and substantial family ties to Iran. The court emphasized that the exclusion of relevant assets and erroneous evaluation of family ties rendered IRCC’s decision irrational and opaque.
Outcome: Judicial review granted; IRCC’s refusal overturned; application remitted for redetermination by a different officer.
Why This Case is Important: This decision highlights the necessity for comprehensive and fair assessment of financial and familial ties evidence in temporary visa applications. It underscores that decisions lacking transparency, ignoring significant documentation, or based on flawed reasoning violate principles of administrative fairness and reasonableness.
Issue: Whether IRCC’s refusal of a study permit based on weak family ties and perceived redundancy in educational pursuits was reasonable.
Facts: Farhadi, an Iranian citizen, applied for a study permit to attend ESL and postgraduate business programs at Trent University, accompanied by her spouse and child. IRCC refused, claiming the applicant lacked strong ties to Iran and that her prior employment meant she had likely already achieved the proposed program’s benefits. Farhadi provided extensive evidence demonstrating how her intended studies differed substantially from previous experiences and explained her strong family and professional ties to Iran.
Court Findings: The court found IRCC’s decision unreasonable. While acknowledging IRCC could reasonably consider family ties weaker if immediate family traveled together, the court held the officer failed to adequately assess Farhadi’s extensive evidence supporting significant remaining ties in Iran. Moreover, IRCC’s assessment of redundancy in education was insufficiently reasoned, failing to properly consider the detailed study plan demonstrating clear, distinct professional benefits from the proposed studies.
Outcome: Judicial review granted; IRCC’s refusal decision set aside; application returned for redetermination by a different officer.
Why This Case is Important: This decision clarifies IRCC’s obligation to engage deeply with an applicant’s study plan, ensuring a thorough, balanced review rather than superficial judgments of redundancy. It reinforces that IRCC must carefully weigh all evidence related to familial ties, clearly articulating its rationale. The decision highlights the limits of discretion and the requirement for well-reasoned, evidence-based determinations in study permit decisions.
The Government of Canada has announced a $52 million investment to accelerate the recognition of foreign credentials for internationally educated professionals, specifically in the healthcare and construction sectors. This funding aims to streamline licensing processes, reduce barriers for skilled newcomers, and address chronic labor shortages in priority occupations. The initiative supports provincial and territorial efforts to integrate internationally trained workers more effectively into the Canadian workforce.
The Yukon Nominee Program has introduced a new selection model, moving away from a first-come, first-served approach. Under the updated framework, applications will be prioritized based on alignment with regional labor market needs. This reform is designed to ensure more strategic and responsive nomination decisions, enabling employers in high-demand sectors to fill positions more efficiently while supporting Yukon’s economic development goals.
IRCC has released revised application forms and checklists for participants in two key regional immigration initiatives:
These updated forms ensure applicants meet current program requirements and facilitate streamlined processing under these targeted pathways.
*For comprehensive legal analysis or strategic case support, contact Greenberg Hameed PC.*
The content of this bulletin is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on as legal advice.
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