Weekly Digest | March 30, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent judicial reviews
Express Entry – CRS Job Offer Points Removed
Open Work Permits for Start-up Visa Applicants
Newfoundland and Labrador Warning on Passive Investment Immigration
Saskatchewan SINP Changes
Permanent Closure of Entrepreneur and Farm SINP Pathways
Yukon Nominee Program 2025 – Expression of Interest Intake
Updated forms and checklists
Important upcoming dates

Recent Case Law

Work Permit – Aurangzaib v. Canada, 2025 FC 554: Pakistani citizen applied for a closed work permit to work as a law clerk at a firm in Mississauga. The officer refused under IRPR s. 200(1)(b), citing concerns about the applicant’s intent to leave Canada, weak employment ties to Pakistan, financial instability, and credibility issues due to inconsistent work history across prior applications. The Court found the officer made an adverse credibility finding without giving the applicant a chance to respond, which breached procedural fairness. Judicial review granted. Read more

Home Support Worker Class – Gill v. Canada, 2025 FC 531: Indian family’s PR application under the Home Support Worker Class was refused. The officer found that the principal applicant’s nursing diploma was not equivalent to a completed one-year Canadian post-secondary credential. Although an ECA from WES was submitted, it did not meet program requirements. The Court held the ECA wording was insufficient and that a later IQAS ECA could not be considered on review. The decision was reasonable and procedurally fair. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Work Permit – Grewal v. Canada, 2025 FC 539: Indian citizen applied for a work permit to work as a general farm worker in British Columbia. The officer refused the application due to insufficient evidence of the applicant’s establishment in India and concerns he would not leave Canada. The applicant alleged procedural unfairness and bias. The Court found neither, and held that the officer reasonably assessed the evidence. Read more

Home Child Care Provider Class – Gutierrez v. Canada, 2025 FC 546: Filipino citizen applied for permanent residence under the Home Child Care Provider Class. After refusal for not meeting the education requirement, the applicant submitted a reconsideration request. IRCC treated the refusal as final and declined to revisit it. The Court held that the reconsideration request was not properly considered and that the rigid application of functus officio rendered the decision unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Islam v. Canada, 2025 FC 536: Bangladeshi citizen applied for a TRV to collect proceeds from the sale of property in Québec. The officer refused the application under IRPR s. 179, citing weak ties and insufficient financial establishment. The Court found that the officer failed to consider the central reason for the visit—collecting a cheque that could not be wired—and ignored financial evidence. Judicial review granted. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Tung v. Canada, 2025 FC 541: Chinese citizen, age 64, applied for permanent residence on H&C grounds after 23 years in Canada. The officer acknowledged her establishment and personal circumstances but failed to assign weight to these factors or conduct a global assessment. The Court found the decision lacked justification and transparency. Judicial review granted. Read more

Open Work Permit – Ugorji v. Canada, 2025 FC 571: Nigerian citizen applied for an open work permit as the spouse of a student permit holder. The application was refused for insufficient proof of funds and unexplained large deposits in the applicant’s bank account. The applicant argued the funds were supported by paystubs and his spouse’s finances. The Court upheld the decision, finding the officer’s concerns about the provenance of funds to be reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

IRCC News Updates

Express Entry – CRS Job Offer Points Removed: Effective March 25, 2025, IRCC has removed job offer points from the CRS for all Express Entry candidates. This includes 200 points for Major Group 00 (e.g., senior management) and 50 points for other skilled jobs. It may take a few days for scores to update. Job offers may be required for eligibility under programs like FSTP, FSWP, and some PNP streams, so candidates should still declare them in their profile. Read more

Program Delivery Updates

Open Work Permits for Start-up Visa Applicants: As of October 3, 2024, essential Start-up Visa (SUV) permanent residence applicants may qualify for open work permits under R205(a) – A77 (Canadian interests), replacing the employer-specific model. Applications submitted before this date will be assessed under the old rules. Updated guidance on March 27, 2025, confirms that employer-specific SUV work permits no longer require a new Letter of Support or Commitment Certificate. Read more

Provincial Government News

Newfoundland and Labrador Warning on Passive Investment Immigration – March 27, 2025: Newfoundland and Labrador is warning the public against passive investment immigration schemes, where foreign investors provide funds for business ventures in exchange for PR without intent to reside or be involved in operations. These practices are prohibited in NL and most of Canada. Proposals may include requests to hire specific foreign workers in return for investment. Only two PR pathways exist in NL: the NLPNP and AIP, with entrepreneurship streams limited to those who reside and actively manage a business in the province. Read more

Saskatchewan SINP Changes – March 27, 2025: The SINP pause on Job Approval Forms has ended. Due to a 50% federal cut to nomination allocations (3,625 total) and a requirement that 75% of nominees be in Canada, Saskatchewan has updated its program. Overseas candidates will be supported only in health, agriculture, and skilled trades. Other sectors must recruit from within Canada. Nominations for accommodation, food services, retail, and trucking are capped at 25%. Spas, salons, and pet care (except vets) are now ineligible. The Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur, and Farm Owner/Operator streams are permanently closed. Express Entry and OID applications without SK job offers will be returned with fee refund upon request. Read more International Skilled Worker EOI System: Read more

Saskatchewan – Permanent Closure of Entrepreneur and Farm SINP Pathways: As of March 27, 2025, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has permanently closed the Entrepreneur and Farm immigration pathways. No new applications or expressions of interest will be accepted, and no further invitations to apply will be issued. Existing applications will continue to be processed to completion. Read more

Yukon Nominee Program 2025 – Expression of Interest Intake: From March 31 to April 22, 2025, the Government of Yukon will accept Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from employers wishing to nominate foreign nationals under the YNP. This replaces the first-come, first-served model with a strategic invitation process based on priority areas, including candidates with one year of Yukon work experience, Yukon University graduates, Francophone or French-speaking individuals, and Temporary Measure Letter of Support recipients. Only 215 nominations are available for 2025, reflecting a 50% allocation cut by IRCC. Employers with 2024 applications need not reapply, but 2025 priorities will apply to their files. Read more

Updated Forms and Checklists

CIT 0002: Application for Canadian Citizenship – Adults: Read more
IMM 0008: Generic Application Form for Canada: Read more

Important Upcoming Dates

March 31, 2025: A temporary public policy takes effect, exempting certain home care workers with pending permanent residence applications under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots from specific temporary residence requirements. Read more

March 31, 2025: A temporary public policy takes effect to facilitate permanent residence for certain out-of-status or unauthorized home care workers in Canada under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots. Read more

March 31, 2025: Ukrainians and their family members in Canada under CUAET can access free settlement services until this date. Read more

March 31, 2025: Ministerial Instructions establish new intake caps for the Home Care Worker Immigration (Child Care and Home Support) Classes. Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 159, Number 12: Read more

March 31, 2025: Ministerial Instructions establish PR eligibility criteria for the Home Care Worker (Child Care) Class under Stream A and Stream B. Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 159, Number 12: Read more

March 31, 2025: Ministerial Instructions establish PR eligibility criteria for the Home Care Worker (Home Support) Class under Stream A and Stream B. Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 159, Number 12: Read more

March 31, 2025: Launch of the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots. Read more

April 1, 2025: Foreign worker recruiters in PEI must be licensed, with eligibility limited to lawyers, notaries, or registered immigration consultants, requiring a $100 fee and a $10,000 security deposit to enhance worker protections and ensure fair treatment. Read more

April 1, 2025: Expired Refugee Protection Claimant Documents (RPCDs) will no longer be valid, and asylum claimants must submit renewal applications or request replacements for lost, destroyed, or stolen RPCDs using IRCC’s web form. Read more