Weekly Digest | April 6, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent judicial reviews
Citizenship by Descent (First-Generation Limit)
TRP Updates – Victims of Human Trafficking and Family Violence
Unemployment Rates Updated for LMIA Processing
Businesses Fined for Employing Foreign Nationals Without Authorization
Sudanese Refugee Sponsorship (Groups of Five and Community Sponsors)
Alberta – PTE Core Now Accepted by AAIP
Alberta – AAIP Worker Stream Fee Increased
New Brunswick – Atlantic Immigration Program Paused
Newfoundland and Labrador – Settlement and Integration Grants
Yukon Nominee Program 2025 – Expression of Interest Intake Open
Latest PNP Draws
Important upcoming dates

Recent Case Law

Work Permit – Amirmazaheri v. Canada, 2025 FC 598: Applicant initially approved for work permit; counterfoil issued. Another officer reversed the decision after an interview, citing inability to perform the job. Officer failed to explain reversal. Court found breach of procedural fairness for lack of notice. Judicial review granted, on consent. Read more

Misrepresentation – Babetian v. Canada, 2025 FC 612: Multiple applicants found inadmissible for misrepresentation due to a negligently prepared work permit application by consultants relying on an obsolete owner/operator LMIA stream. Court found a miscarriage of justice due to incompetent representation. Judicial review granted. Read more

Home Worker Pilot – Bartolome v. Canada, 2025 FC 483: Applicant submitted PR application under Home Support Worker Pilot with a Doctor of Dental Medicine and ECA report. Officer misstated the ECA findings by concluding no completed credential existed. Court found this was not a minor misstep but the basis of refusal. Decision found unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

Study Permit – Bista v. Canada, 2025 FC 574: Nepalese applicant refused for insufficient funds, weak study rationale, and concerns over return. Court found officer failed to consider evidence of a disbursed $62,000 loan, tax clearances, and a credible justification for study. The decision misapprehended evidence and was unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

Study & Work Permits – Farzadniya v. Canada, 2025 FC 615: Iranian family refused study, work, and accompanying permits. Officer found the purpose of travel inconsistent with a temporary stay and family ties in Canada too strong. Court held the Officer’s conclusions were speculative and not supported by the evidence of educational, professional, and family ties to Iran. Judicial review granted. Read more

TR to PR Pathway – Kaur v. Canada, 2025 FC 584: Applicant lost temporary resident status before the permanent residence application was approved and sought reconsideration. Officer refused based on ineligibility under the public policy. Court found the Officer reasonably interpreted the requirement for valid status both at the time of receipt and approval. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Misrepresentation – Mehra v. Canada, 2025 FC 592: Indian applicant refused a study permit due to an allegedly fraudulent bank account. Applicant responded with 54 pages of supporting evidence, including bank-issued documents confirming account existence. Officer disregarded the evidence, relying on unverified notes from a phone call. Court found the decision unreasonable and lacking justification. Judicial review granted. Read more

Study Permit – Ofori v. Canada, 2025 FC 630: Ghanaian applicant refused a study permit due to lack of government-issued proof of relationship with financial sponsors (aunt and uncle). Officer failed to engage with submitted affidavit, letter, and supporting ID. Court found the decision unreasonable for ignoring relevant evidence. Judicial review granted. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Rubio v. Canada, 2025 FC 609: Philippine national with over 15 years of Canadian establishment sought permanent residence on H&C grounds. Officer failed to reasonably assess her establishment, community contributions, family hardship, and the context of a prior misrepresentation caused by her daughter. Court found the analysis segmented and the reasoning deficient, particularly in weighing positive factors. Judicial review granted. Read more

Work Permit – Sharifigoofli v. Canada, 2025 FC 608: Iranian applicant sought a work permit as CEO of a Canadian affiliate under the Global Skills Strategy. Officer found the business plan lacking credibility: unclear competitive distinction, excessive executive roles with below-median salaries, no manufacturing staff, questionable financial structure, and no proof of business premises. Court held the officer’s assessment was reasonable and supported by the record. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Canadian Experience Class – Express Entry – Singh v. Canada, 2025 FC 596: Application under the Canadian Experience Class refused for not meeting TEER 3 (NOC 13110) requirements. Officer concluded the applicant did not perform a substantial number of main duties but failed to explain how the evidence was assessed. Court found the decision lacked justification and a coherent line of reasoning. Judicial review granted. Read more

Start-Up Visa – Yousuf v. Canada, 2025 FC 588: Applicant sought a work permit under the Start-Up Visa class. Officer found insufficient proof of experience, citing a lack of financial or verifiable records from 2005–2023. Applicant conceded résumé inaccuracies and withdrew fairness arguments. Court found the decision reasonable based on the evidentiary record. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Spouse in Canada – Zhao v. Canada, 2025 FC 603: Chinese applicant refused permanent residence as a sponsored spouse. Officer determined the relationship was not genuine following discrepancies noted in separate interviews. Applicant alleged breaches of procedural fairness and natural justice. Court found the decision maker’s process appropriate and the conclusion reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Program Delivery Updates

Citizenship by Descent – First-Generation Limit: As of April 4, 2025, IRCC has expanded its interim measure to cover all proof of citizenship and adoption applications affected by the first-generation limit to citizenship by descent. These instructions, updated following the Minister’s March 13, 2025 statement, remain in effect until further notice. Read more

Temporary Resident Permit – Victims of Human Trafficking and Family Violence: As of April 4, 2025, IRCC has updated program delivery instructions following new Ministerial Instructions effective February 4, 2025. Assessment criteria for victims of human trafficking have been clarified, the recommended TRP duration has increased, and fee exemptions now apply to all TRPs, work and study permits, and biometrics. For victims of family violence, the minimum TRP duration has increased from 6 to 12 months. Read more

ESDC News Updates

Unemployment Rates Updated for LMIA Processing: As of April 4, 2025, ESDC has updated the unemployment rates used to determine LMIA eligibility for low-wage positions in Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs). LMIA applications submitted from April 4 to July 10, 2025, for positions in CMAs with unemployment rates of 6% or higher will not be processed if below the regional wage threshold. Read more

CBSA News Updates

Businesses Fined for Employing Foreign Nationals Without Authorization: After a multi-year CBSA and OPP joint investigation, three Ontario businesses—CDA, TDA, and SDA Landscape Services—pleaded guilty on February 28, 2025, to employing foreign nationals without authorization. CDA was fined $400,000; TDA and SDA, $25,000 each. Over 700 individuals were found working without status, some removed for inadmissibility. Read more

Temporary Public Policies

Sudanese Refugee Sponsorship – Groups of Five and Community Sponsors: Effective April 30, 2025, IRCC will accept up to 160 applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors supporting Sudanese refugees without a Refugee Status Determination (RSD) document. Eligible principal applicants must be Sudanese nationals applying from outside Québec under either the Convention Refugee Abroad or Country of Asylum classes. This temporary exemption to paragraph 153(1)(b) of the Regulations addresses barriers Sudanese refugees face in obtaining RSD documentation. The policy expires December 31, 2025, or once the cap of 160 applications is reached. Read more

Provincial Government News

Alberta – PTE Core Now Accepted by AAIP: As of April 1, 2025, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) accepts the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core for all streams. This applies to applications received on or after that date and is in addition to previously accepted English language tests. Read more

Alberta – AAIP Worker Stream Fee Increased: Effective April 1, 2025, the application fee for Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) worker streams is $1,500. This fee adjustment reflects service delivery costs. Fees for other AAIP services remain unchanged. Read more

New Brunswick – Atlantic Immigration Program Paused: Effective April 4, 2025, New Brunswick has paused new endorsement applications and new employer designations under the AIP for the remainder of the year, as the province has reached its full 2025 allocation. Applications submitted on or before April 4, 2025, will continue to be processed. Those submitted after this date will be closed. Read more

Newfoundland and Labrador – Settlement and Integration Grants: The province is accepting proposals for projects that support newcomer integration and economic immigration. Eligible applicants include non-profits, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, and Indigenous governing bodies. Applications open at 12:00 p.m. NDT on April 4, 2025, and close at 11:59 p.m. NDT on May 2, 2025, via LaMPSS. Priority will be given to projects offering direct settlement services. Read more

Yukon Nominee Program 2025 – Expression of Interest Intake Open: As of March 31, 2025, employers may submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to nominate foreign workers under the YNP. The intake closes at 4:30 p.m. Yukon Standard Time on April 22, 2025. Priority will be given to candidates who have lived and worked in Yukon for at least one year, Yukon University graduates, Francophone or French-speaking individuals, and recipients of Temporary Measure Letters of Support. Employers with 2024 applications need not reapply, but 2025 priorities will apply. A total of 215 nominations are available for 2025. Read more