Weekly Digest | April 13, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent Case Law

Work Permit – Alvarez Gonzalez v. Canada, 2025 FC 628: Ecuadorian applicant denied a work permit and found inadmissible for misrepresentation due to contradictions in residence and employment history. A PFL was issued. Consultant admitted to form-filling errors and accepted responsibility, but the applicant did not personally respond. Officer found the misstatements material and imposed a five-year bar. Court held the officer unreasonably failed to consider the innocent mistake exception despite clear evidence the errors were not intentional. Judicial review granted. Read more

Study Permit – Anugwo v. Canada, 2025 FC 656: Nigerian applicant refused a study permit for lack of academic progression and high program cost. Court found the officer failed to assess the program’s purpose—career advancement from dental technologist to public health management—and ignored financial evidence. Cost alone was not a valid ground absent analysis. Judicial review granted. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Kang v. Canada, 2025 FC 473: Indian applicant sought PR after fleeing an abusive marriage in Canada. The officer accepted evidence of intimate partner violence but gave it limited weight, focusing instead on the applicant’s resilience and support network. The Court found the officer failed to meaningfully assess the abuse as a humanitarian factor and did not justify the weight assigned to it. The decision lacked transparency and sensitivity required under subsection 25(1) IRPA. Judicial review granted. Read more

Sponsorship – Kaur v. Canada, 2025 FC 602: Officer refused a parent/grandparent sponsorship, calculating the sponsor’s income eligibility based on changing household size across the three preceding years. The Court found this inconsistent with the text, context, and purpose of the regulation, which requires proof of stable income to support those actually being sponsored at the time of application. The officer’s interpretation lacked justification and failed to consider whether it aligned with legislative intent. Judicial review granted. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Rasapoor v. Canada, 2025 FC 646: Iranian couple refused TRVs for a two-week exploratory visit to Yukon to investigate a business opportunity. The officer cited insufficient travel history, vague purpose of visit, and weakened ties to Iran due to the family travelling together. The Court found the decision justified, noting the applicants did not provide objective evidence of their business intentions. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Start-Up Visa – Rezaie v. Canada, 2025 FC 662: Applicant’s work permit extension under the SUV class was refused for failing to submit required documents, including a valid commitment certificate and financial evidence. The officer was not obligated to retrieve documents from prior applications. The Court found the decision reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Start-Up Visa – Saffar v. Canada, 2025 FC 645: Four applicants were refused permanent residence under the SUV program after the essential applicant failed to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) by the deadline. The officer found the essential applicant inadmissible for non-compliance, triggering refusal for the remaining applicants under section 98.08(2) of the IRPR. The Court held the decision was procedurally fair and consistent with statutory requirements. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Residential Summer Camp Counsellors R205(b) – C24: As of April 11, 2025, IRCC updates clarify that foreign nationals applying as residential summer camp counsellors must now include a police check and introduce a new section addressing application refusals. Read more

Quebec CSQ Holders in Quebec R205(a) – A73: On April 8, 2025, IRCC clarified that CSQ holders who have applied for permanent residence do not need to submit proof of a letter of acceptance from Quebec, and included new guidance under “Application assessment” and “Final decision” headings. Read more

Processing Fees for Applications A25, R307, and R66: As of April 11, 2025, IRCC has corrected the processing fees for foreign nationals applying for authorization to become permanent residents under section A25 of the Act and sections R307 and R66 of the Regulations. Read more

CBSA Investigation: On April 2, 2025, a Winnipeg-based construction manager pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized employment of foreign nationals under section 124 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The individual was sentenced to 20 months of house arrest and fined $50,000. The CBSA investigation, which began in August 2023, uncovered that the manager had facilitated unauthorized work and underpaid several workers, including those holding valid permits. The case underscores CBSA’s ongoing commitment to prosecuting immigration violations and protecting workers from exploitation. Read more

Newfoundland and Labrador Invests Over $1 Million in Business Liaison Office: On April 10, 2025, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced over $1 million in funding to establish a Business Liaison Office through the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce, aiming to support workforce development, training, and stakeholder engagement linked to major regional projects such as Churchill Falls. Funded under the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement, the initiative will operate for three years, connecting local businesses, Indigenous groups, and institutions to maximize economic benefits and support newcomer retention. Read more

Saskatchewan Launches American Physician Recruitment Campaign: On April 9, 2025, Saskatchewan began a digital campaign in partnership with the Saskatchewan Healthcare Recruitment Agency to attract U.S. physicians, highlighting benefits such as competitive pay, fast-track licensure for American Board-certified doctors, work-life balance, and stability amid U.S. political uncertainty. The campaign targets emergency medicine, anaesthesiology, and family medicine practitioners, and features testimonials from physicians practising in Swift Current, Saskatoon, and North Battleford. A broader “Saskatchewan is Calling” campaign will follow in spring across provincial, national, and international markets. Read more

April 22, 2025: Deadline to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under the Yukon Nominee Program. Read more

May 2, 2025: Deadline to apply for Newfoundland and Labrador Settlement and Integration Grants. Eligible applicants include non-profits, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, and Indigenous governing bodies. Read more