Weekly Digest | June 29, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent Judicial Reviews
PGWP Field of Study List Updated
IRCC Launches Selection Process for College Board
Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot
Updated Wage Thresholds for LMIA Streams
BC PNP 2024 Statistical Report and Year in Review
Northwest Territories Nominee Program – Second 2025 Intake
NWT Renews Call to Restore Nominee Allocations
Nova Scotia–Lebanon Doctor Recruitment Pilot
Updated Forms and Checklists
Latest Express Entry & PNP Draws
Important Upcoming Dates

Recent Case Law

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Adegboye v. Canada, 2025 FC 1141: Nigerian family sought PR under H&C and PRRA after refugee claim failed. Officer dismissed H&C on grounds of insufficient establishment and PRRA for lack of personalized risk. Applicants argued Officer ignored home care work during COVID and misjudged country condition evidence. Court found no breach of procedural fairness and decision met reasonableness standard. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Asantewaa v. Canada, 2025 FC 1129: Ghanaian grandmother sought PR under H&C after overstaying her TRV to care for Canadian grandchildren. Officer found minimal establishment, insufficient hardship, and discounted the BIOC despite acknowledging her caregiving role. Court held the Officer failed to properly assess the BIOC, disregarded key evidence, and did not apply the correct legal framework. Judicial review granted. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Cadogan v. Canada, 2025 FC 1125: Guyanese applicant applied for TRV but failed to declare prior U.S. visa refusals. Officer issued a PFL; applicant cited misunderstanding. Found inadmissible for material misrepresentation under s.40 IRPA. Court found PFL adequate, explanation reasonably rejected, and decision procedurally fair. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Spouse Sponsorship – Kaur v. Canada, 2025 FC 1147: Indian applicant was refused inland spousal sponsorship due to failure to submit sufficient cohabitation proof despite sending 38 documents in response to PFL. Court found IRCC decided application based on an incomplete record and failed to engage with evidence submitted before the deadline. Judicial review granted. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Mac v. Canada, 2025 FC 1046: Vietnamese applicant applied for PR under H&C citing establishment, community ties, religion, and BIOC. Officer dismissed application, stating establishment was typical and country risk claims unsubstantiated. Court found Officer erred in requiring exceptional circumstances. Judicial review granted. Read more

Express Entry – FST – Nandha v. Canada, 2025 FC 1122: Indian applicant’s PR under Federal Skilled Trades refused after verification call contradicted work history as cook. Court found reasons were scant but acceptable within administrative context; Officer reasonably preferred real-time inconsistencies over documentary evidence. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Start-up Visa – Neri v. Canada, 2025 FC 1087: Philippine applicant’s PR under Start-up Business Class refused; Officer found venture was primarily to gain status, not engage in business. Officer noted lack of relevant experience, viability issues, questionable IP claims. Court found decision reasonable and procedurally fair. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Study Permit – Paudel v. Canada, 2025 FC 1139: Nepali applicant applied to study Business Management. Officer cited delayed schooling, poor grades, and weak study plan as evidence he would not leave Canada. Court found explanation for academic gap not on record. Decision to refuse based on s.216(1)(b) IRPR was reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Singh v. Canada, 2025 FC 1131: Indian applicant refiled JR after initial application dismissed for failure to submit record. Court found new filing misled the Court and circumvented prior dismissal. Abuse of process established. Judicial review struck. Read more

IRCC News Updates

PGWP Field of Study List – June 25, 2025: IRCC has updated the list of eligible fields of study for PGWP eligibility in non-degree programs, aligning it with 2025 Express Entry priorities. 119 new fields were added (e.g. health care, education, trades), while 178 were removed. The revised list now includes 920 fields. The rule applies to students who applied for a study permit on or after November 1, 2024. Those who applied before June 25, 2025, remain eligible if their program was listed at the time of application. Read more

IRCC Launches Selection Process for College Board – June 23, 2025: IRCC has opened a new selection process to build a pool of qualified candidates for future ministerial appointments to the board of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. The College, established in 2021, regulates consultants to protect clients and uphold integrity in the immigration system. The board has nine directors—five appointed by the minister and four elected by licensed consultants. Read more

Program Delivery Updates

Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot – June 27, 2025: IRCC released instructions for the FMCSP, a TR-to-PR pathway for French-speaking international students studying at post-secondary DLIs outside Quebec. A new FMCSP section was added to the temporary residents – students page. COVID-19 measures and entry/exit info have been removed, as they no longer apply. Read more

ESDC News Updates

Wage Thresholds for LMIA Streams – June 27, 2025:ESDC has updated the wage thresholds that determine whether employers must apply under the high-wage or low-wage LMIA stream. If the wage offered to a TFW is at or above the updated provincial/territorial threshold, employers must use the high-wage stream; otherwise, the low-wage stream applies. New thresholds apply to LMIAs received as of June 27, 2025. Read more

Provincial Government News

BC PNP 2024 Statistical Report and Year in Review – June 23, 2025: British Columbia released its 2024 BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review. The report includes data on nomination volumes, occupations, salaries, countries of origin, and regional nominee distribution. It also outlines strategic priorities and performance measures. Read more

Northwest Territories Nominee Program – Second 2025 Intake – June 26, 2025: The NTNP will accept applications from July 2, 2025, to July 9, 2025. Of 150 nomination spaces for the year, 21 remain following the first intake. This round will accept 10 Entry Level/Semi-Skilled (ELSSO), 10 Skilled Worker/Express Entry (SWEE), and 1 Francophone application. If oversubscribed, selections will be randomized by category. Work permit eligibility is extended to March 31, 2026, and guidelines clarify leave provisions. Read more

NWT Renews Call to Restore Nominee Allocations – June 26, 2025: Minister Cleveland has urged IRCC to immediately restore the Northwest Territories’ nominee allocation, which was halved in January 2025. She emphasized that the cuts have forced the territory to turn away qualified workers and families, despite urgent labour shortages. Read more

Nova Scotia–Lebanon Doctor Recruitment Pilot – June 25, 2025: Nova Scotia signed a five-year agreement with Lebanese American University to recruit 10 ready-to-practise family physicians (2 per year). The $5M investment covers residency funding, licensing exams, immigration, and relocation, with a three-year return-of-service. Two physicians from American University of Beirut are already practising in the province, with one more incoming. Both Lebanese universities are U.S.-accredited, and licensure is streamlined. Read more

Updated Forms and Checklists

IMM 0150: Details of Police Service: Read more
IMM 5546: Details Of Military Service: Read more

Latest Draws

Important Upcoming Dates

June 30, 2025: Temporary suspension of new applications under the Québec Graduate stream and invitations under the Regular and Skilled Worker Selection Programs remains in effect until this date. Read more

July 1, 2025: Regulatory authorities in British Columbia must replace Canadian work experience requirements with alternative assessment frameworks or apply for an exemption under the International Credentials Recognition Act. Read more

July 2, 2025: Ontario launches a new OINP Employer Portal, replacing the paper-based process and introducing an employer-led EOI model. Read more

July 11, 2025: Updated unemployment rates for census metropolitan areas (CMAs) take effect and will be used to assess Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) refusals for low-wage positions in regions with unemployment rates at or above 6%. Read more

July 21, 2025: Deadline to provide feedback on Prince Edward Island’s proposed second phase of the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act, which includes an employer registry and administrative penalty regulations. Read more

July 31, 2025: Temporary public policy ends for Israeli nationals and Palestinian passport holders in Canada, allowing fee-exempt applications for status extensions, study permits, or open work permits. Read more

July 31, 2025: Temporary public policy ends for eligible family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023, allowing fee-exempt applications for status extensions, study permits, or open work permits in Canada. Read more

July 31, 2025: Temporary special measures end for eligible Lebanese nationals in Canada and family members of Canadians or permanent residents who left Lebanon, allowing fee-exempt applications for open work permits, study permits, or status extensions. Read more