Weekly Digest | September 21, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent Case Law

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Abdollahi v. Canada, 2025 FC 1530: H&C refused; officer found the female applicant’s personal risk in Iran remote (single 2011 incident), noted limited evidence of in-law harassment and mitigation, and referenced valid multiple-entry visas to 2027 and work permits to August 2026 as other reunification avenues; record also showed the male applicant returned to Iran in 2023. Court held the alleged errors mischaracterized the reasons; decision reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Chavoshy v. Canada, 2025 FC 1534: Officer refused under IRPR s.179(b). Court found the reasons unreasonable: the purpose of visit was clear and documented; host information was sufficient; and the “no significant family ties outside Canada” finding was inconsistent with the record (parents and siblings in Iran, employment, property, travel). Judicial review allowed. Read more

Intra-Company Transfer – Gharibdoust v. Canada, 2025 FC 1540: ICT work permit (code C61 start-up) refused under IRPR s.205(a); officer was not satisfied the proposed work would create or maintain significant benefits. Findings: record did not demonstrate interior design experience; no qualifying employer-employee relationship shown (no contract or salary proof); no corporate financial documents showing the parent company could fund and operate the Canadian branch; GCMS reference to s.205(c) was a typographical error. Decision reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Dependent Sponsorship – Ngo v. Canada, 2025 FC 1543: IAD upheld refusal; applicant’s daughter did not meet the current IRPR s.2 “dependent child” definition (22+ at filing and no evidence of inability to be self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition). Reliance on pre-2014 “Type B” student category rejected; lock-in date fixed by IRPR s.25.1(1). Legitimate-expectations and collateral attack arguments re 2018 file rejected. Decision reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Nguyen v. Canada, 2025 FC 1528: H&C refusal set aside. Officer failed to address the Applicants’ alternative TRP request; engaged medical inadmissibility unclearly and misstated the exemption request; reasons were unresponsive to evidence on cancer care in Vietnam and on family separation, and focused unduly on establishment. Judicial review allowed. Read more

Study Permit – Pathak v. Canada, 2025 FC 1521: Study-permit extension refused after the applicant failed to provide official transcripts despite a clear IRPA s.16(1) request; officer also noted multiple course failures. Court found the request reasonable and the reasons brief but adequate; no procedural unfairness. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Spousal Sponsorship – Punzalan v. Canada, 2025 FC 1544: IAD upheld s.4(1) refusal: not satisfied the marriage was genuine or not primarily for immigration, relying on interview contradictions, haste to marry, limited in-person time, language barrier, absent family at wedding, and “pull factors.” Any visa-interview fairness issues were cured by the de novo IAD hearing. Court found the IAD’s reasons intelligible and within the range of acceptable outcomes; no re-weighing. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Foreign Worker Program – Hayer v. Canada, 2025 FC 1526: Work Permit refused despite positive LMIA; officer cited “limited supporting documents” and doubted ability to perform NOC 73113 duties. Court found no rational chain: résumé, detailed employer letter (8 years’ duties), transcripts/WES, and IELTS substantiated capability; any payslip/bank-statement gaps weren’t the stated basis. Decision unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

Work Permit – Singh v. Canada, 2025 FC 1294: LMIA-exempt work permit (BC PNP–nominated VP, Technical Solutions) refused under IRPR s.200(3)(a) for insufficient proof of qualifying experience (no pay stubs/bank credits; weak reference letters). Court held BC PNP nomination/support letter does not bind IRCC; officer could find record inadequate and was not obliged to solicit more evidence; fairness duty low. Reasons coherent and justified under Vavilov. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Consulting Canadians on CUSMA – September 19, 2025: Global Affairs Canada launched the second phase of consultations on the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) ahead of the 2026 joint review. Canadians are invited to share views on the Agreement’s operation, successes, and areas for improvement. Input from individuals, SMEs, Indigenous peoples, labour groups, and other stakeholders will inform Canada’s positions. Submissions are open until November 3, 2025. Read more

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Additional Allocations – September 9, 2025: IRCC granted AAIP 1,528 extra nominations, raising Alberta’s 2025 allocation to 6,403. Stream-specific details will follow. Expanded capacity supports regional labour market needs and advances provincial priorities. Read more

September 30, 2025: Public consultation on Northwest Territories Nominee Program closes. Read more

October 27, 2025: Application window closes for the special permanent residence pathway for families of PS752 victims. Read more

October 27, 2025: Temporary public policies for Sudanese nationals and family members fleeing conflict expire, ending fee waivers and special measures. Read more