Weekly Digest | October 5, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent Judicial Reviews
Study Permits Update
International Mobility Program – ICT (R205(a))
Sponsorship Agreement Holder’s Update
Family-Based PR Pathway – Sudan
CBSA Investigation
Alberta Immigrant Impact Awards
British Columbia PNP Update
Latest Express Entry and PNP Draws
Important Upcoming Dates

Recent Case Law

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Aguirre Manjarrez v. Canada, 2025 FC 1624: Family from Mexico sought H&C for PR based on establishment, hardship on return, and children’s best interests. Officer refused. Court found failure to address evidence of personalized risk of violence in Mexico and inadequate analysis of the younger child’s best interests. Judicial review allowed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Dagarguliia v. Canada, 2025 FC 1638: Visitor visa refused due to concerns about funds and that the applicant and both parents would not leave Canada, given strong pull to visit a sister. Court stressed deference on TRV cases and found it reasonable to conclude the burden was unmet; no need to assess funds. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Study Permit – Ghajarzadeh v. Canada, 2025 FC 1598: Study permit refused on the basis that the program was not a reasonable progression or benefit. The record contained a detailed study plan and an employer letter promising promotion with a significant salary increase conditional on completing a Canadian PMGC. The Court found the officer’s reasons ignored this material evidence and lacked a rational chain of analysis. Judicial review granted. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Gholami v. Canada, 2025 FC 1619: Iranian mother sought a 10-month TRV to accompany her Canadian-citizen seven-year-old to primary school. Refused for “purpose not consistent” and alleged lack of proof of schooling. The Court found the officer misapprehended key evidence, including family ties outside Canada, making the decision unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – H.K. v. Canada, 2025 FC 1606: Family (parents and 13-year-old), with an 11-year-old Canadian-born child, applied for H&C. Officer refused. Court held the best interests of both children were not reasonably assessed; analysis minimized evidence of language barriers, learning challenges, and discrimination faced by children of North Korean defectors. Judicial review allowed. Read more

C11 Work Permit – Haghighikafash v. Canada, 2025 FC 1601: Iranian entrepreneur applied for a C11 LMIA-exempt work permit to launch a legal-services business, submitting a 75-page business plan and financials. Officer refused for lack of significant benefit and perfunctory banking concerns; GCMS notes were skeletal. Court held the decision lacked an intelligible chain of reasoning and ignored evidence. Judicial review granted. Read more

Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit – Hosseinzadeh Bakhtouri v. Canada, 2025 FC 1616: Applicant sought an ICT work permit (with spouse’s SOWP). Officer refused, claiming no clarity on Year-1 staffing and overlooking broader “significant benefit” factors. Court held the officer misapprehended the business plan, which explicitly provided for full-time hires, and unreasonably ignored other benefits. Judicial review granted. Read more

Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class – Khan v. Canada, 2025 FC 1613. Inland sponsorship refused over concerns including allegedly back-dated cohabitation documents. The Court found the officer fixated on this red flag without grappling with the full record or the couple’s explanations; reasons were not responsive to key evidence. Judicial review allowed. Read more

Start-Up Visa – Mandamus – Mostafa Salehi v. Canada, 2025 FC 1590. Application for mandamus to compel a decision on an SUV PR file was dismissed. Delay was linked to security screening of an essential team member, and the officer’s skepticism about support letters and proof of funds was open on the record and met Vavilov’s justification and transparency standards. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Namavari v. Canada, 2025 FC 1628. TRV refused for weak “pull” factors and allegedly “unreasonable” purpose of visit. The Court found the officer ignored substantial contrary evidence (steady employment, property, assets, and compliant travel history) and gave incoherent reasoning on purpose of travel. Decision unreasonable. Judicial review allowed. Read more

Spousal Sponsorship – Orobosa Edugie v. Canada, 2025 FC 1634. Sponsorship refusal challenged after an earlier failed judicial review; the applicant attempted to re-litigate on the basis of “new evidence” and fairness. The Court applied res judicata and abuse of process, found nothing truly new or decisive and no procedural unfairness, and identified no reviewable error. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Start-Up Visa – Peyvastegan v. Canada, 2025 FC 1599. SUV PR refusal upheld; officer not satisfied applicant’s commitment was primarily for genuine business activity rather than to gain immigration status. The officer’s assessment of the record and program criteria was coherent, transparent, and justified under Vavilov. No reviewable error found. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Singh v. Canada, 2025 FC 1617. Parents’ TRV refused due to unexplained source of funds and doubts about genuine purpose/temporary intent. Court held that once the officer reasonably found the source-of-funds concern, the refusal followed a rational chain of analysis. Deference applied; decision reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Atlantic Immigration Class – Yin v. Canada, 2025 FC 1610. AIP PR refusal upheld. Officer found applicant’s work verification letter described managerial duties inconsistent with the endorsed job offer’s TEER level. Court declined to reweigh evidence, held reasons were transparent and met Vavilov standards. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

IRCC News Updates

International Mobility Program – ICT (R205(a)) – October 3, 2025: IRCC issued additional updates to Significant Benefit – Intra-Company Transferees under R205(a). The update confirms that the C12 exemption (TFWP ICT – International agreements) instructions are deleted. Current instructions now only apply to ICT categories C61, C62, and C63 under the International Mobility Program. Read more

Sponsorship Agreement Holder’s – September 29, 2025: IRCC issued new instructions on how changes to a SAH agreement status affect the processing of their in-process caseload. Guidance also outlines criteria that may trigger a status change, pathways to resolution, and next steps. Read more

Study Permits – October 3, 2025: Study permit instructions corrected. Updates include fixes to the French version and revisions to the “Study permit invalidity” section in both languages. Read more

Family-Based PR Pathway – Sudan – October 3, 2025: Updated guidelines on the temporary policy allowing foreign nationals affected by the conflict with family in Canada to apply for PR, supporting safe haven and integration. Applies only to applications received February 27–June 13, 2024. Read more

CBSA News Updates

CBSA Investigation – October 1, 2025 – Montreal: Charges laid under IRPA for organizing the illegal entry of several Congolese nationals, including use of false documents and misrepresentation. Following a 2023 investigation, PPSC authorized 22 charges covering counselling/committing misrepresentation, possession, forgery, aiding in false documents, and acting as an unauthorized consultant. Read more

Provincial Government News

Alberta Immigrant Impact Awards – September 30, 2025: Alberta recognized 26 immigrants for contributions to culture, economy, and community across eight categories (Arts & Sports, Career & Academics, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Immigrant Excellence, Immigrant Women’s Impact, Inclusive Workplaces, Small Community Enhancement, Young Leader). Launched in 2022, the awards honour newcomers who strengthen prosperity, leadership, and service as permanent residents or citizens born abroad. Read more

BC PNP Update – October 2, 2025: Additional 1,254 nominations granted for 2025. Allocations will support priority groups (healthcare, entrepreneurs, high economic impact) and partially address the 2,240 waitlisted International Post-Graduate applications from 2024. Increase is modest; B.C. continues to press Ottawa for further allocation growth. Read more

Latest Draws

Important Upcoming Dates

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

November 3, 2025: Deadline for submissions to Global Affairs Canada’s consultations on the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Read more

November 19, 2025: Temporary special measures for Haitian nationals and family members in Canada expire. Read more

November 30, 2025: Suspension of intake under Québec’s PEQ (graduate and worker streams) ends. Read more

November 30, 2025: Special IRCC wildfire relief measures expire, ending fee waivers and restoration flexibility for affected residents and foreign emergency workers. Read more