Weekly Digest | October 19, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent Case Law

Temporary Resident Visa – Mandamus – Yang v. Canada, 2025 FC 1687: Applicant filed TRV in June 2022; GCMS noted “awaiting info from partners” (July 27, 2022); related PR file from October 2018 with PFL issued February 12, 2025 under IRPA s. 34 due to prior policing role; response March 27, 2025; no action on TRV or PR. Court found the delay unreasonable and unjustified; rejected unsupported claims about security-screening complexity. Mandamus granted; TRV decision ordered within 60 days. Read more

Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class – Tunkara v. Canada, 2025 FC 1683: Gambian applicant entered Canada in 2010 with a false U.S. passport, gained refugee status under a false identity later vacated for misrepresentation. Reapplied for PR in January 2021 but found ineligible under IRPR s.124(b) and excluded from the spousal public policy due to deportation and prior fraud. Court refused new Charter and H&C arguments; refusal reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Zuluaga Villegas v. Canada, 2025 FC 1692: Colombian family’s H&C PR refusal upheld. Officer reasonably weighed establishment, family ties (strong in Colombia, none in Canada), hardship and country conditions; gave reduced weight to periods of unauthorized work; could not assign weight to a child’s undeveloped sexual-orientation claim absent evidence. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Mandamus – Jiao v. Canada, 2025 FC 1664: Applicant sought mandamus nine months after filing TRV (March 15, 2024). GCMS showed admissibility screening “in progress” with partners; IRCC scheduled an s.34(1)(a) security interview for September 23, 2025. Applicant later left Canada. Court held the application premature and found no unreasonable delay. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Open Work Permit – Aghamahdi v. Canada, 2025 FC 1641: Applicant, spouse of an international student, was refused for lack of ties outside Canada. Court found the decision unreasonable where the record showed two children and six siblings in Iran, which directly contradicted the officer’s finding. Judicial review granted. Read more

International Experience Canada – 2025 Season Closing – October 17, 2025: IRCC confirmed the final IEC invitation round will occur the week of October 20, 2025. Profiles must be submitted by 9 a.m. ET on October 20 to qualify. Candidates invited before the close can still finish their work permit applications. Read more

Standard Immigration Medical Exam – October 16, 2025: IRCC revised its instructions for the standard immigration medical exam to align with recent procedural and policy changes. Read more

Public Policy – Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot – October 14, 2025: IRCC launched a pathway to permanent residence for French-speaking graduates of designated institutions outside Quebec under the FMCSP. Eligible graduates of two-year French programs may apply for PR and open work permits, with family inclusion and exemptions from select IRPA/IRPR rules. The policy replaces the 2024 version and is valid until November 31, 2031. Read more

Public Policy – Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot – October 14, 2025: IRCC renewed the policy allowing French-speaking applicants from high-refusal Francophone regions to study at designated French-language institutions outside Quebec. Applicants need NCLC 5+, proof of funds, and admission to a participating DLI. The 2025–2026 cap is 2,970 applications, valid until August 25, 2026. Read more

Manitoba Health-Care Workforce – October 14, 2025: The Manitoba government announced the addition of 328 health-care professionals to strengthen the provincial health system. This initiative supports the province’s broader plan, which has added nearly 3,400 new health-care workers since October 2023, ensuring improved access to care across Manitoba, including in rural communities such as Killarney. Read more

Northwest Territories Nominee Program – October 2025: The Government of the Northwest Territories confirmed its 2025 nominee allocation restored to 300, returning to pre-2025 levels. 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

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