Weekly Digest | October 26, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent Case Law

Humanitarian & Compassionate – TRP – Lasisi v. Canada, 2025 FC 1709: Nigerian applicant sought a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) to remain in Canada while his pending H&C application was being processed. By the time the TRP was reviewed, the H&C had already been refused. The officer denied the TRP, and the Court found no error in the decision or breach of procedural fairness. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Study Permit – Misrepresentation – Kaur v. Canada, 2025 FC 1717: Indian applicant’s study permit was refused for submitting a non-genuine IELTS report. Counsel later conceded the discrepancy between reports. The Court found the refusal reasonable and cautioned counsel on diligence. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Mandamus – Liu v. Canada, 2025 FC 1718: Chinese PhD student sought mandamus after a 27-month delay on his TRV. The Court found the delay unreasonable, rejecting IRCC’s claims about security screening and lack of control over partner agencies. Mandamus granted; IRCC ordered to decide within 60 days. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Safdar v. Canada, 2025 FC 1727: Elderly Pakistani widow’s H&C refusal was found unreasonable. The officer minimized the best interests of her eight Canadian grandchildren and wrongly compared her hardship to others in Pakistan. Judicial review granted. Read more

Parent & Grandparent Sponsorship – Macaraeg v. Canada, 2025 FC 1519: Permanent resident challenged IRCC’s refusal to reconsider her incomplete PGP sponsorship. She said she never received IRCC’s request for missing documents. The Court found the officer ignored that explanation and used circular reasoning. Judicial review granted. Read more

IRCC Application Inventories – October 21, 2025: As of August 31, 2025, IRCC reported 2,199,400 total applications across all lines of business — 1,240,550 within service standards and 958,850 in backlog. In 2024, IRCC finalized over 7 million decisions. Between January and August 2025, it made 298,500 permanent residence decisions, welcoming 276,900 new permanent residents, and finalized 594,300 study permit and 931,300 work permit applications. From April to August 2025, 103,880 new citizens were granted citizenship. Updated figures to September 30, 2025 will be released in November 2025. Read more

Recognized Employer Pilot – October 24, 2025: IRCC clarified that the same LMIA may be used for multiple work permit applications under the Recognized Employer Pilot, as long as positions remain available. A new procedure was also introduced to verify whether a position is still open on the REP LMIA. Read more

Study Permits – Students Destined to Quebec – October 20, 2025: IRCC updated guidance correcting the reuse date for Quebec Acceptance Certificates (CAQs) when students change institutions. Only CAQs issued before December 6, 2024 may be reused for changes at the same study level (previously stated as December 6, 2025). Read more

Express Entry – Facilitation Period for Applications Without a Medical – October 21, 2025: IRCC updated completeness check instructions to reflect that, as of August 21, 2025, Express Entry applicants must include an upfront medical examination with their PR applications. The facilitation period has ended—applications received on or after October 21, 2025, without an IME may be rejected. Read more

Ontario – Contraventions Update – October 21, 2025: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) updated its list of individuals, employers, and representatives penalized or banned under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015. Applicants must provide accurate and not misleading information. Read more

Saskatchewan – Charges Under Immigration Protection Laws – October 21, 2025: Three employers were charged under the former Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act, 2013 for offences at Guac Mexi Grill in Moose Jaw, including retaliation, exploitation, and charging recruitment fees to foreign workers. The new Immigration Services Act, 2024 now governs similar matters with stronger penalties. 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