Canadian Immigration Law
Weekly Digest | November 16, 2025
Key Highlights:
- Recent Judicial Reviews
- Federal Climate Competitiveness Strategy
- Study Permits: FMCSP
- Co-op Work Permits
- Sudan Temporary Measures Extension
- Study Permits: In-Canada Eligibility
- Family Members of Military Personnel
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program: Intake Closed
- OINP Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream Suspension
- Latest PNP Draws
- Important Upcoming Dates
Recent Case Law
- Temporary Resident Visa – Issa v. Canada, 2025 FC 1821: TRV refusal and five year misrepresentation bar set aside. The officer treated a United States prudential revocation as a visa refusal and failed to consider the applicant’s timely explanation, supporting documents, and the legal distinction between refusal and revocation. Reasons did not show a rational assessment of the record. Judicial review granted. Read more
- Authorization to Return to Canada – Bathia v. Canada, 2025 FC 1820: ARC refusal upheld. The officer reasonably concluded that long-standing non-compliance, including use of a fraudulent passport, failure to appear for a refugee hearing, returning to Canada without ARC, and undeclared goods at the port of entry, outweighed the purpose of visiting family. Judicial review dismissed. Read more
- Mandamus – A.B. v. Canada, 2025 FC 1813: Mandamus denied. The applicant had not met all conditions of the Gaza TRV public policy because biometrics could not be provided due to the Rafah closure. Without satisfying the policy requirements, there was no clear right to mandamus, and the delay was not attributable to IRCC. Judicial review dismissed. Read more
- Spouse in Canada Class – Maan v. Canada, 2025 FC 1805: Inland spousal sponsorship refusal upheld. Conflicting evidence about cohabitation, contradictory landlord and roommate statements, interview inconsistencies, and the applicant’s criminal history concerns supported the finding that the marriage was entered primarily for immigration purposes. Judicial review dismissed. Read more
- Study Permit – Juárez Lopez v. Canada, 2025 FC 1803: Study permit refusal upheld. Officer reasonably found the fitness diploma inconsistent with the applicant’s two university degrees, logistics career, and minimal explanation of how the program advanced her professional goals. Reasons were adequate under the streamlined process. Judicial review dismissed. Read more
IRCC News Updates
- Federal Climate Competitiveness Strategy – November 9, 2025: IRCC highlighted Canada’s new Climate Competitiveness Strategy focused on industrial carbon pricing, greenhouse gas regulatory clarity, clean investment tax credits, critical minerals, capital mobilization for net-zero, and new performance metrics, positioning climate action as core to economic growth. Read more
- Study Permits – Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot – November 10, 2025: IRCC updated Year 2 instructions confirming FMCSP financial requirements will increase on September 1 to align with the 2025 low income cut-offs. Read more
- Co-op Work Permits – November 11, 2025: IRCC updated C32 eligibility to reflect the increased off-campus work limit for students from 20 hours to 24 hours per week. Read more
- Sudan Temporary Measures Extension – November 12, 2025: IRCC extended temporary measures for individuals affected by the Sudan conflict to October 28, 2026, allowing eligible Sudanese nationals and family members in Canada to continue extending or changing status with fee exemptions, while PRV applicants remain exempt from passport requirements. Read more
- Study Permits – In-Canada Eligibility – November 13, 2025: IRCC updated instructions confirming that protected persons and their family members may apply for a study permit after entering Canada, regardless of whether they have submitted a permanent residence application. Read more
- Family Members of Military Personnel – November 14, 2025: IRCC updated C20 and C41 instructions to clarify that dependent children are not eligible for open work permits under C46/C48 for applications received on or after January 21, 2025, and spouses of TEER 4 workers are not eligible under C47, with added guidance on documentary evidence, approvals and refusals where no reciprocal agreement exists. Read more
Provincial Government News
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program – Intake Closed – November 14, 2025: NWT closed its 2025 intake after reaching its 300-application cap; applicants will be notified by email, the program will reopen in 2026, employers may explore federal pathways, and only the Business Stream remains open. Read more
- Ontario – Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream Suspension – November 14, 2025: Ontario suspended intake for the Skilled Trades Stream after identifying systemic misrepresentation and fraud risks, will return all outstanding applications with fee refunds, and advises interested applicants to submit a new EOI under other eligible OINP streams. Read more
Latest Draws
- Express Entry: Healthcare and social services (Version 2): Read more
- Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class: Read more
- Express Entry: Provincial Nominee Program: Read more
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Read more
Important Upcoming Dates
- November 19, 2025: Temporary special measures for Haitian nationals and family members in Canada expire. 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 and Read more
- December 1, 2025: Temporary in-Canada work permit printing process for IEC participants ends. Read more
- December 31, 2025: Ministerial Instructions setting the 2025 study permit intake cap and attestation letter requirements expire. Read more
- December 31, 2025: Yukon’s temporary measure for foreign nationals to obtain support letters for Yukon-specific work permits expires. Read more
- December 31, 2025: Public policy allowing open work permits for foreign workers with provincial or territorial support letters (including Manitoba PNP) expires. Read more and Read more
- December 31, 2025: Temporary pause on private refugee sponsorship applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors under the PSR Program ends. Read more and Read more
- December 31, 2025: Public policy allowing open work permits for foreign nationals in Provincial Nominee Program expression of interest pools expires. Read more
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