Weekly Digest | April 5, 2026

Key Highlights:

Recent Case Law

Temporary Resident Visa – Kaur Shergill v. Canada, 2026 FC 419: TRV refused based on insufficient financial capacity, unexplained funds, and lack of ties outside Canada. The Court excluded reconsideration materials from the record and found the officer failed to engage with key contradictory evidence, including financial and family ties, rendering the decision unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

Express Entry – Federal Skilled Trades – Ruchika v. Canada, 2026 FC 414: PR application refused for failure to establish qualifying skilled work experience, with inconsistencies between prior TRV declarations and claimed employment. The Court found the officer failed to engage with key contradictory evidence, including affidavit evidence detailing job duties, and did not justify the conclusion that the applicant had no relevant experience. Judicial review granted. Read more

Humanitarian and Compassionate – Sallai v. Canada, 2024 FC 1698: H&C application refused where the officer assessed hardship and BIOC using a refugee-style analysis, requiring personalized risk and comparison to others. The Court found this to be an incorrect legal framework and further held the officer failed to properly engage with evidence of anti-Roma discrimination and conducted a deficient BIOC analysis. Judicial review granted. Read more

Humanitarian and Compassionate – Sangarappillai v. Canada, 2026 FC 426: H&C application refused where the applicant provided limited, generalized evidence of hardship and minimal BIOC submissions. The Court found the officer reasonably assessed the record, emphasizing the applicant’s burden of proof and rejecting a “line-by-line” reweighing of the evidence. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Post-Graduation Work Permit – Singh v. Canada, 2026 FC 422: PGWP and restoration refused due to failure to maintain full-time student status. The Court confirmed strict application of PGWP eligibility requirements and found the officer was not required to address unsupported arguments, including claims of authorized leave. The restoration refusal was also reasonable as no study permit restoration was sought. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Post-Graduation Work Permit – Singh v. Canada, 2026 FC 437: PGWP refused for failure to maintain full-time studies, with the applicant relying on the final semester exception. The Court upheld the officer’s interpretation of the program delivery instructions, finding the applicant had multiple periods of non-compliance outside the final semester and that eligibility requirements are mandatory and cannot be waived. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship – Somers-Edgar v. Canada, 2026 FC 417: PR application refused as incomplete following failure to provide requested relationship documentation due to unclear and misleading IRCC correspondence. The Court found a breach of procedural fairness, holding that the applicants were not properly informed of the case to meet and were deprived of a meaningful opportunity to respond. Judicial review granted. Read more

Provincial Nominee Program – March 30, 2026: IRCC implemented regulatory amendments transferring authority to provinces and territories to assess economic establishment and intent to reside in the nominating jurisdiction, applying to all PNP applications. Read more

Family Reunification for Ukrainian Nationals – April 1, 2026: IRCC introduced processing instructions allowing eligible Ukrainian nationals in Canada and their family members to maintain or restore temporary resident status while their permanent residence applications are in process. Read more News: Read more

Open Work Permit Extensions for Ukrainians – April 1, 2026: IRCC introduced a temporary public policy facilitating renewals of open work permits for eligible Ukrainian nationals and their family members in Canada, effective April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. Read more Policy: Read more News: Read more

Foreign Emergency Services Personnel – April 1, 2026: IRCC introduced a public policy exempting eligible foreign emergency services personnel responding to natural disasters in Canada from TRV processing and biometrics fees, for applications submitted between April 1, 2026 and November 30, 2028. Read more News: Read more

Foreign Nationals Affected by Natural Disasters – April 1, 2026: IRCC introduced a public policy allowing eligible temporary residents in Canada affected by natural disasters to restore or extend status beyond standard regulatory limits, including exemptions from restoration timelines and certain work and study permit requirements. Read more News: Read more

Parent and Grandparent Super Visa – March 31, 2026: IRCC updated income eligibility requirements, allowing minimum necessary income to be met using either recent tax assessments or a combination of host and applicant income over the preceding 12 months, replacing prior 2023 instructions. Read more

Passport Processing – “30 Days or Free” Guarantee – April 1, 2026: IRCC introduced a refund policy providing a full fee reimbursement where passport or travel document applications exceed 30 business days of processing, excluding mailing time, with refunds issued automatically. Read more

Temporary Foreign Worker Program – Low-Wage Positions – April 1, 2026: ESDC introduced new LMIA requirements requiring employers to advertise positions for at least 8 consecutive weeks within 3 months prior to application and to target youth in recruitment efforts, with additional temporary measures for rural areas. Read more

Alberta – Bill 26 Immigration Oversight Act – April 1, 2026: Alberta introduced legislation to strengthen provincial oversight by requiring employer registration and licensing of immigration consultants and recruiters, with enhanced enforcement measures to address fraud and protect foreign workers. Read more

IMM 5484: Document Checklist: Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) outside of Canada: Read more

April 30, 2026: Permanent residence fees increase. Read more Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 160, Number 14:: Read more

May 1, 2026: Interim Federal Health Program introduces co-payments of $4 per prescription and 30% for supplemental benefits, while basic health care remains fully covered. Read more